Upcoming Summer Worship Services
July 28 Human Sexuality Rev. Rosemarie Newberry
The Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ have spent a lot of time and money over 20 years developing a comprehensive program about human sexuality. The children’s programs of Our Whole Lives are very popular. Yet, the adults don’t seem to think that they need to learn more after their 30s. Let’s talk about why we need to be lifelong learners of human sexuality. Parents, please use discretion about keeping children under the age of 13 in the sanctuary during this service.
Music by Rich Grossman and Helen Benham
The Rev. Rosemarie Newberry is a retired minister and chaplain. She has served in congregations in NJ, NY, and OH. Also, she served as a chaplain for adults with developmental disabilities. She has four grandchildren, a cat, and a big trip planned for September to attend the International UU Women’s peace conference in Transylvania. She lives in Red Bank, NJ and loves the NJ Shore. She has been a member of UUCMC for over 30 years.
Rich Grossman received his Master’s degrees in clarinet performance and music education with honors from the Hartt School of Music, University of Hartford. He has been a member of the Hartford Chamber Orchestra, Monmouth (NJ) Symphony Orchestra, the Monmouth Winds Quintet, and a soloist at the International Clarinet Festival. Rich was the director and a conductor of the Colts Neck Community Band for 12 years. Since moving to Tucson, Arizona, he has performed with the Civic Orchestra of Tucson, the Tucson Woodwind Trio, and the Sonara Winds, which he also guest conducted.
Helen Benham received her Mus.B. degree with honors in piano from Oberlin Conservatory of Music and her B.A. degree from Oberlin College in German. A former member of the New York Kammermusiker, Ms. Benham has given many solo piano recitals and has performed chamber music as well throughout Europe, in Canada, in Taiwan, South Korea, and the United States. She has been heard in Carnegie Hall, at the Donnell Library, at the Lincoln Center Library, and has been the piano soloist multiple times with the Monmouth Symphony Orchestra and with the Hudson Valley Philharmonic.
August 4 Transforming Our Community…One Student at a Time Dr. Margaret McMenamin
The world around us is changing rapidly—and some say not for the good. At UCNJ, we are focused on making the world a better place by giving young people an opportunity to earn a college degree. Our work is God’s work.
Music by Ron Jackson, jazz guitar
Dr. Margaret M. McMenamin is the President of UCNJ—Union College of Union County, NJ. During her tenure at Union, the College quintupled its graduation rate. In October 2020, Dr. McMenamin was named the National Marie Y. Martin CEO of the Year by the Association of Community College Trustees. In 2023, the Aspen Institute for College Excellence named Union as one of the Top 25 community colleges in America and a Semifinalist for the $1 million Aspen Prize for Community College Excellence.
Ron Jackson is a world-renowned, seven-string jazz guitarist, composer, and educator. He has performed, recorded, and taught music in over 30 countries. Most recently Jackson produced, composed, and played on Kevin Powell’s GRAMMY® Award nominated album, Grocery Shopping With My Mother. A notable career as a recording artist, Jackson has put out more than 10 albums as a leader starting with his debut album, It’s A Guitar Thing (Muse), in 1992. His most recent release, Standards And My Songs, was Top 10 on the JazzWeek radio chart in 2022, and is his second recorded exclusively on the seven-string. Jackson is one of a handful of master jazz guitarists in the world who plays and teaches six and seven-string jazz guitar. He has performed as a leader at jazz festivals all over the world, such as the North Sea Jazz Festival, the Edinburgh Jazz Festival, The AAPI Jazz Festival, and the Super Jazz Ashdod Festival in Israel. He is a 2022 recipient of The South Arts JazzRoad Grant. Jackson plays frequently in his home base of New York City as a leader and sideman at The Django, Zinc Bar, Birdland, Bar Lunatico, St. Peter’s Church, and City Vineyard.
August 11 The Gifts of Poetry Rev. Dr. Craig Rubano and Tea Time Friends
Poetry embodies the gifts that relationships of all kinds provide. How many of us have given a gift of poetry to someone to celebrate a special occasion? Through encounters with poetry, people are allowed the gift of finding their lives reflected through new frames of meaning. Tea Time enters its third year on Thursday afternoons when we gather to discuss a poem and, in the process, share our lives. This morning, we’ll hear from several of our Tea Time friends, and experience the beauty of the work of singer-songwriter Tom McCormack.
Music by Tom McCormack, piano
In the Community Room following the service, there will be a celebration of the 60th wedding anniversary of Howard and Irene Passmore.
Tom McCormack has performed on club and college stages across the country as a solo artist, with his band and with his presentation “Hate Speech & Love Songs.” He has released three CDs, written & produced music for HBO, Cinemax and the Style network, and co-founded GLAMA, the Gay/Lesbian American Music Awards.
August 18 Music, Music, Music: A Hymn Sing! Elaine Held, Music Director Emeritus
There is no other place where most people can come together to sing, than in houses of worship. And UUCMC is no different. We are a robust singing community and we each have our favorites to sing. So Come, Come Whoever You Are and sing your favorite songs and hymns from our hymnal. I will choose a few, then you just call out your favorite. Also, music by violinist Joel DeWitt, Sister Singers, and others.
Music by Elaine Held, organ, piano; Joel DeWitt, violin; Sister Singers
Elaine Held, UUCMC Music Director Emerita, has been a member of this congregation for over 25 years. She was its first paid Music Director, and, after retiring, she continued to support the music program on a volunteer basis as a member of the Music Committee, playing the organ and piano when needed, and organizing and directing the Sister Singers.
August 25 The Spirituality of Dungeons and Dragons Pauline Nijander
Dungeons & Dragons has seen a resurgence in recent years due to appearances in pop culture, in particular due to the pandemic. But, is it possible that this tabletop role-playing game can be more than just a game? Could there be spiritual things that one can get from playing? Join us on this Sunday as we explore whether Dungeons & Dragons, and other similar games, can allow us to explore our own or others’ spiritualities and so much more! No prior knowledge of Dungeons & Dragons required!
Music by Dr. Louise Chernosky
Pauline E. Nijander recently completed her Master of Divinity program at the Drew University Theological School in Madison, NJ where she was studying for the Unitarian Universalist ministry. She received an award for excellence in homiletics (preaching) in the 2021–22 academic year and an award for excellence in leadership in 2023–24. Pauline has been a member of the UU Congregation of Princeton since 2013, where she has served in various leadership roles and is now one of its two Seminarians. As a proud trans woman and lesbian, Pauline has spoken often to different community and student groups about her perspective and life in hopes of educating people through honest and engaging conversation about trans* life and issues. For this work, she was awarded the 2017 Triad House LGBTQ+ Champion Award from LifeTies. Along with her wife, Michelle, and their sweet pitbull, Ingrid, Pauline resides in Ewing, NJ.
September 1 The Impact of Domestic Violence Dr. Kathryn Lynch
Domestic violence is a pattern of abusive behavior used by one partner to gain and maintain power and control over another. It is more than just physical abuse, and can include emotion abuse, economic abuse, psychological abuse, and sexual abuse. The partner’s chronic abuse of power controls the victim by threats and intimidation. There are many reasons why someone cannot leave their abusive relationships. Domestic violence agencies are important, as they offer support to survivors to identify the abusive relationship and provide resources to help the survivor leave and remain safe.