UU Family News

News at a Glance

Letter from the FM Director - Lots of ways to connect this season!

This Sunday - FM Program Kickoff, Water Communion, Free Lunch & Musical Performance

Photo Highlights - UUs in Action

Service Spotlight - Scott Sprinkle

Save-the-Dates: Uniquely UU Events for kids and adults

REMINDER: Please RSVP here if you plan on joining us for lunch in the UU Community Cottage after the service. 😊

Letter from the FM Director

Dear UU Family,

Let’s come together in community this Sunday, September 13, for the Water Communion and Family Ministry Kickoff!

We’ll begin together with our Water Communion, so bring a little water from somewhere meaningful to you this summer. Maybe it came from a favorite vacation spot, a creek near home, a swimming hole, or even the backyard sprinkler. We’ll share our water and our stories as we begin a new year together.

Afterward, families are invited to a FREE lunch, followed by a FREE musical performance about poet and Unitarian Universalist, Carl Sandburg.

Come for the water communion, stay for the food, music, and community!

Love,

Sunday Shae

PS - Please click here to RSVP for lunch this Sunday, and if you haven't already, please be sure to check out the save-the-date listings below for information about the Hunger Walk on September 19th and The Mountain Retreat on October 23-25. We have a UU team walking in the Hunger Walk and scholarship funds available to help families attend the retreat in Highlands.

Family Ministry Photo Highlights

Bravely Blessing Last Year's Water

Participation in the blessing is optional, but these brave kiddos stood in front of the congregation, offered their water, and blessed it together. So proud of them!

Playing Pass the Joy (Keep up with a UU Twist)

Kids play together and learn about the importance of putting love into action and sharing joy!

Actively Engaged Kids During Chalice Circle

Kids thrive when they can safely be themselves and feel seen and heard on Sunday mornings.

Family Ministry will learn about Mabon on September 20th.

Chalice kids class went outside and made a harvest circle last year.

Enjoy little kids? Please volunteer in our nursery!

Volunteers are always needed to care for our youngest UUs, and you do not need to have a child in the FM program to put your love into action as a nursery volunteer. Please email Sunday at sundayshaeparker@uufhnc.org OR call her at 828-435-2655 to complete a background check and be introduced to the nursery room and routines.

Service Spotlight for this Week

Warm Welcome to our New Choir Director - Mr. Scott Sprinkle!

Yay! We have a choir director with experience leading kids choir!

For Scott Sprinkle, music has always been about bringing people together. With more than 25 years of experience in choral conducting, worship music, vocal instruction, and collaborative music-making, he brings a lifelong love of music to his work at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Hendersonville.

A native of the mountains of Western North Carolina, Scott began singing in choirs at the age of nine and earned a Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from Mars Hill College.

In addition to his work at UUFH, Scott is an elementary music educator and a private voice and piano instructor. Across these varied settings, he believes that music belongs to everyone and strives to create spaces where people feel welcomed, encouraged, challenged, and valued. He sees music as a powerful means of connection, and as a way to celebrate, reflect, wonder, grieve, and give voice to the experiences that bring people together.

Scott is grateful for the opportunity to make music with the UUFH community and to help cultivate a vibrant, inclusive, and adventurous music program. He especially values the way music can create meaningful connections among people from different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences. Outside of his musical work, Scott is the proud father of two mostly grown children and remains deeply connected to the people and places of Western North Carolina.

You're invited to give recognition to a UU helper - child or adult!

Please click this button to email me and let me know who you saw living their UU values this week. Have a photo of them or their work? Please include it in your email. I'll feature them in next week's newsletter!

Do you drive to UU on Sundays? Can you help members of our congregation by picking them up on the way?

Drivers are desperately needed! If you're willing to drive UUs who are unable to drive but who can walk independently, please email me at sundayshaeparker@uufhnc.org.

Uniquely UU Events

Save the Dates: Uniquely UU Events for the Whole Family

Lillie Syracuse Trio – UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

Family Ministry Kickoff - UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

Carl Sandburg: Outspoken Advocate for Democracy and Social Justice – UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

The 44th Annual Hunger Walk - UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

Community Block Party & Voter Registration Event - UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

All-Ages Potluck Picnic in the Park – UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

UU Open Mic Coffee House – UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

UUFH Retreat at The Mountain – UU Fellowship of Hendersonville

Save the Dates

Mark your calendar with these volunteer opportunities, concerts, picnics, open mics, and more! There are lots of ways to engage and create meaning listed below.

Sunday, August 30

Nature Service at Bullington Gardens,

Wednesday, September 2

Help Shape Our Fall Fundraising!

Monday, September 7

UU the Vote Gathering at UUFH

Wednesday, September 9

Stronger Together: CUUPS and UU

Saturday, September 12

Lillie Syracuse Trio Concert

Sunday, September 13 😊

Launch of the Family Ministry Program Year, Water Communion

FREE Lunch for Families, FREE Musical Theatre about Carl Sandburg

Saturday, September 19

Hunger Walk - Register to walk with the UUFH Team Here!

Sunday, October 4

UUFH Fall Picnic at East Flat Rock Park

Saturday, October 10

Open Mic Coffee House

Sunday, October 18

Family Ministry Halloween Party and Haunted House

Weekend of October 23–25

UUFH Retreat at The Mountain

Saturday, October 31

Halloween-themed Dance (ages 9+)

Saturday, November 7

House Concert featuring Janey Ryan

Saturday, November 14

HSO Youth Choir Performance

Thursday, November 26

Thanksgiving Potluck

Click here to register your child in the Family Ministry Program.

At UUFH, Family Ministry is about much more than what happens in a classroom on Sunday mornings!

Family Ministry is about creating a safe space where children and youth are able to:

ask big questions,
explore their spirituality,
build friendships,
serve our community,
and learn what it means to put love into action.

It is also about giving parents and caregivers a community of their own, because raising good humans is important work and nobody should have to do it alone!

News at a Glance News at a Glance

Letter from the FM Director Letter from the FM Director

Family Ministry Photo Highlights Family Ministry Photo Highlights