November News & Views
- Oct 29
- 10 min read
Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. -Melody Beattie
From the Minister's Studio
“Help us become ancestors future generations will thank, planting trees whose shade we'll never rest in, fighting battles whose victories we won't live to see, loving this world forward with the same fierce hope that brought us here.” Excerpt from For Those Who Came Before by Rev. Michelle Collins
We begin this month of “Nurturing Gratitude” with our annual Honoring the Ancestors service, which happens to fall on November 2, All Souls Day. This year, as always, we will talk about those we’ve lost in the past year. Most recently, on October 2, we lost Aurore Chase, who died peacefully at 104 years old, and I can’t wait to hear some stories about her rich life and all she gave to the church. We also lost Everett Hoagland this summer, and he was kind enough to donate his library to the church, so this Sunday we will dedicate the Everett Hoagland Memorial Black Poetry and Culture Library, which will be located in the sanctuary. Books will be available to check out with permission.
We’ll also pay tribute to Nancy Crosby, Lisa Regan Durr, and Maggi Peirce, all of whom we have lost this year and will be sorely missed. So, bring your memories and stories of them, as well as pictures or other representations of your loved ones who have died, to add to the ancestor’s altar. This is one of my favorite services because it reminds me, and all of us, of the hard work that those who came before us have done to get us here. We are standing on the shoulders of giants, my friends, with similarly large shoes to fill. May we be up to the task of carrying this long dream into the future, and may we never forget those who have come before us.
There will be a visiting minister, Rev. Sarah Person, on 11/9, while I officiate the wedding of church member Kirk Whiting to his lovely bride, Kathleen, in Rhode Island. Our love and congratulations to them both! The Social Justice service will be on 11/16 this month, because we have our Thanksgiving service and potluck on 11/23. Please sign up to bring something and/or for set up/clean up if you can. We have 5 Sundays in November, so the 30th will start the holiday season with our annual reading of A Child’s Christmas in Wales, which was so much fun last year. And yes, there will be a “snowball fight” for the kids after the service.
As we nurture gratitude this month (and, I hope, always), I ask you to think deeply about the needs of others who will be hurting this holiday season. I am personally canceling the consumerist part of Christmas this year. I refuse to give money to big corporations this holiday season, and I suggest you do the same. Here are a few ideas about what to do instead: Make it or bake it. Buy from local artists or give gift cards for local restaurants. Give to food pantries. Give as a family to non-profits that are in need and support your principles, like Public Radio or the ACLU, or whatever you are most concerned with. Buy banned books to give away. Buy your kids a class to learn something they’re interested in. Volunteer at a soup kitchen, or pantry, or anywhere you see a need. Be creative and make it a family affair.
Let’s make the season of giving count for something this year and take some pressure off ourselves to buy more stuff we don’t really need. Remember that the true spirit of these holidays is contained in the joy of being with family and friends, and that isn’t available on Amazon at any price.
Bright Blessings- Karen
Soul Matters: Welcome to Nurturing Gratitude
When it comes to how we should travel through our lives, our culture and religion are clearly at odds. Culture cries, “Accumulate!” Religion counsels “Appreciate!” The mantras couldn’t be more different: The commercials surrounding us scream, “Go out and grab all you can!”
The pulpits before us plead, “Learn to want what you have.” There’s an important reminder here: Gratitude is essential. It’s not simply a nice “extra” to get around to when we can. Or to put it another way, we aren’t built for constant striving and the pursuit of more. Instead, we need moments of pause in which we are filled and replenished by the large and small wonders of this world. As poet and philosopher, Mark Nepo, puts it: “The original meaning of the word 'appreciate' means to move toward what is precious. So practicing gratitude
reengages our aliveness—it awakens us to what is precious.” The implication here is clear: If we want to be truly alive, we need to pay attention when moments of gratitude arise.
But is that really it? Is that all we need to do? Wait for moments of gratitude to bloom and then stop and let their beauty sink in?
As our packet this month makes clear, many folks have their doubts. In one way or another, the voices within these pages point out that there is a big difference between appreciating the blessing of family and committing to sitting down together for dinner and intentionally sharing the blessings of one’s day. They go on to stress that it’s one thing to notice the beauty of nature; it’s quite another to pull yourself out of the rat race so you have time to enjoy it. And they certainly won’t let us forget that making a list of things we’re grateful for is impactful, but not nearly as powerful as the practice of “paying it forward.”
It’s all a way of gently pointing out that some of us practice gratitude passively and others actively. Or maybe the better way to put it is to say, gratitude needs our help! It can’t always flower all on its own, because there are serious threats out there: busyness, the lure of climbing the ladder, worries about the state of our world. They all work like weeds, suffocating and crowding out gratitude before it has a chance to sprout even the tiniest leaf.
Which means that maybe the most important part of this month’s theme is the "nurturing" part. Sitting back and waiting for gratitude to arise is simply not enough. That’s just not how gardens grow. If we listen carefully to the call of gratitude, we will hear a challenge to change our lives, not just appreciate them.
So friends, as we weave our way through this month’s journey, may we carry with us the question of “What do I need to do a better job of noticing?” But may we also not forget the possibly even more important question of “What practices of weeding does gratitude need from me?”
And as we hold both of those questions tight, may the blooming begin!
Gratitude has the same Latin root as kindness and grace. Its old English meaning was “a readiness to return kindness.” These connections invite us to think of gratitude as a way to usher more kindness into the world. Additionally, its connection to grace calls us to recognize what we receive from the world as a gift rather than as an entitlement.
Nurturing Gratitude Spotify Playlist
Download the entire Soul Matters packet below.
From Side With Love
As we approach the Thanksgiving season, join us in exploring Bioneers’ “Decolonizing Thanksgiving” — a powerful, justice-oriented toolkit that challenges traditional Thanksgiving narratives and centers Indigenous perspectives. Rooted in interfaith values of truth-telling and community, this resource invites us to reimagine gratitude through the lenses of land ethics, history, and accountability.
Use this guide to deepen your personal reflection or as a small-group conversation starter: How does my Thanksgiving practice connect with land, story, and responsibility?
Did you miss Sunday service last week? Watch it here!
Social Justice Committee Meetings - New Day!
Join the SJC virtually on MONDAYS at 6:30 PM. Be part of the change you would like to see in your community and beyond.
Thrift Shop
Due to a lack of volunteers to run the Thrift Shop on Saturday, November 1, we will be closed. Visit us on Tuesday, November 4, from 10 AM to 1 PM.
November 2:` Gratitude & Ancestors - How Gratitude Helps Us Remember
Honoring Your Ancestors/ All Souls Day
November 9: Gratitude & the Ordinary - How Gratitude Helps Us Notice Small Things
November 13: Art, History, Architecture {AHA} Made in New Bedford
November 16: Gratitude & Happiness - How Gratitude Gives Us Hope
November 23: Gratitude & “Reciprocity” - How Gratitude Asks Us to Respond
Thanksgiving Potluck Sign Up in Parish House
November 30: Gratitude & The Power of Thank You - How There Are Many Ways to Say Thank You
A Child's Christmas in Wales
Save the Date: Solstice Service 12/21/2025 Hosted by The Way Cool Sunday School
Happiness does not make us grateful; gratefulness makes us happy. David Steindl-Rast
In September, we were and still are a people of Building Belonging, Interdependence. We belong to each other. Our true belonging rests in a web of interconnection.
In October, we were and still are a people of Cultivating Compassion, Generosity. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources.
Interdependence
We honor the interdependent web of all existence. With reverence for the great web of life and with humility, we acknowledge our place in it. We covenant to protect Earth and all beings from exploitation. We will create and nurture sustainable relationships of care and respect, mutuality, and justice. We will work to repair harm and damaged relationships.
Pluralism
We celebrate that we are all sacred beings, diverse in culture, experience, and theology.
We covenant to learn from one another in our free and responsible search for truth and meaning. We embrace our differences and commonalities with Love, curiosity, and respect.
Justice
We work to be diverse multicultural Beloved Communities where all thrive. We covenant to dismantle racism and all forms of systemic oppression. We support the use of inclusive democratic processes to make decisions within our congregations, our Association, and society at large.
Transformation
We adapt to the changing world. We covenant to collectively transform and grow spiritually and ethically. Openness to change is fundamental to our Unitarian and Universalist heritages, never complete and never perfect.
Generosity
We cultivate a spirit of gratitude and hope. We covenant to freely and compassionately share our faith, presence, and resources. Our generosity connects us to one another in relationships of interdependence and mutuality.
Equity
We declare that every person has the right to flourish with inherent dignity and worthiness.
We covenant to use our time, wisdom, attention, and money to build and sustain fully accessible and inclusive communities.
Try this! Mary Oliver Mad Lib
Mary Oliver (1935-2019) was a poet who inspired many UUs. She loved to notice small things — the way a leaf moves in the wind, the sound of a bird’s song, the sparkle of morning light. She found joy in these little moments, and she believed that noticing them could change how we feel inside. That’s one way gratitude nurtures us. It reminds us to pay attention to the good things, especially the little ones.”
Please share these events with your family and friends, and consider attending yourself. We would love to see you!
FREE Events Happening at UUNB
Being Human takes place every Friday at 11 AM. Please use the parking lot door.
There is also an open AA meeting, led by Walter Silvia, that takes place each Saturday at
noon in the Parish House.
Save the date!
Ticketed Events: A portion of the sales from these events will benefit the restoration of the Tryworks Auditorium
In collaboration with Infinity Productions, we are excited to present a monthly concert series. Please check the events page on our website for updates. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door.
Tickets to all of our shows can be purchased in the office with cash or check during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 10 AM to 1 PM, or online with a credit card.
The calendar on our website shows everything happening at UUNB. Updates are displayed immediately, so you will always know what is planned.
About the Government Shutdown and Food Resources
Over 1 million people in Massachusetts will be cut off from food assistance starting on November 1. We have compiled a list of resources and a call to action to donate to our food pantry if you can.
From SEMAP
Notice to SNAP/HIP Customers: even though SNAP funding will be delayed if the federal government shutdown continues, you will still be able to access your $40+ monthly HIP benefits as long as you keep a balance on your card (it can be as little as one cent).
Anyone facing immediate hunger can call @projectbread 's FoodSource Hotline at (800) 645-8333.
From Gov. Maura Healey
No president has EVER cut off food assistance during a shutdown.
The President has the power and the funding to stop this. He just needs to use it. When our neighbors are struggling, the people of Massachusetts step up to help. We’re joining forces with all 13 United Way chapters across Massachusetts to launch the United Response Fund to fight hunger in every city and town.
For more information, visit unitedwaymassbay.org/united-response.
City of New Bedford Street Sheet Food Pantries
The UUNB Food Pantry: Our food pantry is small but mighty
Here is a list of items we need for our food pantry
Jelly
Pancake mix
Spices
Coffee & Tea
Canned fruit (no peaches, please)
Canned salmon, beef, and chicken
Shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, soap
Hand warmers, winter hats, blankets
Granola bars and other healthy pre-packaged snacks
Kid-friendly foods: applesauce, fruit pouches, pre-made pudding, cereal, crackers
Shelf-stable milk
If you don't have time to shop, gift cards to grocery stores, or monetary donations are also accepted. Venmo @UUNewBedford
Our Mission is to encourage diversity and mutual acceptance and work for positive change in ourselves and our community.
"We envision a congregation in which we practice the principles of our faith. We seek to enjoy peaceful reflection and inspiration in intellectually and spiritually satisfying church services. We aim to embrace the people and efforts of our church community by supporting our children and their programs, our committees and their goals, our staff and their efforts on our behalf, and each other."
Our Promises
Each person is important.
Be kind in all you do.
We help each other learn.
We search for what is true.
Each person has a say.
Work for a peaceful world.
The web of life’s the way.
Build the beloved community, free from racism and oppression.
First Unitarian Church in New Bedford
71 8th Street, New Bedford, MA 02740
(508) 994-9686
Administrator ext. 10
Minister ext. 13
Karen cell: (508) 441-9344
Thrift Shop ext. 12
Board Members & Officers
Steve Carmel, President
Charles Morgan, Vice President
Deborah Carmel, Treasurer
Trustees
Committee Chairs
Staff
The Thrift Shop is open Tuesdays and Saturdays from 10 AM to 1 PM
(508)994-9686 ext.12
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