It is the season of graduations.
This note is for our graduates, children and youth.
To College Grads. You are entering the adult world. I remember how that
felt. It was very exciting and a little bit scary; Being responsible not only for
yourself emotionally, physically, but financially as well. I know for today’s
graduates, it is harder than it has been in years to get a job, and I know that
can be depressing. I recommend, as you look for work, if possible, live with
your folks, look for work and volunteer. Doing volunteer work can help you
feel good, and you will be helping a cause or group that is important to you.

You can only spend so much of your day looking for work. Try not to be too serious. I know that the world can seem overwhelming, but look for the humor, a good laugh can always help the soul. My hope is that all
of you will have jobs you like, if not love, that you find joy even in the mundane, that you have and find love and compassion, and that you will always find time to help make this world we share a better place.
Congratulations, and welcome to your adult life.
Families of graduates report:
Katie Bicking, daughter of Molly and Chas, graduated with honors from Commonwealth College of UMass Amherst. In June, she will attend International Language Institute) in Northampton, MA.

This summer she will take an intensive course in teaching English to speakers of other languages. She would like to travel and teach English.
Caroline Claflin will graduate this weekend from Rhode Island School of Design.
Emily Floyd graduated from Smith College.
Jeremy Foster graduated from UMass Amherst and will be starting a computer job at Unica.
Conor Rice received his degree at University of Vermont.
To those of you going off to college. Enjoy! Follow your passion and be open to all the new things that will come your way. This will be the first time that many of the decisions you make, you will make alone, trust yourself, listen to your heart, and sometimes call home for help, for love — and so your family knows you are okay, but most of all, Enjoy! There is so much to learn, about
yourself and the world. Explore, be open, and remember to take care of yourself.
Congratulations!
Anna Finbury graduated from Northfield Mount Herman School and will be studying art in the fall.
Eli Grober is graduating from Phillips Academy, on Sunday, June 7, and will be attending Columbia University in the fall.
Skye Schirmer is graduating from Andover High School, on Monday, June 1, and will attend Mass College of Art and Design in the fall.
To all youth and children moving from one grade to the next. Have fun!
There is so much to be part of and learn about. You are all learning to spread your wings, and when you fall your family will be there to pick you up. So take a few chances, don’t be afraid to fail. Great things can come from failing. Congratulations!
Emily Field will be graduating West Middle School and will be attending Phillips Academy in the fall.
Congratulations to all our graduates!
In Peace, Thea

It gives me great pleasure to announce that we have offered the position of
Consulting or Part time Minister to the Rev. Lara Hoke and she has
accepted.
The Board is meeting with her this week to work out details and have her
sign a contract for our upcoming – 2009/2010 – Congregational Year. She
will be available for pastoral care after the July 4th weekend and will begin
services with us in September. She will continue as a Consulting Minister at
another UU Congregation in the Worcester area and will alternate Sundays
between them and us. Rev. Hoke brings experience as a minister and her life experience outside of the ministry will also be of value to us. She has indicated a willingness to partner with us and help us move towards our goals of stable growth and the regeneration of our congregation. This
should be a very good situation for our congregation. We will have the opportunity for significant member involvement in the area of worship with the assistance of a good professional minister who understands our needs. The Board looks forward to next year and we hope you will welcome
Rev. Hoke with your usual openness and optimism.
Thank you all for your involvement and support.
Bob

Title: UUCiA Auction bidding closes
Location: 6 Locke Street
Description: Sunday, May 31, 12:00 p.m. UUCiA Goods and Services Auction 2009 bidding closes.
Start Time: 12:00
Date: 2009-05-31
End Time: 12:00

Title: Annual Meeting
Location: 6 Locke Street
Description: Wednesday, June 10, 6:30 p.m. Annual Meeting
Start Time: 18:30
Date: 2009-06-10
End Time: 20:00

Title: Summer Pot Lucks
Location: Various homes
Description: We will begin our summer potlucks on Wednesday nights starting in the last week of June. Summer
potlucks are a family-friendly opportunity to stay connected. If you can host an evening, please call
Gail Ensdorf or email gensdorf@yahoo.com. The host provides paper goods, plastic ware, coffee,
and some beverages. The guests provide food (appetizer, main course, salad, or dessert) and lawn
chairs. Gather at 6:00 PM. Dinner at 6:30
Start Time: 18:00
Date: 2009-06-24
End Time: 20:00

Title: Book Discussion Group
Location: Batchelder home
Description: Book Discussion Group
We will meet on Tuesday, June 16, at 7:30 pm at the home of Lynne Batchelder
to discuss Out Stealing Horses by Per Petterson. July\’s book is Mao: The Unknown Story by Jung
Chang and Jon Halliday.
Start Time: 19:30
Date: 2009-06-16
End Time: 21:00

Title: UU Stitchers
Location: Ensdorf home
Description: The UU Stitchers will meet at the home of Gail Ensdorf on Tuesday, June 9th from 7-9 p.m. Join us
for stitching and conversation.
Start Time: 19:00
Date: 2009-06-09
End Time: 21:00

Title: Sunday Service: Fathers and Fatherhood
Location: 6 Locke Street
Description: June 21, 10:30 a.m. \”Fathers and Fatherhood\” Bob Genier and Joe Zahka are
organizing this service which will also include guest speakers, Ken Ensdorf and George Zahka. Ken
and George grew up in UUCiA and are now fathers themselves.
Start Time: 10:30
Date: 2009-06-21
End Time: 11:30

This Sunday we will be making gifts for Mothers Day, and we will be talking
about what it is we appreciate and love about our mothers.
In two weeks, on Mothers Day I will be leading a service in which we will
share the things we love and appreciate about our mothers, and about being
mothers and grandmothers. Bring your stories to share.
Peace, Thea

During his opening words in last Sunday’s service, Chas Bicking said that no
matter what the ministerial situation, we ARE a lay led congregation. Those
words were true as we made our choice at the end of last year and
continue to be true as we persevere in the process of finding the right
minister to assist us as we move forward in the coming year. Two Sundays
ago, we heard the Rev. Jeremy Melvin speak to us and this coming Sunday
the Rev. Lara Hoke will spend the morning with us as well. We have one
more candidate Rev. Susan Thomas, although we will all not be able to hear
her in person but she is supplying us with a sermon on tape and will meet
with some of us for questions and answers.
On Sunday, May 17th, we are having a Congregation Conversation after the service. We hope many of you can attend as we plan to go over our ministerial choices and get your thoughts. The candidates are diverse in age, experience, personal situations and personality so I don’t believe it
will be an easy choice. Consensus may not occur during the conversation but everyone will have the opportunity to speak and provide guidance to the Board. As Chas said, we are lay led, not Board led but- lay led. You are the Congregation and what is important to you matters to us all.
Thank you all for being part of this community.