Past Weeks at UU Westside
Dear People of Westside:
This is a very important week for us for many reasons. A LOT that matters is happening! Please read below so you don’t miss anything!
- This Sunday is our Annual Meeting. You have been sent a formal announcement, an Agenda, and a copy of our current By-laws. Please make sure you are either AT the meeting or submit your votes to Nika Quirk by email BEFORE midnight Saturday, January 18th. If you are a friend of the congregation, we value your participation. You can expect to contribute to discussion without voting.
- A Potluck Lunch precedes our Annual Meeting. Please bring a dish of your choice to share with your community- labelled with ingredients if possible. Plan to arrive a few minutes early so you can drop your dish off in the kitchen before the service starts.
- We will be moving BACK into the Sanctuary for the meeting, so plan your meal and conversation with a 12:30 start for the meeting in mind. Please remember our No Food/Drink policy for the Sanctuary.
Here are a few other announcements:
A chanting group is being formed to support peace around the world. Anyone interested should talk to Cathie Frank or Terri Del Curto. It is tentatively planned for the 2nd and 4th Saturdays at 10:45am at the church.
Our service this week is in honor of Martin Luther King Jr. Day. Rev. Nancy and Wendy Dampier are co-leading this service. Expect to be challenged and inspired!
I apologize for the format for this newsletter and for what I am sure is missing information. I cannot access the newsletter info email, nor can I sign into Breeze using Chrome the way I need to because my computer blew its video chip. I have a new computer on order. If you emailed me info for this newsletter that needs to get out to people this week, please resend it to my ministeruuwc@gmail.com address and I will send out a supplement. I cannot account for why I can get into Breeze through Internet Explorer but not Chrome- and if this comes through really garbled we’ll know that it didn’t work as well as I’d hoped!
Shalom!
Rev. Nancy
Dear People of Westside,
There is a lot happening in the next week, so please check below carefully to make sure you don’t miss anything!
- New Mexico State Representative Kathleen Cates will give a preview of the 2026 NM Legislative Session on January 10 at UUWC. One of the hardest working representatives in Santa Fe, Kathleen has significant knowledge on a wide range of issues that may be considered. The Legislative session begins on January 20th. Bring your questions and concerns. Our event begins at 2:00 pm. in the sanctuary and is presented by UUWC and the Democratic Party of Sandoval County.
- No Street Project this Saturday. Stay tuned! Hobbit/Terri 505 712 4004.
- The Anti Racist Book Club will be meeting on Friday, January 16 at 9:00 a.m. at Whispering Bean Coffee shop, on Corrales Rd. We will be discussing Part 2 of the book “Belonging without Othering”. This is a powerful and thought-provoking book about finding new ways to embrace diversity and form truly equitable communities where everyone is a member, not just a “guest”. Haven’t read the book? No worries: You’ll still be able to participate. Our discussions are always lively, thought-provoking and relevant. Questions: Contact Jen Tripp Zillich: 505-235-0375; jtrippzillich@
yahoo.com. - The leadership training session scheduled for this Saturday has been rescheduled to January 24.
- The Women’s Group has been rescheduled from Thursday, Jan 8th to Friday, Jan 9th at 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room.
- No Human is Illegal will be meeting January 13th 6 pm. We will be discussing ways to support sponsors of the upcoming House Bill to shut down ICE detention centers in New Mexico. We will be having a potluck. If you are interested, contact Dee at deeoz2018@gmail.com or speak to her at church by January 11th.
- Come Join the No Human is Illegal committee during fellowship hall time to write letters to our legislators in regard to NOT having ICE detention centers in New Mexico. We will be in the Gallery with form letters, addresses etc. for your legislators, and yes, a list of who those people are!
If you are looking for ongoing events, check the front page of our website or Breeze.
Our service this Sunday is titled, “Taoism and UU’s”. Tom Hughes will be our primary presenter. Come discover some interesting parallels between Taoism and Unitarian Universalists!
It is with sadness that I share the news of the death of Bill Carey. Bill died this past Sunday, after a long illness. He and his wife, Barbara, are long-time members of our congregation- from pre-pandemic days. They were able to join us for a while earlier in 2025 before Bills health declined. We extend our deep sympathy and support to Barbara and their family. No services are planned.
Join us for a Rally on Saturday Jan 10, 10 am – to honor Renee Nicole Good, murdered by ICE Agent in Minneapolis.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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Dear People of Westside:
HAPPY NEW YEAR! In the face of both national and international headlines, that may seem like a trite sentiment- but I think it’s actually more important than ever! It’s a lot easier to wish each other happiness when things are comfortable overall; it seems more realistic. However, we all know that hope does not depend on realism, it depends on vision and love and goals. We need to cultivate all of these things in our interpersonal and community lives as part of coping with the serious realities we are struggling with- so I’m going to repeat it again as a sincere hope for all of us: HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
Here is the list of events and news you need to launch that new year at UUWC:
- The Women’s Group is meeting on Friday, January 2nd at 2;30-4pm in the Conference Rm. We will be continuing to explore the Five Gates of Grief with Claire Shawhan. It is not necessary to have participated in previous sessions to join this one! All are welcome.
- Rio Rancho Feed the Kids will be assembling Snack/backpacks on Tuesday, Jan. 6th at 9am in the Gallery.
- We will be taking the quarterly collection for Southwestern Reservation Aid as we Honor the Land this Sunday, January 4. Please make checks out to UUWC with SWRA in the memo line. Cash is also welcome and will be directed to SWRA.
- OASIS has school children waiting eagerly for someone to read with them. Can you help out? Mentoring a student one hour each week makes a huge difference in their school experience. One more volunteer means we can do the training at UUWC! Contact Laurel Anderson [andersonlaurel@yahoo.com] if you are interested. Potential training date in late January. Please confirm your interest AGAIN if you have already contacted her!
- At 12:00 noon this Saturday, January 3rd, the Love at the Center Art Project will meet for one hour on the corner of Southern and Pinetree. Please join us to keep Hope alive. Hobbit/ Terri 505 712 4004
- Come join the No Human Is Illegal committee during Fellowship time to write letters to our legislators in regard to eliminating detention centers in New Mexico. Form letters provided; come add your own thoughts! Make your voice heard.
- The Programming Committee meets this Sunday, Jan. 4th at 12:30 pm in the Conference Room! Everyone interested in any aspect of our Sunday services, Religious Ed, or other spiritually focused affinity groups is welcome to join the conversation and planning!
Our service this Sunday is titled, “Seeking Wisdom”. We will be exploring how the interfaith approach of UU’s supports a lifetime goal of wisdom, along with practical strategies for how we can learn from material that is “not our thing” at first glance. We will also be receiving the final Membership Class of 2025 into membership- so come to welcome and celebrate them!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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Greetings Fellow Westsiders:
The calendar for our regularly scheduled activities is BOTH on Breeze under the “Events” tag, AND online at our website: uuwestside.org. It is on the front page- just scroll down to find it! Here is a list of special and seasonal events, along with some information about our extended church family.
I hope your winter holidays are filled with light and the love of family and friends. Our HumanLight Celebration and our Christmas Eve Service were both very well attended, with close to 50 people at each event. We enjoyed each others company and lots of good food and community building. Due to the busyness of holiday scheduling, there are only a few things happening at UUWC this week. Our event calendar is online at: uuwestside.org, so check it if you have questions about regularly scheduled events. Here’s the update and service information for this Sunday:
- AT 12 N on Saturday the LOVE AT THE CENTER project will meet at Southern/Pinetree in Rio Rancho for 1 hour. Join us to extend the holiday spirit of giving our best values to passersby!
- The Social Justice Committee WILL be meeting on Sunday 12/28 at 12:30 in the Conference Room!
- The final Membership Class of 2025 will be held on Monday, Dec. 29th at 6:30pm-8pm in the Social Hall. Desert will be served! Reception into membership will occur in the Sunday service on Jan.4th.
This week’s service is titled, “The Fire of New Life“. Rev. Nancy and Rev. Carole Eagleheart will lead us in celebrating Kwanzaa and our traditional Burning Bowl ritual to launch the new year. This marks the last of our December “Light in the Darkness” themed services. Thank-you SO MUCH to the many people who have helped with all of the details, tasks, and decor for these services. Together we have created a meaningful and beautiful experience for our community.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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- If you are interested in membership at UUWC, please make sure to let Rev.Nancy know. We will be hosting the last membership class of 2025 within the next 2 weeks. If you have received an email from Rev. Nancy asking about dates/times, please RSVP to her ASAP.
- Antiracist Book Club:: December 19, 9-11 am. We will be reading and discussing Part One of Belonging Without Othering: How We Save Ourselves and the World by John A Powell and Stephen Mendendian. We will meet at Whispering Bean next to Sprouts on Corrales Rd.
- Come join together in warmth and friendship this Saturday the 20th at the corner of Southern and Pinetree for the Love at the Center Art Project. We will meet at 12Noon for one hour bringing joy and smiles to all that pass by. Hobbit/Terri 505 712 4004
- You are invited to a Yule Candlelight Ritual on Saturday evening. There will be a potluck at 6:00 and the ritual will begin at 7:00. The ritual will include music, meditation and dance. It is sponsored by Moonspirit CUUPS, our UUWC chapter of the Covenant of UU Pagans. If you have never been to a ritual, this is a good one to attend.
- Our first ever HumanLight Celebration is Tuesday, Dec. 23rd from 2-4pm in the Social Hall. Our Humanist Group is sponsoring this event, which will included singing and games and food and merriment as well as a meaningful ceremony. Come and learn more about what HumanLight is about and celebrate with your community!
- We are looking for people who would like to sing together on Christmas Eve in our “pop-up” choir. If you are interested, contact Carole Eagleheart [ceagleheart@gmail.com] or just show up at 5pm to rehearse on Christmas Eve!
- Our Christmas Eve Service is at 6pm on Wednesday evening. It will be a service of carols and stories and candlelight, followed by a light supper of soup, bread, a beverage, and cookies. Bring friends and family to celebrate with you!
- Our service this Sunday will be our “Winter Solstice Celebration”. It will be led by people from CUUPS, our Humanist Group, and Rev. Nancy- a great example of shared ministry. It will also include familiar music, thought provoking stories, and candles of many colors! It will be followed by our Potluck Lunch and Town Hall Meeting.
- Please remember your Potluck dish for Sunday! Labelled if possible, especially for Vegan/Gluten free/sugar free/vegetarian/nut free options. Please plan to arrive a few minutes early to drop your dish off before the service begins.
We have also had two recent deaths among our extended church family in the past few weeks:
- Rebecca Stover, daughter of John and Pat Stover, died on December 2nd. Cards may be sent to their home in Rio Rancho.
- Eric Mattson, partner of Melinda Lewis, died on December 13th. Cards and email may be sent to Melinda. Please do not try to text or call; Melinda is between cell phones. She would appreciate a time of privacy before renewing social connections. Gifts in memory of Eric may be made to the Animal Humane Society of New Mexico.
I hope you are finding the daily Reflections that are being sent to you during December to be meaningful. The scope and depth of expression in our congregation is wonderful!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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Greetings People of Westside! I hope you are finding joy each day as we move through December. It’s often a busy time of year- and UUWC is no exception. Below is a list of our activities and a list of Holiday celebrations. Hope to see you there!
- The Women’s Group meets tomorrow/Thursday at 2:30-4 pm in the Conference Room. Please use the Courtyard door. Claire will present Part II of her material on Grief.
- The weather forecast for this Saturday, December 13 is 61 degrees. What a warm beautiful day to gather together for Love at the Center Project. We will meet at 12:00 for one hour on the corner of Southern and Pinetree. Join us to share Hope for the World. Hobbit/Terri 505 712 4004.
- Council meets at 12:30 pm on Sunday in the Conference Room.
- Twin-Spirit Group meets Sunday at 1:30 in the Gallery Room.
Holiday Activities:
- Thank you to those who put up seasonal decorations last week. There are a few more that need to find a home in the Social Hall, so if you’d like to help out with that please plan to stay for short time after coffee hour to put the up after the tables come down.
- The Humanist Group is sponsoring our first-ever “HumanLight Celebration” on Tuesday, December 23rd at 2pm. There will be food, games, songs and all kinds of general merriment as well as a time of meaningful celebration. Come discover what this holiday is all about!
- We are recruiting people who like to sing for a “pop-up” choir at our Christmas Eve service. If you would like to join in, please contact Carole Eagleheart. ceagleheart@gmail.com
- On Christmas Eve we will hold a special service at 6pm. The service will offer a UU perspective on “Lessons and Carols” in keeping with the larger tradition. We will have a choir and beautiful live music. The service will be followed by a light supper of soup, bread, a beverage, and cookies. Please consider attending and including family and friends.
Our service this week is titled: “Shining Through”. It will include an exploration of the holidays of Bodhi Day and Hanukkah. Stevie Williams and Laurel Anderson will lead the celebrations, along with Rev. Nancy. There will be special holiday foods as well!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Greetings Fellow Westsiders!
I have seen real snow on the Sandia’s today! I know that doesn’t thrill everyone, but it certainly heralds the winter holidays in a grand way. Fall is officially behind us and UUWC is moving ahead with seasonal planning. Our regularly scheduled activities are on our calendar on our website: uuwestside.org Here are announcements of additional opportunities:
- No Human is Illegal: December 10th at 6:00 pm. We will meet to discuss ways to help our immigrant community. We join together and share a potluck meal. If you plan to attend, email Dee at deeoz2018@gmail.com or speak to her at church by December 7th.
- If you want to have a fun interactive experience, please join our “Love at the Center Art Project.” Saturday, December 7th, at 12:00 on the corner of Southern and Pinetree in Rio Rancho. It is a fun way to get to know each other and to make a difference. Contact Hobbit or Terri 505 712 4004.
- We need people to help decorate the Sanctuary! We have a Christmas tree and ornaments, garland and ropes of white lights. We need people to put them up after our service this Sunday. If that’s you, please report to the Sanctuary after coffee hour! Thank you for your willingness to decorate our space.
- We need people who like to SING. Our Christmas Eve service is Wed. Dec.24th at 6pm. It is a service of music and story- and we need a choir (and maybe a soloist?) to lead us in song. Please speak to Carole Eagleheart after the service on Sunday if you are interested.
- Aeryn and Lisa Dowling-Toland are moving to Canada next week! they are going to try to be on hand Sunday so that we can say goodbye. They also have a list of assorted things they cannot move with them. If you are interested, the information is in an attachment at the bottom of the newsletter.
This week our service begins our holiday season. Titled, “The Advent of the Grinch”, we will be exploring both Advent and the story of the Grinch as part of our journey from dark into light. Candles will be lit and candy will be had! Each week during December we will explore more traditions and enrich our understanding of how people have pursued Light in the Dark from many different perspectives.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
We had a visitor today who cleared out a lot of our liquor cabinet! The remaining inventory is:
- Jameson Irish whiskey
- Dewar’s white label blended scotch
- Cazul 100 silver reserve tequila
- Lemon Hart & Son overproof rum
- The Kraken spiced dark rum
- Tanqueray gin
- Velvet Falernum liqueur
- Campari liqueur
- Ancho Reyes chile liqueur
- Lazzaroni Maraschino liqueur
- Benedictine liqueur
- Kirschwasser Cherry brandy
- Rumple Minze peppermint schnapps liqueur
- Cherry Heering liqueur
Here are Pantry items:
- Whole wheat flour (most of a bag)
- Bread flour (whole bag)
- Harissa chicken sauce (jar, unopened)
- Apricot & Coriander sauce (jar, unopened)
- Panko breadcrumbs (partial box)
- Seasoned Parmesan breadcrumbs (partial tub)
- Onion powder (2/3 full 22 oz container)
- Almond extract (1/3 full 4oz bottle)
- Evaporated milk (2 cans)
- Cento tomatoes (28 oz can)
- Jelly donut making kit with jar of raspberry jelly
- Everything bagel making kit
Dear People of Westside:
Happy Thanksgiving! I hope your holiday is blessed by the presence of those who are meaningful in your life- family, friends, the furry, the feathered, the scaled and finned- whoever brings you joy and makes you feel connected to the web of life! There are no regularly scheduled activities between now and the next newsletter. As always, the calendar is on the front page (bottom) of our website: uuwestside.org
Here are two announcements that apply to this weekend:
- Our Love At the Center project will gather again this Saturday, Nov. 29th at 12N. We will be at the intersection of Southern Blvd and Pinetree St, opposite the Rio Rancho P.O. Join us for a positive affirmation of our values. Signage is provided! If you have questions, please contact either Hobbit or Terri @ 505-712-4004.
- The LAST DAY TO DONATE FOR ASYLUM CHILDREN’S CHRISTMAS IS THIS SUNDAY, NOV. 30TH. We have joined with the Placitas Presbyterian Church to collect small stuffed animals, coloring books and crayons, markers, colored pencils, and books (in Spanish if possible) and other small toys for immigrant children. THANK-YOU! No Human Is Illegal Border Committee.
- Our December Meditations are being formatted for delivery. Each day during December you will receive an email titled “December Meditation”. In it you will find an inspiring, or moving, or humorous, or thought-provoking, or comforting message from a member of our congregation. This is a community project designed to help us help each other to find light at the darkest time (literally!) of the year. All meditations are signed, so feel free to let the person who contributed it know you appreciate it! If you don’t find it in your inbox, please check your spam and/or promotional folders. The meditations will also be posted on our website if the elves are messing with your Breeze connection!
- This Sunday is our Nov. Potluck and Town Hall Meeting! Please bring your Thanksgiving leftovers- or any special treat- to church with you. There will be turkey, so bring the “fixins”. If your dish needs to be served warm, please use a crockpot if possible. Small dishes may be reheated in the microwave. If your dish arrives warm, we can keep it warm in the oven. However, our oven is NOT REACHING TEMPERATURE and is not hot enough to cook food. Please do not bring frozen dishes to cook or cold dishes to reheat from the fridge. Dishes served at room temperature or cooler are not a problem. Please help our Kitchen Crew by labelling your dish, including serving instructions as needed.
- Following our Potluck Thanksgiving meal, we will hold our Town Hall Meeting. Nika Quirk, our Moderator, will lead the meeting. We have a full agenda so please plan to stay as we get ready for elections and budgets and the 2026 year!
Our service this Sunday is titled, “Harvest Service”. We will be exploring the sense of harvest and thankfulness we hold as individuals and as a community, despite the rampant terror tactics at loose in our world. Come celebrate your joys with your congregation! This is an abbreviated service that will adjourn to the Social Hall for our special shared meal ~ 11:45, so that we have plenty of time to eat and socialize together in addition to paying responsible attention to our congregational issues.
With Gratitude,
Rev. Nancy
Dear People of Westside,
This past weekend was the occasion of a VERY successful 4th Annual Enchanted Vision Art Show! We experienced record sales and enjoyed a wonderful and expansive experience of community. Many of us now have new art around us, and all who attended were enriched by the transformative influence of very powerful art. Our thanks to the scores (literally) of people who helped with set-up, hanging/displaying the art, food donations, food preparation, food service, taking unsold art down, returning it to its creator. deconstructing our display panels and tables, Parking Lot monitoring on Friday evening, and of course, all of our ARTISTS. If you were unable to participate in this event, I invite you to look ahead to 2026, which will be our 5th Annual Art Show! During the next week our Men’s Group, Drumming Circle, and Social Justice Committee all meet. Check our calendar at either Breeze (the calendar is listed at Events) or our website: uuwestside.org. (scroll down; it’s on the front page!) for specific dates and times.
Here are the special announcements for this week:
- Our Love At the Center project will meet this Saturday, November 22nd at 12:00 noon at Southern Blvd and Pinetree in Rio Rancho. No signs needed (they will be provided!) just a peaceful mind. Come for a short while or a long time! Any questions ask Hobbit or Terri 505 712 4004.
- Tom Hughes is offering guided tours (either individual or group) of Petroglyph National Monument’s Piedras Marcadas Canyon which borders on the south side of the Paradise Hills neighborhood. Tom is a trained and experienced National Park Service trail watch volunteer there. Speak to him during Coffee Hour and/or pick up a brochure from the information table inside the Social Hall door.
- Judy Deutsch has sent us information about “Medicare for All” legislation. click on the links below to access and respond to it. Contact info for your legislators is at the very end. Scroll!
- Next Sunday, November 30th, is a special service. We will gather in the Sanctuary as usual at 11am. We will move to the Social Hall for a “Bring-Your-Leftovers-to-
Church-with-You” celebration of Thanksgiving. This is the theme for our Potluck Lunch. Town Hall meeting will follow, as usual.
Our service this week is titled, “Fear Not!” Rev. Nancy and Rev. Kay Johnson will be hosting an exploration of constructive responses to living in the real world today. Expect to hear some “probably-new-to-most-of-us” material about managing fear and building serenity and joy. It will range from hard-core science to the paranormal, so come prepared for the ride!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Medicare for All, a single payer healthcare system,
The United States healthcare system was rated fourteenth in quality, highest in cost, and lowest in life expectancy in 2024, according to research conducted by the Foundation for Research On Equal Opportunity. Prices and administrative costs, as well as the profits many people make from our health-care system, are thought to account for its high cost.
The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that Medicare for All would save our healthcare system $650 billion a year, and researchers at Yale University have estimated that Medicare for All would save the United States 68,900 lives a year. According to a Reuters poll taken in 2018, 70% of Ameriicans and 84% of Democrats are in favor of Medicare for All.
Senator Sanders and Representative Jayapal have each introduced Medicare for All bills for a number of years. The controversy over privatization of Medicare about a year ago made some Medicare for All supporters think that the time may have come to be able to enact Medicare for All. And the Unitarian Universalists for A Just Economic Community (UUJEC) are working to get UUs to ask their national legislators to endorse S.1506 (Sanders’ bill) and H.R.3069 (Jayapal’s bill).. Although the American Medical Association has long been opposed to single-payer health care (long before Medicare existed), Physicians for A National Health Program and Nurses United are strongly in favor of it.
And I want you to ask your national legislators to endorse S.1506 and H.R.3069.
They are much alike, and if Medicare for All is enacted, the two bills will become one.
I was astonished by one thing I found in both bills—that people with disabilities will no longer have to wait 24 months to get Medicare, as they do now. That is, I had no idea that they had to wait now.
Some of the highlights I found in the bills are:
*all residents of the United States are entitled to benefits under Medicare for All;
*any individual who is entitled to benefits under this Act may obtain health care items and services from any institution, agency or individual qualified to participate under this Act in the United States;
*there will be automatic enrollment of babies born and of people establishing residency;
- benefits shall first be available on January 1 of the the fourth year beginning after the enactment of this Act and there will be a Transition Procedure to help people before then;
*there will be institutional long-term care;
‘*the Medicare for All Trust Fund is to be created on the books of the United States Treasurer—it will include taxes and, during the initial year, it shall include receipts from current health programs (Medicare, Medicaid, the maternal and child health programs).
Reverend Judy Deutsch
Member, UUWC
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Greetings People of Westside!
Our regularly scheduled meetings and activities are on our website calendar at uuwestside.org Below are the announcements about our special events this week. If the announcements fail to appear on your screen, click on the attachment to view them. If the numbered announcements open, you only need to view the Art Show flyer, not the newsletter attachment.
- Our 4th annual Enchanted Vision Art Show is this weekend! We will feature 32 artists and 90 large pieces of art, plus hundreds of smaller pieces of art, calendars and cards. Friday is the opening night gala with wine and hors d’oeuvres. Saturday will feature demonstrations of collage quilting, painting, and drawing, along with live Native American flute music. Sunday after the service you can catch the final afternoon of the show.
- The hours are on the attached flyer. Be sure to post it on social media and in emails to your friends.
- If you’ve signed up to bring refreshments, don’t forget to deliver them on Friday. Thanks to all the volunteers for their help in checking in the artists, transporting the special display panels, hanging the show, providing outside lighting, assisting with parking, and so many other details. It takes a village to make this a spectacular event!
- No Human Is Illegal: On November 19th at 6 pm the immigrant group will be meeting to discuss strategies for implementing actions to support our immigrant brother and sisters. We will discuss possible humanitarian aide, safety concerns, protests, and legislation. If you are interested, contact Dee Curry at deeoz2018@gmail.com. This will be a time and space to commune with fellow UU’s who are concerned about this population. If you have ideas that we can implement to support this group, please join us for a potluck gathering.
- Project for the Border Children: We have been helping another congregation, Placitas Presbyterian, to help immigrants during this challenging time in the US. We are collecting items to send to asylum children for the holidays. If you are interested in helping, there are two large plastic containers in the Conference Room, behind the bookcase. They are for collecting and storing the following items: SMALL STUFFED ANIMALS, COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYON, MARKERS, OR COLORED PENCILS, BOOKS (PREFERABLY IN SPANISH), OR OTHER SMALL TOYS. I will be emptying them weekly so we will have enough room. I would like all donations, to be here by the last Sunday in November. Thanks, No Human is Illegal border committee.
Our service this week is titled, “We Are UU”. Rev. Nancy will be offering her annual “State of Our Congregation” address, assisted by Theresa Watson. She will offer a glimpse of our roots, an overview of our current status, and our hopes for the future. The service will be followed by a brief “cocktail style” coffee hour. There will still be art on display in all of our spaces, so we will not be setting up our usual tables. There are NO MEETINGS SCHEDULED for this Sunday. Our customary 3rd Sunday Potluck and Town Hall Meeting have been rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 30th, the 5th Sunday of the month. That Potluck will be a “Bring Your Leftovers to Church” Sunday, followed by our Town Hall Meeting.
Hope to see you at the Art Show AND on Sunday!!
Rev. Nancy
Below are the announcements for the week. You only need to read them if the text of the newsletter did NOT come through. If you received the newsletter, this is a repeat.
No Human Is Illegal: On November 19th at 6 pm the immigrant group will be meeting to discuss strategies for implementing actions to support our immigrant brother and sisters. We will discuss possible humanitarian aide, safety concerns, protests, and legislation. If you are interested, contact Dee Curry at deeoz2018@gmail.com. This will be a time and space to commune with fellow UU’s who are concerned about this population. If you have ideas that we can implement to support this group, please join us for a potluck gathering.
Project for the Border Children:
We have been helping another congregation, Placitas Presbyterian, to help immigrants during this challenging time in the US. We are collecting items to send to asylum children for the holidays.
If you are interested in helping, there are two large plastic containers in the Fellowship Hall. They are for collecting and storing the following items: SMALL STUFFED ANIMALS, COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYON, MARKERS, OR COLORED PENCILS, BOOKS (PREFERABLY IN SPANISH), OR OTHER SMALL TOYS. I will be emptying them weekly so we will have enough room. I would like all donations, to be here by the last Sunday in November. Thanks, No Human is Illegal border committee.
Our 4th annual Enchanted Vision Art Show is this weekend! We will feature 32 artists and 90 large pieces of art, plus hundreds of smaller pieces of art, calendars and cards.
Friday is the opening night gala with wine and hors d’oeuvres. Saturday will feature demonstrations of collage quilting, painting, and drawing, along with live Native American flute music. Sunday after the service you can catch the final afternoon of the show.
The hours are on the attached flyer. Be sure to post it on social media and in emails to your friends.
If you’ve signed up to bring refreshments, don’t forget to deliver them on Friday. Thanks to all the volunteers for their help in checking in the artists, transporting the special display panels, hanging the show, providing outside lighting, assisting with parking, and so many other details. It takes a village to make this a spectacular event!
Our service this week is titled, “We Are UU”. Rev. Nancy will be offering her annual “State of Our Congregation” address, assisted by Theresa Watson. She will offer a glimpse of our roots, an overview of our current status, and our hopes for the future. The service will be followed by a brief “cocktail style” coffee hour. There will still be art on display in all of our spaces, so we will not be setting up our usual tables. There are NO MEETINGS SCHEDULED for this Sunday. Our customary 3rd Sunday Potluck and Town Hall Meeting have been rescheduled for Sunday, Nov. 30th, the 5th Sunday of the month. That Potluck will be a “Bring Your Leftovers to Church” Sunday, followed by our Town Hall Meeting.
Hope to see you at the Art Show AND on Sunday!!
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Greetings UUWC!
Last week about 30 people showed up on Saturday morning to clean our building and grounds. Many different projects were worked on and everyone’s efforts are really on display- there is a crisp freshness to our building and grounds that does your efforts proud! In the process, more of us got to know more of us- I know that sounds awkward, but it’s literally accurate. This was a community building event that has generated a renewed sense of warmth and friendship among us. Thanks to EVERYONE who did ANYTHING to help with this seasonal project. Special thanks to Delbert Schafer and Hobbit Merritt who lead our Facilities and Cleaning teams. We’re looking forward to renewing our efforts next spring.
Thank you, also, to the entire UUWC congregation who celebrated Clergy Appreciation Month on my behalf on Sunday morning. Nika Quirk [our Council Moderator] made a lovely presentation on behalf of the congregation, gifting me with a beautifully embroidered shawl as a token of your esteem. It was a deeply moving moment for me. I will keep the card so many of you signed and wear the shawl with joy on the next occasion that I lead our service. The ministries we share as minister and congregation hold a special place in my heart. Thank you for this special occasion. The calendar for our regularly scheduled events is online at our website: uuwestside.org They are on the front page; scroll down!
If the announcements below don’t come through properly in your email, look for an attachment at the bottom of the page and try that. If you still cannot access the information, please email Rev. Nancy and let her know!
Here is a list of additional announcements for this week:
- A big thank you to those who have signed up already to bring food to opening night of the Art Show– Friday, Nov. 14th- and a big please and thank you to those who are planning to do so soon! We need finger food – fruit and veggie trays, cheese and crackers etc. See Laurel Anderson to sign up. andersonlaurel@yahoo.com
- No Human Is Illegal: On November 19th at 6 pm the immigrant group will be meeting to discuss strategies for implementing actions to support our immigrant brother and sisters. We will discuss possible humanitarian aid, safety concerns, protests, and legislation. If you are interested, contact Dee Curry at deeoz2018@gmail.com. This will be a time and space to commune with fellow UU’s who are concerned about this population. If you have ideas that we can implement to support this group, please join us for a potluck gathering.
- Project for the Border Children: We have been helping another congregation, Placitas Presbyterian, to help immigrants during this challenging time in the US. We are collecting items to send to asylum children for the holidays. If you are interested in helping, there are two large plastic containers in the Fellowship Hall. They are for collecting and storing the following items: SMALL STUFFED ANIMALS, COLORING BOOKS AND CRAYON, MARKERS, OR COLORED PENCILS, BOOKS (PREFERABLY IN SPANISH), OR OTHER SMALL TOYS. Dee will be emptying them weekly so we will have enough room. She would like all donations, to be here by the last Sunday in November. Thanks, No Human is Illegal Border Committee.Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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Greetings People of Westside!
Our service this Sunday is “A Time for Remembering,” led by Carole Eagleheart and the Covenant of UU Pagans. This is the annual service when we celebrate the festival of Samhain (pronounced SAH-win), a time of remembering the lives of our loved ones who have died. Please bring photos of your loved ones to place on the altar.
This past week was noteworthy for the special service we held last Sunday. Together with the Albuquerque UU Fellowship, we co-hosted Deb Haaland as a guest speaker in our service. The service was titled, “Living Our Values”. Deb spoke to her lived experiences and how they shaped her awareness of the needs of the people of New Mexico and how her personal struggle to thrive drives her desire to serve them. Her presentation was followed by our Congregational Response in which she addressed our concerns and reinforced her message about serving our state. This was a unique opportunity for us as UU’s to put our Core Values together with our passion for Social Justice.
Our thanks go to a number of people who worked behind the scenes to make this event happen in a well coordinated and joyful way. We served 90 people at this event. Our thanks to Terri Del Curto and greeters Jan Walters, Carl Noennig, Janet Bellamy and Laurel Anderson; to ushers Margot Parrish and Karen Schafer; to parking lot directors Jon Fischer, Dale McLaughlin, Theresa Watson, Rob Green and Rich Guidi for safely parking all those vehicles! Thank you to Grace Poley and Norma McLaughlin for pulling off a very well attended Coffee Hour, and to our own Rev. Carole Eagleheart for coordinating more details than can be counted with the Fellowship and Deb’s assistants. Thanks to Wendy Dampier for running our slides during the service, to Charlie Merritt for helping with a more complex sound system set-up than we customarily need, and to all of you who obligingly “scooched over” to make more room in our pews and/or seated yourselves in the Social Hall to free up Sanctuary seating. This was a rousing success for UUWC! You were all very gracious as hosts to our sister congregation in Albuquerque- more than one of whom later commented that they’d like to do something like this again and/or that they might come visit us in the future.
This week, the busyness continues. Our regularly scheduled events can be found at our website; the calendar is on our front page. [uuwestside.org] Please check for your activities there. Below are announcements of substance for events that either will occur or need to be prepared for in the coming week
- Reminder that from 9-noon, Nov. 1 will be a Workday at UUWC. Interior and Exterior tasks will be available. Send an email to Delbert at schafer42@gmail.com for information and to confirm your attendance. Added incentive: lunch will be served at noon.
- The Social Justice Committee is sponsoring a presentation on Palestine by Katherine Hughes Fraitekh on November 1 at 2 PM. She is the director and co-founder of Solidarity 2020 and Beyond and works with multiple peace activist organizations. She is a passionate and well-versed speaker. This event is in the Sanctuary.
- On Nov. 8th the Programming Committee is inviting anyone interested in making our Sunday services more meaningful to participate in our first ever workshop. We will hold 2 sessions; come for either or both! From 9:30-12N we will explore the purpose and goals of our services and ways to increase our effectiveness at achieving them. Lunch (by Stevie Williams) is at noon, followed at 1-2:30 by a session titled: How to Write the Manuscript. If you serve as an associate, this session is for you! It is NOT about how to write the presentation/sermon. The manuscript is the glue that holds the service together! Please REGESTER FOR THIS EVENT with Rev. Nancy. We need an accurate headcount for lunch and for resource materials we will provide.
- CUUPS (the Covenant of UU Pagans) will hold a ritual this Saturday night celebrating the Celtic festival Samhain (pronounced SAH-win). There will be a potluck beginning at 6:00, with the ritual starting at 7:00. This is a meditative ritual marking one of the most sacred times in the year, observing the circle of life, death and rebirth. If you have never been to a ritual before, you may find it very meaningful. All are welcome.
- Our December Reflections: Light in the Dark project is underway! You are invited to participate in contributing to it. This is an online/email daily reflection that will arrive in your inbox each day in December. The goal is to offer each other a reflection that brings us light in the darkest month of the year. 2025 has been a very dark year, and we need to support each other. You may write a poem, or quote one, or share a memory or your thoughts about either the theme itself or any of the many holidays in December. We can only accept words, not photos or music etc. There will be a large paper calendar at Coffee Hour to sign up for the date of your choice. Thank you to those who rushed to do so at the Oct. Town Hall Meeting! We need your submission ASAP!
- Shalom, Rev. Nancy
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Dear People of Westside,
This season is an extraordinarily busy one for UUWC. There is a LOT of very important information in this newsletter, so please read it carefully in order to make sure you don’t miss anything that is important to you. Events you may already be aware of also have new information available, so make sure you read those too! Our calendar of regularly scheduled events is on our website. You may reach that here: https://uuwestside.org/ That information will not be repeated here.
In the order they occur on our calendar, here are the major upcoming events:
- OPEN MIC NIGHT: Please come and display your talents of playing music, reading poetry, prose, dancing, magic, comedy etc. at the Westside UU Open Mic on Oct. 24th at 7pm in the sanctuary. Members and friends are all invited. Please contact Claire Shawhan at darbyshawn63@gmail.com for more information.
- On Saturday at 2pm we will hold a Memorial Service for Gary Johnston in our sanctuary. Gary has actively supported UUWC for many years in a variety of ways. He was our designated grill cook for July 4th barbecues and he also built our lower labyrinth. Come to celebrate his life and share some of your own stories about him. The congregation is invited to the service at 2pm and to the reception that will follow in the Social Hall.
- Our service this week is titled, “Living Our Values”. Rev. Nancy and Carole Eagleheart will co-host this service with the Albuquerque UU Fellowship. Our speaker will be the Honorable Deb Haaland, former Secretary of the Interior and current gubernatorial candidate. She will be speaking about how her experiences from childhood have shaped her values, and how she lives them out as a politician in today’s world. THIS IS OUR REGULARLY SCHEDULED SERVICE. It will include all of our regular service elements. We have not promoted this event outside of our own congregations; we expect to have a full house. Our seating and parking are limited, so please be aware that in order to seat our guests, we may need to seat our members in the Social Hall. If this happens, you will be able to hear the entire service clearly. We will make sure that Joys/Concerns, Gifts of Love/Commitment, and Congregational Response time include those seated in the Social Hall. Ms. Haaland is not available for Q&A or conversation after the service. We will be able to engage in conversation with her during our customary “Congregational Response Time”. If you have a response to make to Ms. Haaland, we are asking that individual people NOT thank her personally for her message. Please state your name (as usual) and ask your question/offer your comment. You will use up valuable time if you insist on thanking her personally; please limit yourself to a brief response so everyone who wishes to can respond to her. Please do not invite this-time-only guests to this service; we may be unable to seat you. Bear in mind that we will be seating guests first in the Sanctuary and asking members to move to the Social Hall if additional seating is needed. Coffee Hour and our Social Justice Meeting will occur as always following the service. Our parking lot will be monitored by people prepared to direct parking; please follow their directions closely. This is an unusual opportunity for UUWC; we need to be able to park and seat everyone safely. Please follow the directions of our Parking Lot Attendants and Greeters to ensure this.
- Please join us for a UUWC Workday from 9 am to Noon on Nov. 1. We will spruce up the grounds and building prior to our Enchanted Vision Art show. Bring tools, or we will provide. Lunch will be served. Contact Delbert Schafer, Hobbit Merritt, or Dale McLaughlin for information.
- ON Saturday, Nov. 1st at 2pm the Social Justice Committee is sponsoring a presentation by Katherine Hughes Fraitekh about Palestine. Ms. Fraitekh is the director and co-founder of Solidarity 2020 and Beyond and works with multiple peace activist organizations. This is a vital issue and she is a dynamic speaker. We will gather in the Sanctuary.
- Programming Workshop: On Saturday, Nov. 8th from 9:30-12N we will offer a workshop for any/everyone who would like to explore the purposes and content of our regular Sunday Services. Your attendance does not mean you will be asked to lead services! In keeping with our focus on Shared Ministry, we will host a discussion and creative conversation about this central event for our congregation. You must register for this event! We will be giving you some information and thoughtful questions to consider prior to the program so that we begin with a common foundation. Lunch will be served from 12N-1pm. Stevie Williams has offered to prepare lunch (for which we need an accurate headcount!) for us. The Afternoon session will be held from 1-2:30 pm. This program is for people who want to learn how to write a service manuscript- NOT A SERMON, but the manuscript that includes the Welcome, Chalice Lighting, Joys & Concerns, etc. You may choose to attend either or both sessions and lunch. We expect this will be the first of many workshops!
- December Reflections: Our 2nd annual Month of Reflections in December is off to a good start. You are invited to choose a day in December and sign up to provide a SHORT poem/reflection/story/
questions to consider for that day. Your contribution will be formatted with one of several decorative templates and then emailed to the entire mailing list. Everyone will receive one selection per day; they will be posted on our website also. December has many religious and special holidays in it; our theme is : Light in the Darkness. You may write about a specific holiday (Chanukkah, Bodhi Day, Kwanzaa, Christmas, HumanLight etc.) or simply share your thoughts in general. Our goal is to encourage each other to expand the meaningful observation of these occasions, and to support each other with a little light in a very dark time. Humor is good. We cannot use cartoons or drawings or photo’s at this time. The sign-up calendar sheet will be available in the Social Hall during Coffee Hour. Only one person per date unless your are collaborating on a single reflection. - Committee and Team Leads – if you haven’t already done so, please send your 2026 Budget Proposal to Ruth Tucker Bogart by November 2. Also, if you have receipts that you wish to have reimbursed from your 2025 budgeted funds, please also submit those so they can be accounted for. The 2026 Budget of any group that does not submit a 2026 Budget Proposal will reflect the group’s actual 2025 expenditures.
- Community Growth and the Sanctuary – We are putting out the Call for someone willing to be Convener for a group to work on strategies for accommodating our growing size in our Sunday Services. You’d be collaborating with Kathy Wright who has volunteered to facilitate these discussions and support exploration about options. Are you able to help organize this group? Please contact NikaQuirk@mac.com.
- Please Note: Water Leak Alert devices have been installed under the sink and behind the toilet in the hall restroom on the right. Don’t be alarmed!
As you can see, there is a LOT to keep track of. We are an active congregation!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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Dear People of Westside,
Here is your weekly update about the various events at UUWC. Read on for information about what is happening, where it is happening and when it is happening! Be sure to mark your personal calendar too:
- We are wrapping up our UU the Vote letter-writing campaign. If you took home letters to write, please bring them to the UU the Vote table this Sunday. Many thanks to all the people who pitched in to write letters and provide envelopes and stamps. Watch next week’s newsletter for a report on the total number of letters.
- Just a reminder we will be hosting a Community Conversation Circle this Saturday October 18 from 1 until 3. Come and share your thoughts on Community with Love at the center. Snacks will be provided. Dana, Bill, Terri 505 712 4004.
- Donations in memory of Jenny Cook’s mom may be made to the Arizona Animal Welfare League. They may be made online. There is a box to check that says make a tribute or memorial donation. Her mom requested this in place of flowers. https://aawl.org/
content/donate - The link for information on the UUWC website on How to Work with Breeze are at the following link:
- The No Kings Protest is this Saturday, Oct. 18th. Those wishing to car pool should be at the church at 11 am.
Here is the list of regularly scheduled meetings at UUWC:
- The Men’s Group meets Thursday 10/16 at 2:30 pm.
- Anti-racist Book Club: On October 17th 9:00-11 am, please join us as we discuss Part three and four of “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here”: The US, Central America, and the making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer. For the months of September and October, we will focus our study of Anti-racism in the midst of our current politics in regards to immigration. Hope to see you at “Whispering Bean” next to Sprouts off Corrales Rd.
- Border Meeting: October 22nd at 6:00 pm. If you are interested in attending contact deeoz2018@gmail.com
- The Drum Circle meets Friday night at 6:30. Packing for Feed the Rio Rancho Kids meets Tuesday at 9am in the Gallery Room. Please use the courtyard door.
- This Sunday is Town Hall Meeting and Potluck Sunday! Please remember to label the ingredients on the dish you bring to share. We will be prepping for several seasonal projects at Town Hall Meeting, so make sure to put this on your calendar.
Our Service this Sunday will be led by Bram Cast-Hecht. We will celebrate the “Blessing of the Animals“. Please bring a photo of your pet of any sort- we will have both a Memorial table and a table to honor our current pets. We also have a guest speaker from June’s Senior Cat Shelter.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Dear People of Westside,
Here is your weekly update about the various events at UUWC. Read on for information about what is happening, where it is happening and when it is happening! Be sure to mark your personal calendar too:
- We are wrapping up our UU the Vote letter-writing campaign. If you took home letters to write, please bring them to the UU the Vote table this Sunday. Many thanks to all the people who pitched in to write letters and provide envelopes and stamps. Watch next week’s newsletter for a report on the total number of letters.
- Just a reminder we will be hosting a Community Conversation Circle this Saturday October 18 from 1 until 3. Come and share your thoughts on Community with Love at the center. Snacks will be provided. Dana, Bill, Terri 505 712 4004.
- Donations in memory of Jenny Cook’s mom may be made to the Arizona Animal Welfare League. They may be made online. There is a box to check that says make a tribute or memorial donation. Her mom requested this in place of flowers. https://aawl.org/
content/donate - The link for information on the UUWC website on How to Work with Breeze are at the following link:
- The No Kings Protest is this Saturday, Oct. 18th. Those wishing to car pool should be at the church at 11 am.
Here is the list of regularly scheduled meetings at UUWC:
- The Men’s Group meets Thursday 10/16 at 2:30 pm.
- Anti-racist Book Club: On October 17th 9:00-11 am, please join us as we discuss Part three and four of “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here”: The US, Central America, and the making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer. For the months of September and October, we will focus our study of Anti-racism in the midst of our current politics in regards to immigration. Hope to see you at “Whispering Bean” next to Sprouts off Corrales Rd.
- Border Meeting: October 22nd at 6:00 pm. If you are interested in attending contact deeoz2018@gmail.com
- The Drum Circle meets Friday night at 6:30. Packing for Feed the Rio Rancho Kids meets Tuesday at 9am in the Gallery Room. Please use the courtyard door.
- This Sunday is Town Hall Meeting and Potluck Sunday! Please remember to label the ingredients on the dish you bring to share. We will be prepping for several seasonal projects at Town Hall Meeting, so make sure to put this on your calendar.
Our Service this Sunday will be led by Bram Cast-Hecht. We will celebrate the “Blessing of the Animals“. Please bring a photo of your pet of any sort- we will have both a Memorial table and a table to honor our current pets. We also have a guest speaker from June’s Senior Cat Shelter.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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Dear People of Westside: There are some very special programs coming up for UUWC in the near future. Read on to discover more about them so you can mark your calendar! Following the announcements, be sure to check out the summary of our calendar- which is also online at our website. [uuwestside.org]
- Katherine Hughes Fraitekh will speak about Palestine on November 1 at 2 PM. She in the director and co-founder of Solidarity 2020 and Beyond and works with multiple peace activist organizations. Ms. Fraitekh has an extensive background with international peace and justice work. We will meet in the Sanctuary. A
- Anti-racist Bookclub: On October 17th 9:00-11 am, please join us as we discuss Part three and four of “Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here”: The US, Central America, and the making of a Crisis by Jonathan Blitzer. For the months of September and October, we will focus our study of Anti-racism in the midst of our current politics in regards to immigration. Hope to see you at “Whispering Bean” next to Sprouts off Corrales Rd.
- Border Meeting: October 22nd at 6:00 pm. If you are interested in attending contact deeoz2018@gmail.com
- Reminder: October 18th No Kings Protest. If interested in carpooling, meet us at the church at 11:00 am. For more information; go to UUWC website. uuwestside.org
- Please mark your calendar to attend the Community Conversation Circles on Wed. October 15 or Sat. October 18 from 1 to 3:00pm at UUWC. Explore what is community and why we are all here. Hosted by Committee on Shared Ministry. Any questions contact Terri 505 712 4004.
Here area our regularly scheduled events for the coming week:
- The Women’s Group meets on Thursday, October 9th at 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room. We will be discussing “Women Supporting Women: Money and Financial Matters” Please Use the Courtyard Door.
- The Gallery Flooring Team will meet at 10:30 am on Sunday.
- There is a New Member Orientation at 12:30 on Sunday. This is a “by invitation only” event.
- The Church Council meets on Sunday at 12:30 pm in the Conference Room. Issues that need to be brought to their attention should be submitted to Nika Quirk by Sat 12Noon.
- Rio Rancho Feed the Kids Food Delivery is scheduled for Monday at 9:30am.
This week’s service celebrates Indigenous People’s Day. Our program is titled, “Wrongs and Rights“. Wendy Dampier will offer a presentation about repatriation of indigenous remains and artifacts, how these decisions are made, and the impact and meaning of this work. We will also celebrate indigenous arts.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Greetings Fellow Westsiders!
We are officially launched into fall and all things pumpkin spice. Literally. I mean all things! I have seen coffee, tea, cookies, cakes, bread, barbecue sauce, Cheerio’s, oatmeal, candy, and last but not least, today I saw pumpkin spice popcorn at the grocery store. I guess it was only a matter of time- I’m waiting to see if we have a pumpkin spice hot air balloon this year!
Meanwhile, here is the list of announcements from your colleagues and then the activities on our calendar for the coming week:
From your colleagues:
- The Smith’s case sale began Sept 28 and they have items needed by both Feed Rio Rancho Kids and Storehouse West. Let’s take advantage of this to feed the hungry!
- Our Democracy Demonstration is this Saturday, October 4th at 10:30 in the UUWC parking lot. We will walk together to the corner of Unser and Abrazo with our signs. Join us! Contact Terri Del Curto at: 505-712-4004 for more information.
- The Committee on Shared Ministry will be hosting Community Conversation Circles at UUWC. It will take place on Wed. October 15 and Saturday October 18 from 1-3 p.m. Snacks will be provided. Our focus is promoting healthy conversation by exploring, “What is Community at UUWC and why are we here?” As Tina Turner sings: “What’s Love got to do with it?” Let’s get together and find out. Dana, Terri, Bill
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Please come and display your talents of playing music, reading poetry, prose, dancing, magic, comedy etc. at the UU Westside Open Mic on Oct. 24th at 7pm in the sanctuary. Members and friends are all invited. Please contact Claire Shawhan at darbyshawn63@gmail.com for more information.
Here are this weeks activities:
- Thursday, October 2nd: Men’s Group at 2:30 pm. Contact Bill Shore for more information. (evolvself@outlook.com)
- The Community Care Team meets on Wednesday, October 8th at 10 am in the conference room. Please use the Courtyard Door. The Women’s Group meets Thursday, October 9th from 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room. Please use the courtyard door!
- Our Programming Committee meets this Sunday at 12:30 pm in the Conference Room. We will be planning for the holiday season, so come participate in the fun!
Our service this week is titled: “A Community in Action!” It will be an action-packed service in which we will receive our quarterly offering for the Southwest Reservation Aid Society, we will receive 5 people into membership, there will be a dramatic moment, and we will demystify stewardship. Come to celebrate all of these things and greet our new members. Rev. Nancy and the Stewardship team will lead the service.
Greetings and Salutations!
I hope this weekly newsletter finds you in good health and able to enjoy that hint of “real” fall in the early morning air! Below are announcements from your colleagues and the schedule of events for the week.
Here are announcements from your colleagues:
- In preparation for the next delivery of Dignity Mission donations to the border in October, we are planning to assemble Dignity Kits at Las Placitas Presbyterian Church (LPPC) on Saturday, September 27th at 8:00 AM. We hope to be done by 10:30 AM.
- We know Christmas is not just around the corner, but we are beginning to collect small to medium sized stuffed animals and children’s books to incorporate into the Christmas gifts we will transport to the migrant children along the border in December. If you wish to donate any of these items, we’ve placed a decorated collection box in the Fellowship Hall of LPPC.
- Come early on Sunday morning to the Gallery Room to write letters for UU the Vote. You’ll only be writing two or three sentences on a pre-printed letter. Members of the team will be there to help you. It’s an easy way to take action to help save our democracy.
- This Saturday (Sept. 27) we’re having a Postcard Party at UUWC at 2:00 pm. Come write postcards to black voters in Virginia, encouraging them to get out and vote in what will be a crucial election. You don’t have to think up a script. It’s all prepared. Just come and write with colorful pens. Snacks will be provided.
- Moonspirit CUUPS will be representing UUWC at the ABQ Pagan Pride Day this Sunday, 9/28 from 10 am – 5 pm at Bataan Memorial Park, Tulane Dr. and Loma Blvd, Albuquerque. Fun for kids, live music, demonstrations, artisan products, workshops. Stop by our booth and say hi!
- Our Pro- Democracy rally will be on Saturday October 4th . Meet at UUWC at 10:30 (Rally from 11:00 until around 2:00. We will carpool to NE corner of Unser and Abrazo. Any questions call 505 712 4004
- If you would like to be contacted about Social Justice Events by text or email, please contact Carla Clark: cbc0427@hotmail.cos please send your name and contact info to Carla Clark: cbc0427@hotmail.com
Here are the calendar events for this week:
- Tomorrow/Thursday 9/25 the Women’s Group meets at 2:30-4 pm. Our topic is: Women Supporting Women: Sexuality. All women are welcome. Please use the Courtyard Door.
- 2pm Saturday 9/27: UU the Vote Postcard Party. See above.
- Sunday, 9/28: Social Justice Committee meets at 12:30 in the Conference Room. All interested parties are welcome to attend and participate.
- OUR SUNDAY SERVICE THIS WEEK is titled, “Take Me to Your Leader”. We will be exploring how we carry out our ministries here at UUWC. Drama will be involved.
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Dear People of Westside,
There are 2 parts to this newsletter. The first is a list of the scheduled activities for the coming week. The second is a list of announcements from your colleagues about the special events you need to know about. You can also find our schedule on the front page of our website (uuwestside.org) and many of the other announcements on the Activist Resource page. Check them out!
Here are our regularly scheduled meetings:
- The Men’s Group meets tomorrow, Thursday, at 2:30 pm. Contact Buill Shore for more information: evolvself@outlook.com
- The Anti-racist Book Club meets on Friday at 9 am at Whispering Bean (beside Sprouts on Corrales Rd). They are reading: Everyone Who Is Gone Is Here. Contact Dee Curry for more info: deoz2016@gmail.com
- This Sunday is our Potluck Lunch and Town Hall Meeting. Be there if you can; we have a full agenda. If possible , please briing a potluck dish to share, with ingredients labelled so people can eat safely.
- The Women’s Group meets NEXT THURSDAY, 9/25 from 2:30-4pm i the Conference Room. We will be discussing “Women Supporting Women: Sexuality” All women are welcome. Please use the Courtyard Door.
Here are the announcements from your colleagues, including info about this week’s service:
- Come early on Sunday morning to the Gallery Room to write letters for UU the Vote. You’ll only be writing two or three sentences on a pre-printed letter. Members of the team will be there to help you. It’s an easy way to take action to help save our democracy.
- We are still welcoming artists to submit entries for the Enchanted Vision Art Show that will be held on the weekend of Nov. 14, but the deadline is fast approaching. Artists only have until October 17 to enter. Please help us spread the word. You can pick up Call for Artists flyers in the social hall. Share them with your friends.
- This Sunday we will celebrate the Autumn Equinox with a service called “It’s a Balancing Act.” In it we will explore the beliefs of the Quechua people of the Andes Mountains in South America. It will be led by Carole Eagleheart, Nika Quirk, and Jeannette Lloyd, along with members of Moonspirit CUUPS, and will include colorful pictures and songs.
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Let’s have fun as a Congregation!On Monday September 22nd we will meet at UUWC from 1:00 until 3:00. We will be creating a variety of Stand Up For Democracy signs. Materials are provided. We are creating these signs for our rally. The rally will be on Saturday October 4th . Meet at UUWC at 10:30 (Rally from 11:00 until around 2:00. We will carpool to NE corner of Unser and Abrazo.These are two separate events so pick one to participate in or both and let’s have fun. Any questions call 505 712 4004
- In preparation for the next delivery of Dignity Mission donations to the border in October, we are planning to assemble Dignity Kits at Las Placitas Presbyterian Church (LPPC) on Saturday, September 27th at 8:00 AM. We hope to be done by 10:30 AM. We know Christmas is not just around the corner, but we are beginning to collect small to medium sized stuffed animals and children’s books to incorporate into the Christmas gifts we will transport to the migrant children along the border in December. If you wish to donate any of these items, we’ve placed a decorated collection box in the Fellowship Hall of LPPC.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Greetings People of Westside!
The summer is over, Labor Day is past, and fall is upon us with its active demands for participation in many things. There is a LOT you need to know about events at UUWC, so please read on so that you are “in the know”!
- The Women’s Group meets from 2:30-4pm on Thursday, 9/11 in the Conference Room. Topic: Women Supporting Women’s Mental Health. Please use the Courtyard Door.
- At 3pm on Friday the UU the Vote Training will occur in the Gallery Room.
- Moonspirit CUUPS (Covenant of Unitarian Universalist Pagans) hosts a Mabon (Autumn Equinox) celebration of balance and gratitude this Friday, September 12 in UUWC’s Social Hall. Potluck supper at 6 pm and ritual following at 7. All are Welcome!
- Want to sing with the Pop-up Choir at the service this Sunday? We’ll have two practices: Saturday at 2:00 and Sunday at 10:15 before the service. Can you make it to at least one of them?
- Tuesday at 9am Rio Rancho Feed the Kids will be assembling the snack packs for hungry kids. If you’d like to help, please just show up in the Gallery Room and join the assembly line!
- See the Attachment below for information about anti-gun violence events.
It’s UU the Vote time again! Each year we all pitch in to write letters and postcards to people in swing states to get out the vote. Twice we’ve been honored by the UU Association for being a “Good Trouble” congregation.
Are you ready to help? On Sunday morning in the social hall you’ll find a UU the Vote team to teach you how to compose your letters. The ones we write from now till the end of October will go to prospective voters in Pennsylvania. Why Pennsylvania? Three Democratic judges are running for reelection and the right wing is targeting them. It’s a high stakes election because the judges will be ruling on cases involving election certification, voting rights, partisan gerrymandering and abortion access.
If you want to be on the ground floor of this and be part of the UU the Vote leadership team, come on Saturday at 3:00 pm. You’ll get training on how to help people with the letters. We’ll also have our first postcard party then. The postcards this year will be going to black voters in Virginia, and it’s a fun project because we’ll write the postcards in bright eye-catching colors.
Our Sunday Service this week is our Water Communion Service. This is a uniquely UU service that brings our community together through the many meanings of water in our life. You will have an opportunity to participate by naming a particular blessing or meaning of water as we create a symbolic pool of our common experience.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
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More than 48 communities across the United States will present readings of short plays written by teenagers about gun violence on Oct. 6, including a performance in Rio Rancho featuring local youth performers.
The nationwide reading of “ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence” will take place at 6 p.m. at the Rio Rancho Event Center, presented by Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads and Open Arts Studio, according to a press release from the organizations.
Six winning 10-minute plays were selected from 127 submissions received nationwide this spring by a panel that included New York Times-bestselling author Jason Reynolds and former Congresswoman Gabby Giffords, according to the release.
“These plays cut straight to the heart of what it means to grow up in America today,” Michael Cotey, creator of ENOUGH!, said in the release. “They remind us that the voices most impacted by gun violence — young people — are also among the most powerful in driving change.”
The Rio Rancho performance will feature students from five local high schools, Central New Mexico Community College and the University of New Mexico, with directors from CNM, UNM and the local film and theater community, according to Jen Doolittle, artistic director of Open Arts Studio.
“Our kids face the reality of gun violence every day — through lockdown drills, threats at schools, and even local incidents here in Rio Rancho and Albuquerque,” Doolittle said in the release.
Following the staged reading, New Mexicans to Prevent Gun Violence will present information and lead a discussion. The organization will also accept donations during the event.
The plays explore various aspects of gun violence, including school shootings, officer-involved shootings, suicide and domestic violence, though without graphic depictions, according to the release. The nationwide reading of “ENOUGH! Plays to End Gun Violence” will take place at 6 p.m. Oct 6th at the Rio Rancho Event Center, presented by Rio Rancho Creative Crossroads and Open Arts Studio…
Admission is free, but reservations are recommended due to limited space.
Greetings People of Westside!
As we all cope with the minor confusion of a holiday week- Are they really going with the holiday trash pick-up or should I put the barrels out on the regular day? Here is what is happening at UUWC this week:
- The Men’s Group will meet tomorrow/Thursday, 9/4 at 2:30 pm. Contact Bill Shore for more info: evolvself@outlook.com
- Wednesday, 9/10, The Community Care Committee will meet in the Conference Room at 10 am. Please Use the Courtyard Door.
- Thursday, 9/11: The Women’s Group will meet at 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room. Please use the Courtyard Door. We will be discussing: Women Supporting Women: Mental Health. All women are welcome!
- The Programming Committee meets Sunday at 12:30 pm in the Conference Room. If you have ideas for services or religious education, please come share them! All are welcome.
- We are putting together a Choir to sing in the Sunday service on Sept. 14. We will rehearse at 2:00 pm on Saturday, Sept. 13, and before the service on the 14th from 10:15 till 10:35. Please let Carole Eagleheart know if you can come.
The 200th Anniversary of the establishment of the American Unitarian Association is honored Sunday with a dramatic presentation by the UUWC Players, “He Said – He Said.” In addition to the dramatization of this historic event in UU history, the play includes the established traditions of a regular Sunday service. Key volunteers are Kay Peters Johnson, director; Stevie Williams, stage manager, and Delbert Schafer, script writer.
Shalom!
Rev. Nancy
- We’re looking for artists for the 4th Annual Enchanted Vision Art Show in November and we need your help spreading the word. As always, entries in this show must be in the visual and graphic arts, photography and fiber arts. Essentially, the pieces must be hangable on a wall. The show does not include jewelry, pottery, sculpture or other crafts. Do you know artists who would like to enter? We are attaching a Call for Artists 2025_pdf that you can share, as well as a jpg photo that you can post to your social media. We will also have some flyers printed out for you to pick up on Sunday. Would you help get out the word? Click on the attachments below for more info and a flyer.
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Greetings People of Westside!
It’s hard to believe that the summer of 2025 is almost officially over! This coming Sunday is Labor Day Sunday, marking the official end to summer and start of fall and all of the “ber” months- SeptemBER, OctoBER, NovemBER, DecemBER. It’s a thing. Really. You can google it!
Here is what is happening at UUWC this week:- he Women’s Group meets tomorrow/Thursday, 8/26 from 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room. Our topic is “Women Supporting Women” in a variety of contexts.
- The RE class continues to discuss “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder. Everyone is welcome to join the conversation at 9:30 on Sunday in the Conference Room.
- The Drama Group will meet in the Sanctuary at 12:15 on Sunday
- The Stewardship Committee will meet at 1:30 in the Conference Room.
- The Men’s Group will meet next Thursday, September 4th @2:30 pm.
Anyone wanting to participate in the Workers Over Billionaires Labor Day Rally at Civic Plaza in Albuquerque should be at the Church parking lot at 8am on MONDAY am to carpool OR contact Terri Del Curto 505-712- 4004 OR GO TO OUR UUWESTSIDE.ORG WEBSITE AND CHECK OUT THE ACTIVISM RESOURCE PAGE FOR MORE INFO!!
This Sunday’s service is titled, “Which Side Are You On?” led by Carole Eagleheart and Wendy Dampier. It is a celebration of Labor Day with pictures, stories and songs. It will include some historic photo’s you’ve probably never seen and material intentionally left out of schoolbooks so students wouldn’t know what really happened.
Greetings Fellow Westsiders!
I hope this finds you in a cool space. Despite the fact that the school-buses are back on the road again, it isn’t feeling much like fall yet! Despite that, UUWC is on a roll! Below is information about changes in how you receive information, our weekly events, and links to info about social justice issues. To know what’s going on, read on!
At last Sunday’s Town Hall Meeting it was decided that we will include verbal announcements at the beginning of our services. These announcements will be read out by whoever is leading the service. This means that if you have an announcement to share IN THE SERVICE, you must either:
- submit it to Rev. Nancy via email (ministeruuwc@gmail.com) OR
- fill out a form BEFORE THE SERVICE BEGINS. Forms will be available at the greeter station. Completed forms should be handed to the Presenter/Service Leader.
In both formats, please include the name of the group making the announcement, the date, time, place, and purpose of the event if it is other than a regular meeting. We will NOT be taking additional details from the floor, so if there is important information about contact info or what to bring or what door to use, make sure you included that in the text of your announcement. Please keep content short and concrete. Thank you!
We will also be creating an Announcement slide to display BEORE THE PRELUDE and AFTER the service ends. You are invited to take a picture of the slide with your cell phone in order to take it with you. The newsletter will continue to post the events for the coming week as usual.
You should also know that the newsletter itself is posted on our website, as is our monthly calendar of events. (uuwestside.org) To find BOTH the newsletter and the Activism Resource page, scroll down the front page to the VERY LARGE announcement with link to click on for each of these pages. While you’re there, you might want to read up to see what else is on our website too!
This means there are at least 4 different ways to access information, so even if you are not at peace with Breeze or you delete your newsletter, there are still several other options each week. The newsletter USUALLY goes out on Wed pm; it is posted on the website USUALLY by Friday. Combined with the 2 format’s in each service, we should all be very well informed!
- Tomorrow/Thursday 8/21 @2:30 pm the Men’s Group meets. Contact Bill Shore for more info: evolvself@outlook.com
- Thursday August 28th (next week!) the Women’s Group meets from 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room. Please use the Courtyard Door.
- Saturday, August 24th from 9:30-12 noon we will hold a Membership Class in the Social Hall. This is the only requirement we make prior to inviting people to sign themselves into membership. If you are new to the congregation and would like to learn more about it, this class is for you. We will serve you brunch, so please email Rev. Nancy by Friday at 3pm so she has an accurate head count!
- Adult RE meets in the Conference Room at 9:30am on Sunday. We are reading Timothy Snyder’s book, “On Tyranny”. Even if you haven’t read the book, you are welcome to join in the discussion. Several copies of the book (it’s very small) are available to anyone who wants to read it. In today’s political climate, it’s worth it.
The Social Justice Committee has invited Cindy Benedict of “Moms Demand Action” to speak to the congregation regarding pending legislation that will greatly impact gun safety and how we can be involved in contacting legislators and opposing this legislation. Ms. Benedict will address us at 12:30 August 24 in the Gallery Room. Feel free to bring your social hour snacks into the room with you. This is a message we all need to hear.
Our service this Sunday is titled, “STAND!!” Rev. Nancy and Stevie Williams will lead us in exploring many different ways to do this, both personally and as a congregation. Expect to hear material that ranges from the deeply serious to the downright silly. We’re of the opinion that every way we take a stand contributes to what we stand for regardless of what it is. WE INVITE YOU TO DRESS SYMBOLICALLY !! You could wear a protest T-shirt or the colors of Ukraine. You may dress either FOR or AGAINST the issue of your choice. Get creative! We’re pretty sure our appearance ALWAYS communicates something to others- so this Sunday, let’s make it count!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Below is a link to our website’s front page. Scroll down to click on our Activism Resources page. The calendar is on the front page if you need that. You will also find the link to click on to see this newsletter if you delete yours to efficiently.
Greetings People of Westside!
This week we are featuring our Art Show as the aspect of UUWC life to learn about. Westside has a long history of promoting the arts- which you might guess from all the art on our walls, especially in the Gallery Room. This year marks our 4th Annual Enchanted Vision Art Show in November (14-16). Artists of all kinds from the surrounding community participate to sell their art in a local venue.
If you are interested in helping organize the fourth annual Enchanted Vision Art Show here at UUWC please contact Carole Eagleheart at 505-918-3998 or email her at ceagleheart@gmail.com.
The Art Show is in mid-November so we will be having an Art Committee meeting on Monday (Aug. 11) at 2:00 pm to begin our plans. Everyone who wants to help is welcome. We not only need artists; we need people with spreadsheet and word processing skills, people who can help check in the art, people to move furniture, and people to help provide food and drinks for the opening. It takes a village to make this happen! Come find out how you can be part of our Enchanted Vision!
Here is what is happening at Westside this week:
- Tomorrow/Thursday Aug. 7th at 2:30 the Men’s Group meets. Contact Bill Shore for more information: evolvself@outlook.com or just show up!
- Sunday, 8/10: The Drama Group will meet in the Sanctuary at 9am.
- Sunday, 8/10 at 9:30 the Adult Religious Ed class will meet in the Conference Room. We are reading “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder. Everyone is welcome; there is coffee available; bring breakfast if you want!
- The Council meets at 12:30 Sunday in the Conference Room.
- On Monday, 8/11, the Art Committee meets to begin planning for the 4th Annual Art Show at 2pm.
- Wednesday, 8/13: The Community Care Committee meets in the Conference Room at 10am. Please use the Courtyard Door.
- NEXT Thursday, 8/14: The Women’s Group meets in the Conference room at 2:30-4pm. We have handouts to launch our discussion of the Toltec approach to a balanced life. All women are welcome.
Here is an update from Dee about our Border and Anti-racist events:
August 15th: Anti-racist book club: We will be discussing “American Dirt” by Jeanine Cummins at Whispering Bean on Corrales Rd. by Sprouts. We meet 9-11 am every 3rd Friday.
August 23: No Human is Illegal. We will be meeting to discuss strategies on how to help our immigrant community. We will meet Saturday at 5:30 pm as a meeting/potluck. If you are interested, contact Dee Curry at deeoz2018@gmail.com. Please RSVP by 8/20 to Dee’s email and she will send you the address of our meeting place.
Our service this week is titled, “A Broken Hallelujah”. Rev. Nancy and Laurel Anderson will lead us in exploring why people are coming to church and how our congregation is developing in our current political climate.
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Dear People of Westside,
For the next few weeks each issue of the newsletter will offer information about something that happens regularly at UUWC, but which may not be well known. This will only be a very brief glimpse, hopefully just enough to whet your appetite for more! This week, you are invited to our Adult Religious Education Class!
Adult RE meets in the Conference Room every Sunday morning at 9:30. Coffee is available and you can bring your breakfast or snack if you like! This is a collegial group that chooses its own reading material. They have read academic articles, novels, political articles, research reports, theology, and pretty much anything else you can think of. You are invited to join them as they begin reading a tiny little book titled, “On Tyranny” by Timothy Snyder. Subtitled “20 lessons from the 20th Century”, it offers ways to identify and respond to tyrannical systems. Given the current realities of US politics, it seems timely. Rev. Nancy facilitates discussion; come check it out! The book is available on Amazon for $7.31. We have 2 copies available as “loaners”.
Other activities this week are:
- The Protest scheduled for Saturday, August 2nd has been CANCELLED. Do not meet at the church for transportation.
- The Men’s Group meets Thursday, Aug. 7th at 2:30.
- Please remember Storehouse West!! There is a donation basket on the table in the L rear corner of the Social Hall for your dry or canned goods. Remember NO GLASS CONTAINERS. Their funding has been cut and the need is growing. You can also check their website for more information: storehousewest.org
- The Programming Committee meets at 12:30 in the Conference Room on Sunday, Aug.3rd. Bring your lunch if you want! We will be planning for several events and Sunday services up into Nov, along with beginning the 2025 Holiday season. This is a volunteer committee; everyone is welcome!
This week our service is all about The Sound of Protest! We will be singing protest songs from many era’s and historical situations. Stacie Gebeke and Lisa Toland will lead us in a spirited service to reinforce our solidarity in the face of the current political climate. Come and be heard!
Shalom,
Rev. Nancy
Even though we are past the Solstice and the days are literally growing shorter, they’re still very hot! I hope you have enjoyed the showers we’ve been having as much as I have; it’s great to wake up to birds splashing in the puddles and softer edges to everything the rain has softened. If you have a garden, I hope it’s thriving!
Here is what’s happening at Westside this week:
- Tomorrow/Thursday, July 24th the Women’s Group will meet at 2:30-4pm in the Conference Room. Under Grace Poley’s leadership we will continue our discussion of the 4 Agreements, focusing on the dilemma of personalizing our experiences. Please use the Courtyard Door.
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From your Council:The Stewardship Committee, with its new leader Carl Noennig, seeks a few additional volunteers. As we know, “many hands make light work”. As we prepare for Stewardship Sunday on October 5 and pledge follow-up in the weeks that follow, your hands would be appreciated. Please contact Council Moderator Nika at nikaquirk@mac.com. Thanks!
- Sunday, July 27, 2025: The Social Justice Committee will meet in the Conference Room at 12:30 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend and participate. You may bring your lunch or snacks/beverages with you!
- Please remember Storehouse West! They are our local food pantry whose funds have been decimated by recent government cutbacks. They need dry goods and canned goods. Their QR code and website address are displayed on the table at the Left Rear Corner of the Social Hall, so you can easily find out what foodstuffs they are most in need of. Please remember that some of the most popular items (peanut butter/spaghetti sauce/salsa) often come in glass jars. Storehouse West can only accept PLASTIC OR CANS for safety reasons.
This weeks service is titled, “Besties”. Rev. Nancy and Rev. Kay Johnson will present a service focusing on friendship in honor of National Friendship Day which is fast approaching. Come share a little nostalgia, learn a few new things, and engage with exciting opportunities for the future!
Have a wonderful week!
Rev. Nancy
