PLEASE NOTE: Until we work out an agreement with new tenants at the adjacent medical arts (brick building) center, we CANNOT park in the lot that joins our driveway.

This is a serious, costly issue for you. If you park, you will be towed and you will pay almost $200.00  

The next Path to Membership Class will be May 16th and the next New member Sunday is May 23rd. Please contact Rev. Tracy for more information at revtsj@fusp.org or check the Path to Membership article under the About Us tab of the website.  

The Fund Raising Committee is hoping to keep you nutritionally balanced this month! Check out all the opportunities to break bread with your friends at FUSP. Mark your calendars now so you won’t go hungry.
Yes…we know you’ve all been waiting for it….time for another Spaghetti Dinner

FUSP SPAGHETTI DINNER on Friday, March 12th 6:30 – 9:00 PM
Tired of cooking after a long week of life? Swing by FUSP on Friday, March 12th between 6:30 and 9:00 for a hot delicious meal with friends. We’ll offer up some recipes from our recent dinners…including a fabulous meat sauce, a scrumptious marinara and an aromatic pesto. What an easy, enjoyable way to spend a couple of hours…no distractions …just good ole’ spaghetti to warm the soul. Salad, garlic bread and dessert is included.
If you’d like to help out, contact Julie Walsh at J_WALSH01@VERIZON.NET or 908-232-9506

FUSP’s 1st Annual SoupFest on Sunday, March 14th 11:30 AM
Fabulous FUSP soups are on the menu! Crusty bread for dipping as well as dessert is included. Rules are the same as the Chili cook-off…eat all you want and vote for your favorite soup! But wait! We’re not just looking for tasters….calling all soup experts – is yours the best?
Let me know if you want to be a contestant. The grand prize is Bragging Rights. If you’d like to compete, contact Julie Walsh at J_WALSH01@VERIZON.NET or 908-232-9506

Pancake Breakfast on Sunday, March 21st
Flapjacks served up starting at 8:15 a.m. right up until the service begins! There is nothing like a full stomach to ease you into your Sunday activities. Grab a plate of pancakes, a few sausages, a glass of cold orange juice and hot coffee or tea…mmmmmmmm…doesn’t that sound delicious!  

For our Winter Adult RE Session, we will be hosting a sampler class, combining highlights from the three UU parenting curricula. These exciting classes will be combined with printed and online resources in an overview of the UU parenting issues. The curricula that we will explore are:
1. Being A UU Parent
2. Parents as Resident Theologians
3. Parents as Social Justice Educators

Classes will meet on Thursday nights, and will be co-led by Chris Baglieri, Kate Williams and Sue Fertig.

Our first (planning) meeting will take place on Thursday, February 18th at 7:30 PM with future meeting times to be determined by the group.

Please note that due to the "sampler" nature of the class, it is not necessary to attend every session, but we will work with interested participants to establish a schedule of Thursday meetings that works for families.

E-mail Chris Baglieri (cbaglieri@optonline.net) if you think that you might be interested in participating.  

Adult Religious Education with Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks
(Ages 11th grade and up are welcome!)
Time: 11:30 AM until 1:30 PM

The idea behind Explorers is to have a single session on something of interest. It can be a current event, a concern of the congregation, or a philosophical issue that sparks a passion. These single sessions can lead to further discussion, education, action or exploration opportunities, if there is interest and support.

This series will start up again in the fall. Your suggestions for topics are welcome. If you would like to lead a session, please let Rev. Tracy know your interest and your topic. Her email is revtsj@fusp.org.

March 7: Parliament of World Religions

A closer look at the Parliament of World Religions and what it means to Unitarian Universalists. We will explore the several themes of the parliament and bring these ideas back into our community. Some things we will explore: the global financial crisis, aboriginal rights, world religions, spiritual practice and more. Class will be in the Sanctuary on this Sunday.

April 11: Unitarian Universalism: A Religion, A Faith, A Journey We will take a deeper look at our faith tradition including our history and our founding theology. We will explore the theologies that make up our congregations now. We will learn about historical figures as well as current UU heroes. We will explore the idea of faith and what it means to belong to a religious organization. Class will be in the Stevens Room.

May 2: Unitarian Universalism: As a Social Movement

We will look at Unitarian Universalism through the lens of a social justice movement. What is the theological basis for the social justice work we do? Can we be martyrs of this faith? We will explore this topic both in a historical context and our contemporary one. Class will be in the Stevens Room.  

Susan is a signature member of the Pastel Society of New Jersey and a member of the UU Congregation of Somerset Hills. She has won both local and regional awards for her very colorful paintings. Susan studied painting and drawing at the School of Visual Arts and the Arts Students League in New York, Somerset Art Association and the New Jersey Center for Visual Arts in New Jersey and with various well known artists. A price list can be found in the front alcove. Her work will be exhibited March 7 through April 11.

An opening reception will be held on March 7, 2010 after service until 2 PM. There will be wine, cheese, and folk rock performed by Nancy and Raymond Brungard, members of the Somerset Hills congregation and former members of FUSP. All are welcome.  

Not only do we want to do our usual spring clean up this year but we need to have the grounds in particularly good condition for the many guests we will be having for Tracy's ordination. Let's plan it for Saturday, April 3rd at 9 AM. In case of bad weather, we can still do it on the 10th in time for the ordination. Please bring some lawn bags and material to close them. Be prepared to take a few bags home with you to dispose of in your usual manner; we don't want them at the curb waiting for the city to pick them up at some possible future date. Bettina Caluori would love to hear from all you volunteers, but you can just show up, rake in hand.  

We will once again be having a Passover Seder here at FUSP in the Parish Hall. Sylvia Walker will be coordinating it as a guided bring-a-dish (recipes must adhere to traditional foods and include no flour except matzo cake meal, potato starch, or matzo itself and no leavening agents). Recipes will be provided to those who do not have their own passover recipes. If you would like to help with coordination, set-up, serving or clean up, call Sylvia at 908-561-6073 or e-mail her at leesyl@verizon.net before Feb. 7. She will begin taking reservations & food offers Monday, March 1. This is definitely a family occasion.  

There are a few projects shaping up at FUSP that will require some volunteer work from within the congregation.

The first and foremost project is the remodeling of the Food Pantry. We have received a substantial donation towards the pantry and part of the money is being spent on upgrading our storage and distribution capabilities. The plan calls for the removal of the existing built in shelving and replacement with sturdy, washable, adjustable wire-frame metal shelving and the purchase of a new energy efficient freezer.

The old shelving has already been removed and the walls prepared for painting. We are looking for a paint crew who can get the job started and completed during the week of 1/11/10.Anyone interested in painting the Food Pantry can contact Guy Mastroianni at 908-872-8073.

Other projects in the pipeline are:

* Dismantling and removing cabinetry in the Kitchen
* Cleaning and painting the Parish Hall heating ducts
* Constructing a new partition wall in the Main Office
* Installing new cabinetry and furniture in the Remodeled Office
* Repairing woodwork, plastering, and painting in the Parish Hall
* Install new bulletin boards and signage in new approved locations

These are some of the fellowship building tasks that I am confident we at FUSP are able to complete on our own. I truly believe that with well thought out plans, and with eager volunteers we can begin to transform our building to reflect a deeper sense of pride, professionalism, and hospitality.

Folks interested in sharing their skills and enthusiasm to assist in the above projects can call Guy Mastroianni at 908-872-8073 or Melissa Logan at 908-432-4134.  

We are now listed in the National Register of Historic Places!!!

The First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, N.J. was incorporated on August 26, 1889 and, some three years later, the Reverend Hobert Clark christened the building All Souls Church on May 11, 1892. We just received word that All Souls Church is now on the National Register of Historic Places as of December 11, 2009. This is the nation's official list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. The National Register website shows a range of beautiful historic places throughout the country. Stacy Spies, a former member and historic architect, was primarily responsible for this accomplishment. The reference number for All Souls is 09001078. Fred Lange – Archives  

Agatha Christie's "And Then There Were None," also known as "Ten Little Indians," will be Act IV's next production. This is a great show with a large cast and will be directed by our good friend, Jean Dembaugh (Jean directed THE MOUSETRAP last season and has acted in several of our shows in the past). Come join the fun!

AUDITIONS: Thursday, Jan. 21, 7:30-9:30PM; Sunday, Jan. 24, 3-5PM; Tuesday, Jan. 26, 7:30-9:30PM.

A little change this month for the Men’s Breakfast. We will be meeting in the Parish Hall on Saturday, March 13th at 9 AM. The church will be hosting Homefirst and they will be using the Stevens Room . Jack Schrum and Kurt Pollak will lead the discussion. “Candidate Obama made promises before he became President Obama. It appears that some of them have not been honored. In hindsight, weren’t some of them not possible to honor, even as he uttered them? Is he responsible for everything he promised, even if the fulfillment is out of his control? Are we responsible for forcing him to make “impossible” promises in the first place?” Come join the controversy!

Unitarian Universalism includes both an artistic appreciation of the transcendent beauty of life, as well as an enduring and realistic call to social responsibility. How might a fuller development of this relationship help us to (at once) savor and serve the world around us? Find your feet this morning on the rock of universal love as we explore the voice from within that calls us toward justice, unity and compassion.

Jason Seymour is an aspiring Unitarian Universalist minister. He is particularly interested in economic justice and the arts. Jason received a Master of Divinity degree, with a concentration in social ethics, in May from Union Theological Seminary in New York City; he received undergraduate degrees from Bucknell University in Business and Music.

the Women's Alliance Book Group will meet Thursday, March 4th, at 7:00 in Classroom 1. "Yellow Raft on Blue Water" by Michael Dorris is the selection. The same story is told by a Native American mother, daughter and grandmother in the voice of each. The story is so authentic that many people believe that it was actually written by Dorris's wife, Louise Erdich.

Why should we explore our personal spirituality in community? What does being a part of the Unitarian Universalist Association really mean for us?

Women's Alliance is planning a truly special meeting for March. Our guest speakers will be Jody Wood and Carmen Salavarrieta, co-founders of Angels in Action, a non-profit group that is doing exceptional work with Latino immigrants here in Plainfield. We have asked them to talk about the activities of their organization, the situation in general of immigrants here in Plainfield, and to share part of their own personal stories. Don't miss this interesting and informative meeting. We will meet on Saturday March 27th from 10 AM to noon in the Stevens Room. (Notice that this is not our usual 3rd Saturday.) Please notify Bonnie Rowan several days in advance if you need childcare.

Also, don't miss the one woman play about Eleanor Roosevelt being given on Friday, March 19th. Details can be found elsewhere in the website/newsletter. This is a much needed fund raiser for Women's Alliance and the Welcoming committee. Please support our efforts and come out for a great evening of entertainment.

Moses, Passover, obstacles, and justice are themes of this morning’s service.