The Compass, September 24, 2026
UUNB partners with the Whaling Museum for a Mass Center for the Book-sponsored discussion of Joseph V. Lee's book "Nothing More of This Land—Community Power and the Search for Indigenous Identities." Our admin, Jessica DeCicco-Carey, facilitated the discussions over two events in August and September. Participants are invited to a live Q&A with the author on September 29.
Table of Contents
Church News
DINNERS FOR EIGHT
For the past few years I have been trying to keep the tradition of Dinners for Eight alive but I am desperate for hosts.
You can sign up to host the dinners and participate in the dinners as a guest, or just be a guest. I have a form I will forward to you to find out what are your preferences so we can meet them as best we can. If you would like to host but do not have enough room at home, you can host at church. This works well for folks without enough room at home to host a group, or if you live far from New Bedford.
The way it works is I give the host a list of people who are interested in participating and the host contacts everyone to see if they are available for the evening the host chooses for the dinner. We generally hold the dinners on a mid-month weekend, either Friday, Saturday or Sunday nights. The host prepares the main dish and assigns the guests to bring either a side dish, an appetizer, a dessert, or for those who don’t cook, a beverage and/or bread. I try to coordinate the host and dinner guests so that there is a mixing of guests at each hosts’ table each month.
For those of you new to the church, and for those who would like to participate in Dinners for Eight this year, please email me at lw02740@yahoo.com.
Breaking bread together is a great way to get to know church members and friends.
It really is a good time, and we would love to have you.
Lynn Whitney, Coordinator
Hospitality Volunteers Needed!
As we begin a new church year, the Hospitality Committee would like to check in with you all about our Sunday Service Coffee Hour.
Firstly, we want your input. Let us know what you enjoy, what not so much, ideas you may have to improve it, how you may be able to contribute, and questions you may have about it. We will be informally checking in with each of you, but please feel free to be proactive and approach Deb or me to share your views at any time.
Secondly, we need your help. What we ultimately end up being able to offer will depend on more people joining the committee to provide this service so many of us enjoy. We currently have only four members to provide this for 42 Sundays each year. It’s too much for just the 4 of us to do! We need at least 2 people to host Coffee Hour each Sunday. Hosting includes set up (making coffee, setting up the buffet area with food, drinks, serving ware, etc.), and clean-up. Set-up time would be from 10 to 11, time out for Sunday service 12:00 to 1:00 and time to get a bite to eat with others, with clean-up beginning around 12:30 until finished (about an hour, but depends upon how many people and dishes).
Thirdly, Food. Many of you have been so generous in bringing food to share; thank you. There’s no sign-up for this; you decide what you’d like to bring. We hope this tradition continues; we end up with some very unique buffets! We know it is important to many that we offer at least one soup or savory dish (casserole, quiche, hearty salad, plate of sandwiches) each week for those who need/want something more than a snack or that coffee/sugar high. To better ensure that will be available, we are asking people to commit to bringing a dish in by signing up for a Sunday of your choice.
So, please, seriously, consider joining us for a Sunday now and then; ask a friend or fellow member to partner with you. Join us in this joyful work of providing nourishment and a comfortable place for us to gather each week in fellowship.
Thank you, and take care,
Donna Martocci
Hospitality Committee Members:
Deb Carmel
Donna Martocci
Anna Gerber
Dan Everton
We Need Post Card Stamps!
Over the course of three Sundays this summer, community & church members gathered to write over 1400 hand-written postcards to Texas, Nevada, and North Carolina, reminding people to vote on November 3. These postcards have been proven to increase voter turnout by 2.8%! It's a low-lift but makes a huge impact.
Our first batch is being mailed to Texas this week! We have purchased some postage, but could use more. If you wrote postcards and didn't bring postage, a monetary donation will do; Jess can get stamps. Even if you didn't write postcards, you can still buy postcard stamps to help the effort. Thank you!
Venmo: @UUNewBedford
—OR—
Donate using the donate button on our website, or add money to the Sunday collection marked "for postage."
✅ First batch of 1000 postcards were mailed yesterday!
September Services
Events at UUNB
Please share these events with your family and friends, and consider attending yourself. We would love to see you! (This calendar also includes committee meetings and rentals)
FREE Events Happening at UUNB
NB Circle happening TONIGHT!
Being Human takes place every Friday at 11 AM. Please use the parking lot door.
RSVP is strongly encouraged for Third Space Thursday. We want to make sure we can accomodate everyone. Email re@uunewbedford.org with questions.
We are a stop on the 3rd Annual Ghost Tour on October 3!!! Visit locations in Downtown NB to speak to historic figures while also learning about the United Nations Global Goals. This event is in partnership with the Community Collabrative.
Ticketed Events & Fundraisers
If you can't attend the Witches' Ball but still want to contribute to our fundraising efforts, please consider donating using the link below.
Upcoming Events In Our Community
The "Saving Our Democracy" Working Group of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Fairhaven (UUSF), at the Unitarian Memorial Church, 102 Green Street in Fairhaven, is offering a series of three videos, followed by discussion and presentations at 6:00 PM on consecutive Thursday evenings as follows:
9-24-26: Video #1- "Trump's Power and the Rule of Law": a balanced PBS Frontline documentary which includes officials discussing the pros and cons of the "Unitary Executive Power" theory.
10-01-26: Video #2- A speech by travel historian Rick Steves titled "The Traveler & American Democracy with Rick Steves". Mr. Steves delivers a dynamic speech on the rise of authoritarianism in Europe, leading up to WWII, and American democracy.
10-08-26: Video #3- "What are the Moral and Spiritual Issues of the 2026 Elections": A Yale Divinity School Public Theology & Public Policy Conference in which a team of religious leaders and scholars from various disciplines discuss these public policy issues in a panel setting.
From the Unitarian Universalist Hysterical Society
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.
Unitarian Universalist New Bedford
71 8th Street, New Bedford, MA 02740 (508)994-9686
Administrator ext. 10
Thrift Shop ext.12
Minister ext. 13
Minister & Staff
Rev. Karen LeBlanc
Minister
(508)994-9686 ext. 13
Office Hours: Tues-Thurs
10 AM to 1 PM
Randy Fayan
Director of Music
Does Not Hold Office Hours
Jess DeCicco-Carey
Administrator
(508)994-9686 ext. 10
Office Hours: Mon., Wed., Thurs. 10 AM to 1 PM
Mari Fay-Martin &
Sam Angelinni
Way Cool Sunday School
Teachers
Officers & Trustees
Jack Vitale
Vice-President
Elise Rapoza
Secretary
Niko Tarini
Ed Rooney
David Labrie
Mary O'Beirne
Updated Bylaws
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