August Services | Staff Schedule | Music Director | Church Happenings:| Brown Bag gathering | Chalice Circles| Murder at the Pie Auction | Holiday Fair | GA Report | Concerts for a Cause | WORKING FOR JUSTICE: | Charities with Soul | Black Lives Matter | Immigrant Justice | UU the Vote | WFJ Events: | Rebels and Poets | Pihcintu Choir | ART GALLERY | Parish Messenger Deadline |
August Services
SUMMER THEME: People and Places that have Changed My Life
Sun, August 4 — Gilbert & Sullivan
Led by Sharon Brown. Music by Grace Lewis-McLaren
During this time of concerns and worries it may be time to take a little while and hear about what still brings happiness and joy to my life. We will watch some short videos of G & S operettas and listen to music by Sir Authur Sullivan and hear why they have been so important to me throughout my life.
Sharon Brown grew up in a UCC parsonage, she joined a UU congregation in the 1970s. She spent three years in the Women’s Army Corp and then a year and a half in Germany. For the last 20 years she has owned her own bookkeeping business. She now resides in Brunswick with her cat, Puma.
Sun, August 11 — My Unhoused Neighbor is my Kin
Led by Rev. Caroline Ecklund, Music by Derek Herzer and Ambrosia
The beauty of being human is our capacity for aiding a person in need. At the same time, when we come face-to-face with someone who appears to be living in the streets or in the woods, or a mom just about to be evicted, we tend to look away. Our culture teaches us that their circumstances are their own fault or that our discomfort is acceptable. But what if our first reaction was to befriend the person and call them “kin”?
The Rev. Carolyn H. Eklund is the retired rector of St. Paul’s Church, Brunswick, Maine. She came to Maine in 2013 to serve at St. Paul’s after 12 years as rector of Grace Church, Plainfield, New Jersey. Her passion has been working for housing and racial justice. She serves on the board of Tedford Housing and volunteers for The Gathering Place, a day shelter in Brunswick. She earned her Master of Divinity degree from The General Theological Seminary in New York City. A native of Kansas, her undergraduate degrees are from the University of Kansas in microbiology and medical technology.
Sun, August 18 — On Wings of Song
Led by Ward Clark and Friends. Music by Ward Clark, Lyra Engel, Peter Engel, Holly Hendricks
On Wings of Song was a choral performing group in the early 1980s. The group grew out of the “Opening the Heart” workshops at the Spring Hill healing center in Ashby, a small community in north-central Massachusetts. Whether OWOS performances were at a church, an ashram, a conference center, the Pentagon, or a maximum security prison, there was a “transformance” that happened through the power of the chants, songs, and dancing. Four OWOS alumni will tell the story of the group, lead the congregation in singing OWOS chants and songs, and share personal experiences of performing, touring, and becoming an extended family.
Lyra Engel is a grandmother, singer-songwriter & manager of a community gathering space in Freeport, ME. Peter Engel sings and plays guitar with Lyra, lives in Freeport, and works as a recycling and waste management advisor. Holly Hendricks is a member and technical coordinator of the UU Church of Ellsworth, ME. Ward Clark is a mostly retired software engineer who is currently a member of the UUCB Choir and the Midcoast Senior College Singers.
Sun August 25 — Using the Past to Recreate the Future
Led by Suzanne Ritter, Music by Derek Herzer and Glenn Williams
Relating my experience attending Berea College, and finally finishing my degree at the age of 55. Berea College was founded in 1855 as the first integrated college in the south, and the first to accept women. It has been tuition-free since 1892. Most of the students, about 70%, are from Appalachia—where nearly one in every five people live below the poverty line. And that recruiting pipeline in Appalachia produces a rather diverse class – more than 40 percent of the student body identify as racial minorities. It also accepts students from 70 different countries.
Suzanne Ritter was born and raised in Cincinnati, Ohio. She served in the Women’s Army Corps as a journalist and broadcaster at the end of the Vietnam War. She then married and moved to Germany as a military dependent, and had two children. After she divorced, she worked for the US Forces as an arts and crafts instructor and later with the US Air Force Public Affairs Office in Berlin. When the Berlin Wall came down and the Allies left Berlin, she went to work for the German state broadcaster, DW-TV as a speaker and documentary producer with their English language department. Ten years later, she returned to the US with her partner, Pam, and spent the next decade caring for Pam through her bout of multiple cancers. Pam recovered and Suzanne went back to college to finish her degree.
In the meantime, Suzanne’s grown children in Berlin had made her a grandmother. So when Pam retired from the Air Force, they returned to Berlin where Suzanne resumed her career with DW-TV and also worked as a voice-over actor. Finally, when Suzanne took mandatory retirement in 2021, she and Pam made the decision to return to the US, settling in Maine. After 30 years together, they looked for someone to officiate at their wedding and found Rev Kharma and the UUCB. They are now members of the church and settling into their new home in Topsham.
UUCB Staff Summer Vacation Schedule
Rev. Dr. Kharma Amos – Minister
Study & Vacation July & August
Toben Cooney–Callnan – Religious Exploration Director
Vacation July
Will Bristol – Music Director
Vacation August
Shirley Bernier – Office Administrator
Vacation July 1-5
SUMMER OFFICE HOURS JULY & AUGUST
- July 1-5 Office Closed
- July 6-Aug 31 Wed. & Thurs. 10am-4pm
- July 6-Aug 31 Mon., Tues., & Fri. Office Closed
For the July and August, please submit items for Order of Worship, Announcement Sheet, and All Church Emails, by Wednesday at 10am. Please submit articles via email at
Music Director Update
Hi all,
A few musical opportunities to think about this summer:
1. If you are a singer who’d like to join the choir in September, please let me know. We could use more basses in particular. If this is your first time singing in a choir I’m happy to make accommodations necessary to help you feel comfortable—everyone is welcome! Email me at
2. I’m encouraging the formation of a small to medium a cappella group focusing on pop and jazz music since I feel that a lot of us already have a natural inclination towards singing in this way. My proposition is that we get together to sing for 30-45 mins following church service every 2nd Sunday of the month. Basic sheet music reading skills are necessary. Let me know if you’re interested at
3. Recorder ensemble will continue on the 1st Sunday of every month beginning 10/6 and will continue to include stringed and fretted instruments who’d like to join us for some of our musical content.
4. I will be joining the children during worship services to do music every 4th Sunday of the month, for the most part. I will also be staying in the back of the church to encourage and support the formation of small youth-led singing groups on those Sundays following service. Please bring your child to church if they like to sing!
Concerts for a Cause
Pousette-Dart Duo
FRIDAY, September 20 at 7:30 pm
The Pousette-Dart Band was a mainstay of album radio, a favorite on the college circuit and became one of the busiest touring groups in the US working with such acts as The Byrds, Bonnie Raitt, Little Feat, The Eagles, James Taylor, The J. Geils Band, and many more.
Jon Pousette-Dart is back on the road with his longtime fellow bandmate, Jim Chapdelaine on guitar/vocals. As a Duo they perform decades of music from the Capitol years up to the latest solo releases. The Jon Pousette-Dart DUO has become one of the top Country and Folk artists in the 2024 music scene.
Enjoy this special evening of music known by heart by a whole generation while supporting this year’s charities. All proceeds from the concert will be donated to the Brunswick Area Teen Center and Maine Family Planning.
Tickets: $25 in advance, $30 at the door, $10 Students/Children. Available in August after church services, at the church office, Gulf of Maine Books, or online at https://ticketstripe.com/pousette.
Please note that this concert is on a FRIDAY, which is a departure from most of the other Concerts for a Cause.
Sally Rogers & Claudia Schmidt
Saturday, October 19 at 7:30 pm
This concert was cancelled last year because of the Lewiston shooting, but we’re excited to have rescheduled them for this year. For decades, Sally and Claudia have been playing at prestigious folk venues around the world and were regulars on Garrison Keillor’s Prairie Home Companion. They are well-known for beautiful harmonies, dulcimer & guitar duets, and a wide repertoire of originals and traditional songs.
Tickets: $20 in advance, $25 at the door, $10 Students/Children. Available in August after church services, at the church office, Gulf of Maine Books, or online at https://ticketstripe.com/sallyrogers.
G.A. Report
By Grace Lewis-McLaren
How many G.A.s have I attended? Don’t know! My daughter Mary was a youth delegate (from UUCB) when she was 16. Her enthusiasm led me to make my way to my first G.A. the following year. It took a commitment of time, of money, of intention. This event was the annual gathering of UUs, world wide, though the international representation was token. Oh, the excitement! The opening ceremony, a parade of handmade banners from every congregation, with wild cheering from their delegate flock. Inspiring worship services (some at 7 am!), workshops on all sorts of topics (I gave workshops on “Songs of Grace”), justice gatherings that sometimes took to the streets, or to the holding camps of a certain sheriff near the Arizona border with Mexico. And musical events, luminary speakers. May Sarton was the featured speaker at the 1982 G.A. which was held here in Brunswick, Maine!
And then there was G.A. 2024. Totally on line. The banner parade was a slide show of sorts, pre-recorded music, no cheering except perhaps in the privacy of your own laptop. If you were registered as a full delegate, you had access to numerous worship services and workshops. If you were a business only delegate, as was I, you had access to the daily business sessions which often included reflections by leaders. The major piece of business in this G.A. was final voting on a proposed change to the UUA Bylaws known as Article II. After several years (yes, years) of questionnaires, forums, workshops, intensive studies, proposals and amendment suggestions, this G.A. was when the final vote, made electronically by the registered delegates, would be taken. How big a deal was this? A California friend confessed she was suffering a spiritual crisis over the proposed change. Change, it seems, was the tipping point. For UUs who had come of age with the principles as listed in the first pages of “Singing the Living Tradition,” our hard cover grey hymnal (1993) this was just more than they could abide.
The UUA Board, the co-moderators, and many professional leaders offered reflections to ease the tensions, present even on an electronic platform. Rev. Victoria Safford offered this: “We have no time for harshness…on a wounded planet. What matters? What doesn’t? We can neither be brought down nor raised up by what we vote here today. What will truly be lost? What will remain?”
If you are confused by the lack of specifics here, I urge you to seek out the UUA GA web site. The nitty-gritty details are there. The final wording of Article II, the reason the change was mandated (Bylaws), the hard working study group, the amendments, the new logo with LOVE at the center, the delegate numbers, the the final voting tally. You can also learn about the Actions of Immediate Witness: a category in which three proposals were accepted and voted on for further study and action. Stay tuned.
My own experience with G.A. 2024? I have to salute the organizers for the enormous savings: no travel, no hotels, no crowded venues for events, no long lines for meals or rest rooms. Good for the planet. Last year my daughter Mary, DRE at Summit UU Fellowship, Santee, CA. was here with me. Both of us were full delegates. We watched the on-line streaming of the gatherings held in Pittsburgh. We lighted our Chalice. We sang together. We discussed our votes and recorded them electronically. We felt a gathering of spirit. This year? Not so much. I confess to taking a few naps during some of the 90 second pros and cons building up to the final voting. And then on Sunday, after returning from UUCB, there was no power in a large portion of Brunswick. CMP blamed it on an osprey. The outage lasted until 8 pm, so I was unable to see the closing worship service! But as I sat slurping melted ice cream for my supper I knew I could find that later on the UUA web site (www.uua.org). So can you.
WORKING FOR JUSTICE
August’s Charity with Soul
Four Directions Development Corporation
Who we are
We are a Native American CDFI (Community Development Financial Institution). Our mission is to improve the social and economic conditions of the Wabanaki tribes in Maine- the Maliseet, Micmac, Passamaquoddy, and Penobscot- through education and investment in affordable housing, tribal business ventures, and Native entrepreneurship. We have four core programs and related products and services: Our Small Business program supports business growth and tribal members’ success through small business loans, entrepreneur centers, artisan loans, and technical assistance; Residential Lending promotes safe and quality homeownership through home mortgages, home improvements, refinancing, and down payment assistance; Financial counseling advances borrower readiness and personal financial health through free financial counseling, free tax preparation, and matched savings programs; and Community Development promotes facilities, housing, and business development through construction loans, permanent loans, operating capital, participation funding, and technical assistance.
Impact of donations:
We would use the donations to increase tribes and tribal members’ access to our products and services. Specifically, would use it to finance our Financial Capabilities program and our Artisan Fund, two well-utilized programs that could use an increase in revenue due to demand. Parishioners should donate to Four Directions if they’d like their contributions to directly impact Wabanaki households and entrepreneurs.
With gratitude:
Four Directions is grateful to be positioned to support Wabanaki people and tribes in the way we do. We are also grateful that your congregation has recognized our work and believes in supporting our mission too. Thank you for your contributions and thus for helping to improve the social and economic conditions of the Wabanaki tribes in Maine
Black Lives Matter
Sacred Ground: Conversations about Race and Racism
To be offered again in the Fall, 2024
Sacred Ground, an 11-session program on race and racism, will be offered again at UUCB in the fall. The curriculum of readings and videos includes histories and legacies of Black, Indigenous, Latino, Asian-American, and Jewish peoples. In small groups of 7 – 9 people, led by trained facilitators, participants reflect on the narratives of these histories which we, as individuals, carry with us. The sessions provide opportunities for open conversation and a deeper understanding of the impact of racism on our lives. Contact person: Faith Barnes
Immigrant Justice
Volunteers needed: As more new Mainers relocate to the Brunswick/Bath area there is a continued need for volunteers.
- Mid Coast New Mainers Group (MCNMG) needs job coaches and people who are willing to drive with folks who have had driving lessons but need more practice. Please contact Carol Kalajainen at if you are interested in becoming a job coach or a driving coach.
- Midcoast Literacy needs more volunteers to read with both children and adults. If you are interested in reading with children, please contact Katy Clark at . If you prefer to work with adults, please contact Diana Kraus at .
- The Nazarene Church will be reopening the Clothing Bank at their church location at 94 McKeen Street. They need volunteers to help get the new clothing bank up and running.
This is a valuable community resource for everyone – including new Mainers – that deserves all of our help. If you are interested in assisting with setting up or volunteering at the Clothing Bank, please reach out to Katya Rogers at .
UU the Vote
- Are you game to make phone calls? Help UU Justice North Carolina activate volunteers and voters in their key state, starting on 8/27. All you need is a cell phone. You can do this from anywhere.
- Can you buy postcards, stamps, or labels? We will use those to send nonpartisan voting reminders through Reclaim Our Vote, a Center for Common Ground Initiative.
- Would you like to participate in a postcarding event? Hosts will provide everything you need to prepare postcards for voters, as well as refreshments.
Everyone who is interested in learning more will be welcome at our 9/7 10:30-noon information (and action!) meeting at UUCB and on Zoom. Contact:
Working for Justice Upcoming Events
Rebels and Poets
An evening of Irish and Palestinian resistance poetry and music
Sunday, August 4, from 2-5 PM (with brief intermission)
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick
1 Middle Street, Brunswick
Songs will be drawn from decades of music and songs of resistance to occupation and oppression that came out of both the Irish and Palestinian experiences. These will be sung by a collaboration of Maine-based musicians from both traditions including three members of the Portland-based The Shank Painters (https://shankpainters.com/about) as well as Fateh Azzam (Georgetown, ME), Selima Terras (Bowdoin College) and others.
Irish poetry of resistance will be read by Gary Lawless of Gulf of Maine Books. Palestinian poetry will be read by Sharif Elmusa of Washington D.C. and Arrowsic, ME, and Zeina Azzam, Poet Laureate of Alexandria, VA. A brief intermission is planned with the possibility of Dabkeh dancing at the end of the program.
Event is free and open to the public. Contact: Cathey Cyrus
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Pihcintu Multinational Immigrant and Refugee Girls Chorus
Sunday, Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM
Unitarian Universalist Church of Brunswick
1 Middle Street, Brunswick
Pihcintu, a multicultural girl’s chorus, will perform at UUCB on Saturday, September 28, 2024 at 4:00 PM. For this free concert, seating will be on a first come, first served basis. For more information about Pihcintu and to listen to the chorus, see https://pihcintu.org/
For more information about this event, please contact Faith Barnes at .
Church Happenings
Brown Bag Gathering on the Mall after Church
SUNDAY, August 11
Let’s get together after church on Sunday, August 11 for a brown-bag picnic on the Mall. Gather starting at 11:30 AM on the Park Street side of the Brunswick Mall, directly across from the One Sixty Five Inn. Bring your own brown bag meal and a chair. See you there!
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Chalice Circles
Chalice Circles are deep listening groups. They provide a way of communicating and listening that is mostly absent in everyday conversation. By listening, deeply, respectfully, to one another in Chalice Circles, we allow one another’s spirits to be heard and seen. If you are curious and want to learn more, Rev. Lucy Ijams would truly love to hear from you. or call/text 315-368-7551. Registration for the next round of Circles begins in September.
Murder at the Pie Auction
Sponsored by the Fundraising Steering Group
Holiday Fair
Art Gallery
Summer Artists: UUCB Members and Friends
Deadline for August Parish Messenger
Please send your content to: on or before Saturday, August 24th. Thanks!