Greetings from the Ministry of Mirth and Merriment. The surveys are in and tallied. Our thanks to the 41 of you who gave us information. Here are the activities which had the most interest:

• Pot lucks of all kinds dessert/dialog sessions
• movies small group dinners
• going to baseball games game nights
• card parties GEVA
• a New Year’s Eve get-together gourmet dinners
• Thanksgiving dinner at church year-end picnic
• Mardi Gras party open mic coffee house

Most responses indicated that Friday afternoon/evening, Saturday morning/afternoon/evening, and Sunday afternoon/early evening were the best time for events, with some interest expressed in having weekday evening events.

You also gave us an incredible list of other possibilities, from Talent Night to adult (yes, adult) sleep-overs and Laughter Yoga. This list will be posted on the bulletin board in the Clara Barton Lounge in the near future.

So what now? What do we do with all this wonderful information? This list will only be a list, unless people step forward to organize these events. It’s not complicated! Pick an idea ( or bring one of your own.) Pick a date/time. Get your information to Kris at the office…check for room availability and other possible conflicts. Get it on the calendar and write a blurb for the Outlooks and the order of service. Put up a sign up sheet if you need one and… VOILA! Mirth and Merriment!

Please be sure to put these upcoming events on your calendar:

• The Great Cookbook Cookoff (rsvp to the office) on November 14, 2008.
• a soup and salad lunch after church on November 16, 2008 sponsored by the Membership Committee
• Thanksgiving Dinner at First U…the signup sheet is posted in the Clara Barton Lounge. Look for more information about this very soon. Thanks to Karl Abbott for organizing this event.

Our surveys show that there is a real desire for more “community” in our community. Won’t you be the next person to step up and get something started?

We hope you’ll join us in these newly-listed activities. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

• Sunday, Oct. 5, 2008 — Mirth & Merriment Activity Survey in today’s Order of Service. At various gatherings during our interim ministry year, many expressed a desire for more church events devoted solely to having fun together. Look for the survey in today’s Order of Service!
• Oct. to Dec. 2008 — Weekday parking will be limited due to scaffolding that will be in use while our gutters are repaired. If you plan to come to the church during business hours, please use alternative parking. Projected completion is the first week of December.
• Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 — Association Sunday will be the focus of our service today. See our sermon and the UUA Association Sunday webpage for details.
• Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 — The Semi-Annual Meeting will be held in the sanctuary immediately following the service.
• Sunday, Oct. 12, 2008 — All-Church Italian Potluck Dinner. Set-up 4:00 pm. Gathering 4:30 pm. Dinner begins 5:00 pm. Event ends 7pm. Please bring an Italian dish that serves 6-8. Contact Marie Sidoti.
• Saturday, Oct. 18, 2008 — Fall Clean-up . Join us as we spruce up our church building for Fall. Contact Alain Perregaux for more details.
• Friday & Saturday, Oct. 24 – 25, 2008 — Ministerial workshop. The Rev. Tom Chulak, a SLD executive, will lead a workshop on building a vision of shared ministry, planning the future and nurturing the spirit. All congregants are welcome Friday night. The Saturday workshop is for trustees, staff and congregational leaders.
• Sundays, Nov. 2 & 9 — Spare Change collection. Can you spare some spare change? If so, we’ll be collecting your spare change on these two Sundays. Last year the congregation generously gave more than $600, and we hope to top that this year. Every nickel counts! Thanks for your contributions.
• Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008 — the Rev. Mark Morrison-Reed returns to our pulpit to preach on Universalism. After the service, he will sign copies and reading excerpts from his new book, In Between: Memoir of an Integration Baby. In the book, he wrestles with racism, the death of Martin Luther King, black radicalism and his experience in an interracial family. The book is to be released in mid-October by Skinner House and will be available for purchase at 1st Universalist today.
• January 2009 — Meditation Manuals and book orders. The Library Committee will send in a book order to the UUA Bookstore, which will include the newest Meditation Manuals. If there are Beacon Press, Skinner House or other books you’d like us to order from the UUA Bookstore, please let Keith Stott and Phil Ebersole know. UUA Bookstore, Beacon Press and Skinner House catalogs are available in the Clara Barton Library, which is open each Sunday during coffee hour.

Some of our ministries would like your involvement too …

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE): School-age children are welcome to join our RE classes, which are held upstairs following the Message for All Ages. Nursery care is provided throughout the service.