West Village Voice

All Souls Church, Unitarian Universalist

West Village Meeting House

West Brattleboro, Vermont

A Welcoming Congregation and Green Sanctuary

Upcoming Sunday Worship and Special Services

Sunday worship services (in bold type below) begin at 10:00 a.m.

Sunday, November 1: Spoken Candles, 9:45 - 9:55 a.m., Parlor

Sunday, November 1: “All Souls Sunday: Celebrating the Past, Present and Future”

The present is always the gate separating the future from the past, but at no other time of the year is it as true as it is around All Hallows Eve. This Sunday, in addition to honoring the past of All Souls and members who died in the past year, our Minister will share some of the exciting things she has heard while listening to Church leaders who dreamed about growing a new vision.
First Sunday Offering benefits the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.
Remember, this Sunday is potluck coffee hour.

Sunday, November 8: Spoken Candles, 9:45 - 9:55 a.m., Parlor

Sunday, November 8: “Sharing our Story "

This Sunday, the Reverend Hope Johnson joins our Minister in the pulpit. They will share their story about finding reconciliation and friendship in the midst of conflict and pain. The story began at the 1993 General Assembly of the UUA when participants were invited to attend the Thomas Jefferson Ball wearing period costume. Hope Johnson asked,
“Must African Americans attend such events in rags and chains?”

Sunday, November 15: Spoken Candles, 9:45 - 9:55 a.m., Parlor

Sunday, November 15: "Why is Happiness so Elusive?"

Our guest, Jim Levinson, teacher and Jewish spiritual leader, will identify conditions that make people content with their lives and will speculate on why we in America seem to be falling short compared to many other people around the world.

Sunday, November 29: Spoken Candles, 9:45 – 9:55 a.m., Parlor

Sunday, November 29: "Holiday Spirit"

During the holiday season, where do UUs find holiday spirit? Andrea McAuslan will explore how to use this time of year to celebrate what is important spiritually to each of us. After the shortened service, all are invited to join in the fellowship of crafting greens for the bazaar.

Minister's mUUsings

Dear All Souls,

An Attitude of Gratitude! That is what November asks of us. To be shamelessly grateful for life's many blessings.

For our ancestors, November was the month during which they finished their preparations for the long and cold winter ahead. in which we would need to be ready for winter. Cupboards, pantries and root cellars would be stocked with the fruits of our harvest. We would give thanks for our plenty. These days, even as we go to the grocery store rather than our root cellar or pantry, November is the month we practice nothing less than thanksgiving, but to what and why do we give thanks?

A little over a year ago, Bob Parks forwarded an article to me about what makes children happy. Some group had conducted research and found that children are more happy when they have an opportunity to identify and talk about what they are grateful for, truly grateful. I recall reading similar articles about adults and the connection between gratitude and happiness.

Meister Eckhart, the 14th century German mystic, suggested a strong connection between faith and gratitude, between spirituality and giving thanks, when he said, "If the only prayer you said in your whole life was, thank you, that would suffice."

Now that November is here, I invite you to reflect deeply on gratitude and for what you are grateful. Little things. Big stuff. Everything in between. There are surely blessings in your life for which you give thanks. Think about it and join me in having An Attitude of Gratitude this month.

Here are some blessing for which I am grateful: Good health; A wonderful spouse; The marriage of my daughter Karin at Thanksgiving to Adrian Leon, a wonderful young man from Peru; Becoming a mormor (Swedish for maternal grandmother); Serving as Minister to a fabulous congregation; Loving my role as a Minister; Having fun with church leaders and enjoying life at All Souls Church; Exploring a new way of preaching; and having food on my table, a roof over my head and a warm bed in which to sleep.

Let us be shamelessly grateful, but let us also temper our Attitude of Gratitude by sharing our blessings with those less fortunate. There are unlimited possibilities to express our gratitude and share our blessings. One is to participate in the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee's Guest at Your Table project, which begins the Sunday before Thanksgiving (see page 9). Another is to volunteer at the Overflow Shelter (see pages 9-10).

I for one, look forward to feeling happier and more content as I continue to muuse on the blessings for which I am grateful and pray the words Thank You!

With deep affection and much love, Barbro

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life.
It turns what we have into enough, and more.
It turns denial into acceptance,
chaos into order, confusion into clarity....
It turns problems into gifts, failures into success,
the unexpected into perfect timing,
and mistakes into important events.
Gratitude makes sense of our past,
brings peace for today and
creates a vision for tomorrow.

-Melodie Beattie

Drop In Center Donation Requests

November: Blankets, pillows, sleeping bags, for the Overflow Homeless Shelter.
December: New and used toys for children at Christmas.

Minister's November Schedule

November 4 Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association

Afternoon meeting, Dummerston
Nov. 11-16 Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association

Convocation in Ottawa, Canada
Nov. 23-30 MinisterÕs Reading Week and Thanksgiving

Richmond and Staunton, Virginia

Minister's Weekly Schedule

Mondays: Minister's Sabbath Day
Tuesdays: 9-12 noon: Open Office Hours

6-9 p.m. Church Meetings

Wednesdays: Study/Reading Day
Thursdays: 9-12 noon: Open Office Hours

6-9 p.m. Religious Exploration Class

Fridays: Sermon Crafting Day
Saturdays: Available By Appointment
Sundays: 8-11 a.m. Worship

11 a.m.-2 p.m. Hospitality

The Minister is available at other times by mutual agreement.

Life Span Religious Education and Adult Exploration

November RE Calendar

Sunday, November 1: 10:20 a.m. RE Classes
Wednesday, November 4: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Willing Wednesday
Sunday, November 8: 10:20 a.m. RE Classes
Sunday, November 15: 10:20 a.m. RE Classes
Friday, November 20: 5:30 – 7:30 p.m. Pizza and Games Night
Sunday, November 22: 10:00 a.m. Guests at Your Table Multigenerational Service
Sunday, November 29: Activities Sunday—Greens Sunday

"Knowing is not enough, we must apply; willing is not enough, we must do."
--Goethe

Our monthly Willing Wednesday event will continue this month on November 4, from 5:30-7:30 p.m. We will meet in the chapel for a simple dinner of spaghetti and salad. All are invited to bring something to share if so inspired, but feel free to just come and eat! After dinner we will begin with a child-focused activity, and have a brief discussion about events coming up in the community where we can get involved. This is a time to share any announcements you may have for community or church events. Then a member of the Christmas Bazaar Elves will teach the adults how to become crafting experts with their pinecone creations. This is a great chance to get involved in the Christmas Bazaar—a time-honored fundraiser and community outreach tradition at All Souls.

On Friday November 20 from 5:30-7:30 p.m. we will have Pizza and Games Night Number Two. We will meet at the home of a family yet to be determined where pizza and games will be delivered. Bring a game to share and a dish to pass. These events are a chance for an extended coffee hour over your favorite board game; visit with your friends as the kiddos visit with theirs! Let me know if you are interested in hosting a P&G in the future.

The children in our RE program (age 4- grade 4) will take a field trip to the Springfield Dr. Seuss Museum on Sunday, November 8. This is a celebration and continuation of the fall term, during which this age group has begun to explore UU principles through reading and discussion of Dr. Seuss books. If you haven’t received any information about this and think that you or your child is interested in coming, contact Jesse.

Are you really good at something? Have you wanted to show someone how to make a simple bird house, or knit a teddy bear, or break dance? Jesse is still looking for volunteers to teach during workshop rotations on January 3 and 10 for our UU Explorer group (K and grade 1). Looking ahead to May there is an opportunity to teach a workshop rotation for either the UU Explorer class or our Chalice Lighters (grades 2-4). Let me know if you have any ideas.

Adult Religious Exploration
Our Great Wisdom Traditions

It is so wonderful and exciting to spend Thursday evenings with a group of eager explorers who want to learn about world religions. Nineteen individuals are participating, doing their homework reading and sharing insights and befuddlements. Conversation in class is full of life and laughter and “Ahas!” In November, we complete the unit on Buddhism and move on to Taoism before we end the Fall Semester in early December with Confucianism.

If you are interested in joining us, be sure to review the class schedule below and the reading assignment for each class meeting. All sessions are held on Thursday evenings, 6:30 - 8:00 p.m. Having a copy of Huston Smith’s The World’s Religions is essential. Books can be purchased at Everyone’s Books at a discount. Be sure to mention All Souls Church. Used copies of Smith’s book may be available at Brattleboro Books. A suggested donation of $5 for each session is gratefully accepted, but not required.

Week Nine - Thursday, November 5
Buddhism: Pages 139 - 153
Thursday, November 12 - No Class
Week Ten - Thursday, November 19
Taoism: Pages 196 - 219
Week Eleven - Thursday, December 3
Confucianism: Pages 154 - 194

News from The Board and Parish Council

President’s Message

As I write this, I am singing along to the Beatles’ “With a little help from my friends,” and thinking about the notion of community. At All Souls Church, there are many opportunities to create community – in our services, our work together, our RE classes, and elsewhere.

As you read this, we will be embarking on a new phase of community-making. On November 1, there will be an open forum that presents projects that promise to re-energize and re-connect us: small group ministry, neighborhood groups, and vibrant website and communications approaches. It is our strong conviction that these efforts will result in a revitalized church with a new story.

But it is not simply offering opportunities that make things happen: you need to be part of this, as well – spiritually, physically, emotionally, and financially. Please come on November 1 to meet our new vision, and then again on November 15, to the Congregational Meeting where we will discuss the financial bridge that will enable us to realize this vision.

Community – it’s not easy, but can you imagine life without it?

David Shallenberger

Board Notes

By the time you read this newsletter, we hope you will have had a chance to participate in our Forum for the Future, the after-church informational gathering of the congregation on November 1. The Forum is the culmination of thinking grown out of the annual meeting, the leadership retreat focusing on finances, and the larger leadership retreat addressing our strengths, our needs, and our future as a vital and vibrant congregation. Planning how to make this Forum informative and inspiring was the central work of the Board’s September meeting, and we count on the commitment and inspiration of the full congregation to bear the fruit of these efforts.

In other business, we heard updates regarding the fire alarm system and heating retrofit from John Spicer of Building and Grounds, and from Gini Milkey of the Personnel Committee, activities related to hiring of a nursery care provider and sexton. We learned that the employment of our temporary office manager and continued part-time employment of Marianne as bookkeeper is working well, and we agreed that Barbro will meet with the Personnel Committee to review these job descriptions before permanent hirings. We voted to hire a child care provider, a position that is essential to our attendance and growth, but to hold off on employing a sexton and re-engage able and willing volunteers to provide rental and facilities assistance for now.

Shirley Ridgway, Clerk

Parish Council Meeting
Tuesday, December 15
6:00 - 8:00 p.m.

The Parish Council meets in the Lower Classroom in the Religious Education Wing on Tuesday evening, December 15. Join ASC Vice-President Sue Graff, our Minister and key church leaders for a conversation about church life and priorities for the year.

Soup of the Season with the Minister
Tuesday, December 15
5:00 - 5:45 p.m.

You are invited to join our Minister at 5:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 15, for a homemade soup that reflects the season in flavor and content, with wholesome bread and cheese for accompaniment. Bring your own beverage and a salad to share if you wish or something sweet. To make sure there is enough soup to go around, please let our Minister know you are coming. All are welcome.

Committees and All Souls News

Call to Congregational Meeting

A congregational meeting will be held following the church service on Sunday, November 18. At this meeting the Board of Trustees will present, as requested by vote at the annual meeting of the congregation, a status report on the financial situation of the church and recommendations for addressing it, seeking the collective wisdom and support of the membership.

Members who have signed the Membership Book by October 1 and have made an identifiable monetary or in-kind contribution to the church within the past 12 months are eligible to vote and are urged to attend, as are all interested friends of the congregation. At the meeting we will discuss the development of our church and look at the possibility of using a limited portion of the endowment to provide a temporary financial bridge as we move toward a revitalized community. Fifty percent of voting members shall constitute a quorum to vote on expenditure from the endowment.

We encourage all members and friends to participate fully in this vital meeting, as it lays the foundation for our future growth and shared vision.
Shirley Ridgway, Clerk

Caring for and About Each Other

The eighth principle of right relations as proposed by the Committee on Ministry currently reads as follows:

We strongly believe that religious community is about caring for each other. In order “to openly share our laughter and tears” we covenant
* To be aware of how we express compassion;
* To offer care – a companionable presence or concrete support (food, transportation, etc.) – when “rough patches” or significant life changes come calling on any one of us;
* To provide safe opportunities for fun and relaxation;
* To fully support the special work of parish care.

If there is one thing that most people active in All Souls Church agree on it is that we want our congregation to feel like a community. We yearn for strong connections to one another. We want to feel supported by others, and we want to be there when someone else needs us.

We believe so strongly in this idea of supporting relationships that we put it right up front in our church mission statement: “Our mission is to create and sustain an open and caring community…”

“There’s many a slip between cup and lip,” the Old Irish proverb has it. In other words, good intention is not enough.

To practice community takes forethought and attention. It is so easy to say something that can be misinterpreted. When in doubt, ask, “Do you know what I’m saying?” and then wait for a reply. We often forget that second part. Wait.

Think, too, about where you are in community. It is easy to suppose that everyone is as much at home in this place as you are. It may be easy for you to say, “Help me out, here.” There are some in our community, though, who find that it is a difficult thing to say out loud. To be in community means to look out for the ones who can’t ask for help when they need it.

There is an underground movement at All Souls you may not be as aware of as you should. A conspiracy of good Samaritans, you might call it. These people are quick to call a friend who is ill or undergoing surgery to find out what the church can do. They rally others to provide meals or transportation or visitation. They are the ones most likely to know the status of one of us facing a difficulty.

Some will say, “Oh, that’s the Pastoral Care Committee.” But in reality, it is more than committee members. It is all those who understand what caring for and about each other really requires.

You might not be one who subscribes to conspiracy theories as a rule, but how about a conspiracy of communal good? Let’s talk about that.
To read all ten of the principles of right relations and supporting guidelines please go to www.allsouls.brattleboro.uua.org

Committee on Ministry
Charles Butterfield, Chair
Orion Barber
Becky Cameron

Small Group Ministry Returns to All Souls

You may not remember this, but our recently completed survey of church-wide ministries asked you to indicate your interest in Small Group Ministry. Nearly eighty percent of you said you thought it was important or very important.

Taking that response as an indication of interest, the Board of Trustees, the Minister and a willing steering committee have begun the process of returning Small Group Ministry to our congregation. We say returning because six or seven years ago the program was in place at our church. For various reasons, mostly having to do with administering the project, the first efforts sputtered out after two years. In the meantime, the structure of Small Group Ministry has undergone some changes. It appears that it is time to bring this appealing and popular approach to doing church back to All Souls.

What is Small Group Ministry (SGM)? As the name implies, the ministry is carried out among a few people, usually eight to ten, who meet regularly, usually every other week for four months, with the purpose of doing two things for members of the group. First, SGM is designed to bring the participants into friendly, supportive and mutually satisfying relationship with one another. Intimacy develops between people who meet to talk about their understanding and appreciation of life’s experiences.

Second, SGM guides participating members of the group in exploring and clarifying to themselves what is lastingly encouraging and deeply significant about life’s experiences. Some call this the search for meaning; some call it the pursuit of ultimacy. Whatever one calls it, it is the real reason many choose to follow and practice a liberal religion.

Beginning almost immediately, probably before you read this notice, co-leaders for two groups will be selected. These group facilitators will receive six hours of training, beginning in January. Also in the new year, groups will be created for the people who indicate their interest in participating. Sign-up sheets will be posted in January, and periodic reminders will appear after that. Small Group Ministry sessions will begin in March and run through June; eight two-hour sessions in all.

Some of the steering committee members have received training from Rev. Dr. M’ellen Kennedy. Dr. Kennedy, a long-time advocate for and specialist in SGM, has agreed to consult with the committee members as need be. Rev. Hansson will serve as advisor to the steering committee and, along with steering committee members, will meet regularly with the group facilitators to ensure that the two great contributions of Small Group Ministry, intimacy and ultimacy, are developing within the groups.

Watch for more details through the winter. You are invited to speak with the minister or any member of the steering committee about SGM at ASC.

Steering Committee
Tom Baehr
Charles Butterfield
David Shallenberger
Kathy Squires

Holiday Bazaar

The Holiday Bazaar is All Souls biggest and most spectacular fund-raiser. This year it’s set for Saturday, December 5, 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 pm. Look for the insert flyer telling you about the many happenings on the day of the bazaar. And before the big day, we need lots of bakers of quiches, cookies and other holiday treats, as well as many hands for the gathering of the greens in the Marlboro woods, Saturday November 21. Much participation is also needed on Greens Sunday, November 29, when the basic wreaths are made, and then decorated that whole week before the Bazaar. There will also be an evening wreath making workshop for those who can’t make it during the day on December 1st. There will also be a evening work bee on Willing Wednesday November 4 at 5:30 p.m. This year again we are looking for gift “Coffee Table Books” to sell at the Green Team’s table —if you have any to donate, please leave them in the parlor with a note on them. Come join and participate in this wonderful time of community, creativity, sharing, and holiday excitement.

Please call Kathy Squires (365-7388), or any of the chairpersons listed on the flyer. And it really helps for you to make that call to any of us …so we don’t have to call you.

Evening Session for Christmas Bazaar Crafts

If you would like to create but are unable to make Monday morning workshops, we hope that you will attend a session on Wednesday, November 4, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM. We will meet in the kitchen and any skill level is welcome.

Please join us and, if possible, call Ruth Lane (254-6772) or Barbara Smith (257-7946).

We hope to see you there.

Barb Smith

The New UUs, coming to you from All Souls Church

The “New UU” is a two-session orientation program for anyone interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and All Souls Church. It is open to all, members and friends alike but will be especially helpful to newcomers who are considering membership in All Souls. Each of the “New UU” sessions will be led by our minister, with the support of a member of the Membership Committee and other lay leaders of our congregation. Each class will meet following coffee hour at about 11:45 a.m. in the parlor, for about one and a half hours..

The Schedule of the New UU classes is:
November 22: Sharing our Religious Odyssey, and Learning about Unitarian Universalism
December 13: Learning About All Souls Church and Exploring Issues within Unitarian Universalism

A light lunch will be provided as well as child care. To sign up check the sign-up sheet on the back of the name tag board, or ask a Greeter, or call Kathy Squires 365-7388.

Something New is Coming to Your Neighborhood!

The Membership Committee sponsors a series of Circle dinners each year, providing a wonderful way for people in the church, newcomers and not so new, to visit and get to know one another in small groups (besides committee meetings!). Circle dinners are potluck-style dinners held in people’s homes. It’s a time for sharing conversation, great company and good food. This year, the Circle dinners will be organized by neighborhood. The goal is to give all of us a chance to visit with people whom we live relatively close to and to get to know them better.

There will be two circle dinners in Brattleboro: one at Judy Ingison’s home on Tyler Street near St. Michael’s Church and one at Carla Fogg’s off of Western Avenue. There will also be at least one dinner in a Guilford/Vernon neighborhood, the Putney/E. Dummerston/Westminster area, one in West Brattleboro/Wilmington/Marlboro and one in Newfane/South Newfane/W. Dummerston.

You are invited to sign-up for a dinner as either the host or a guest! The host traditionally provides the main course, and guests fill in the rest of a dinner (salad, bread, dessert, etc.). The Circle dinners are planned for Friday, November 13; Saturday, November 14; and Sunday, November 15. All events will be intergenerational, with children welcome. There will be sign-up sheets posted on the back of the name-tag board in the foyer. We encourage you to sign up as soon as possible! If you have any questions or need more information on Circle dinners, please see someone from the Membership Committee (one of the Sunday service greeters) or Kathy Squires. We look forward to seeing you in the neighborhood!

The Harvest of Autumn

The Building and Grounds crew again are most grateful for all those who turned out to help on Fall Work Day 2009. Despite the rough weather (winter seems to have crept in the door early this year) arriving to chill outdoor work and send more folks inside to volunteer for much-needed cleaning of our interior spaces, it is rewarding that so many were here to help. We especially want to thank our
thoughtful chef, Barbro Hansson, for the mid-morning coffee break to reward the early birds among us.

Work Day this October came at a time when there were several outdoor tasks still ahead. Chief among these are the painting of exterior window sills (awaiting that last stretch of "Indian Summer"), and the putting in place three sections of snow baffles along Promenade and Service-drive entrances. These last chores should await the real snow season yet ahead. If you are one of those stalwarts who have helped in the past, don't be shy about enlisting new volunteers when the need comes. It is always rewarding to learn the new seasonal tasks, for we do have a system to learn.

With winter on its way, we invite everyone's help with several simpler tasks — reminders, really, that we want to keep our building as tight as possible. Individual room heating systems, curtained windows and exterior door closings are critical for holding in building heat, especially at the end of a chilly day or evening. So when leaving the building be sure that:

(1) Baseboard heating units are turned down (a clockwise turn of each thermostatic control)
(2) Curtains in the Foyer, Parlor and Main Hall are closed. (To prevent moisture condensation, Foyer shades are kept up 1" above sills)
(3) Exterior doors are really closed. (Some do stick when swollen by dampness.)

Two larger projects assigned to our contractors, to begin the fire alarm refit and to upgrade our aging heating system, are about to become realities If you see these contractors working in the RE wing or out of the boiler room, for example, give them the space they need. And, if required, close that exterior door after they leave!

John Spicer and Ruth Lane (B & G co-chairs)

Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
Guest at Your Table

On Sunday, November 22, we'll open our Guest at Your Table program with an intergenerational worship celebration. Each year beginning the Sunday immediately before Thanksgiving, members and friends of All Souls Church participate in this longstanding tradition. The Guest at Your Table program concludes on Sunday, December 20, when all the boxes are brought back to All Souls Church. During the four weeks of the program, the Guest at Your Table boxes are ideally placed in a prominent place in your home, preferably on your kitchen or dining room table. When you sit down to enjoy your meal, you can place a contribution in the box. Thanks again to the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock, gifts of $100 or more are eligible to be matched, dollar for dollar, doubling our good works!

Through the Guest at Your Table project, we learn about how the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) puts our shared Unitarian Universalist principles and values into action in the United States and around the world. Through a combination of advocacy, education, and partnerships with grassroots organizations, UUSC promotes economic rights, advances environmental justice, defends civil liberties, and preserves the rights of people in times of humanitarian crisis. Sharing our blessings through the Guest at Your Table program ensures that UUSC's human-rights work continues and builds UUSC membership. UUSC members are vitally important, as UUSC is an independent, membership-based organization that receives no funding from the UUA or the U.S. government. In addition to the boxes, we also have donation envelopes available at church. Support for the UUSC can also be made directly online at www.uusc.org. If you are not able to attend the service on November 22, you can pick up your Guest at Your Table box during office hours and on Sundays.

This year, we have set a goal of raising $1,250. Ten years ago, in 1999, All Souls raised $118.36. In 2002, the collective contribution from All Souls Church totaled $2,063. Last year, we contributed $1,578. I invite you to participate in the Guest at Your Table program and help us reach our goal.

Rev. Barbro Hansson and Jesse deVries

Support the Brattleboro Winter Overflow Shelter

The need in our community for the overflow shelter at First Baptist Church continues to rise. The Overflow Shelter is a joint project of the Brattleboro Area Drop-In Center, Morningside Shelter, First Baptist Church and the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association. We are planning to open the shelter on Sunday, November 29, but if the weather turns colder sooner, it may open before Thanksgiving. We are planning to keep the Overflow Shelter open through mid-April this year.

To Feed the Hungry

Once the Overflow Shelter is open, First Baptist Church will open its doors to up to homeless women, children and men every night. These individuals will need a good meal every evening. Like last year, member faith communities in the Brattleboro Area Interfaith Clergy Association are participating in providing meals, along with a large number of community organizations, businesses and groups.

This is a wonderful opportunity for All Souls Church to be involved in community ministry. The principles and values of Unitarian Universalism support the goals of the Overflow Shelter to care for some of our most vulnerable neighbors through the winter. All Souls Church, in collaboration with three other faith communities, will be responsible for providing a meal every fourth Tuesday each month. The cost of preparing the All Souls meals will again be funded through the Minister’s Discretionary Fund.

Specific logistical details have yet to be determined, but volunteers will be needed to prepare food and transport food to First Baptist Church, serve the shelter's guests, and clean up after. If you have interest in supporting this vital outreach project, please contact one of us as soon as possible.

Barbro Hansson, Minister;
Janet Schwarz, Committee on Social Responsibility; and
Sue Graff, All Souls Cares

To Shelter the Homeless

The Overflow Shelter could not function without a grand corps of volunteers who staff the shelter overnight. There are two shifts: an early one that begins at 7:00 p.m. and ends at 1:00 a.m.; and a late shift that follows, ending at 7:00 a.m. If you are interested in volunteering at the Overflow Shelter for one of the overnight shifts, please contact Melinda Bussino, Executive Director at the Drop-In Center, at 257-5415, extension 103. As before, training will be provided and Ernie Kenney, Coordinator of Volunteers, will oversee the scheduling of volunteers.

Won't you be my neighbor?

Have you just realized a friend from church lives just around the corner? All Souls wants to help take the guess work out of getting to know your neighbors. As a way to connect newcomers and current members alike and based on great feedback from the two leadership retreats this summer, a planning group was formed to plan neighborhood groups. The first step was to create new and improved maps of where we all live! Thanks to Jan Chaillou's creativity, larger maps have been installed on the back of the nametag board in the foyer, complete with a pin for every All Souls family! If you don't yet see yourself on the map, please contact Chris Greene. We hope that everyone who comes to All Souls will check out the maps to see who lives in their neighborhood - this could lead to carpooling opportunities, child care swapping, socializing, or supporting each other in ways we haven't even thought of yet! This month's Circle dinners will be organized by neighborhood to kick-start this effort. So, we invite you to check out the maps and get to know your neighbors!

Daniel Kasnitz’s 50th Birthday
Saturday, November 21

Everyone is invited to join Daniel Kasnitz for a rockin’ good time at All Souls for his milestone celebration. Daniel plans to bring together a wide variety of local musicians, music lovers and folks who love to make, hear and move to great "localvore" music and share a potluck meal. Imagine an event like a Street Performance, only indoors, and musicians “busking” for funds. This means, basically, that they place a hat or empty guitar case in front of them. The grateful individuals in the audience, in turn, place tokens of appreciation (money) in the hat/case. The “busk” funds will be pooled to benefit a cause yet to be identified. Everyone is welcome.

PeaceJam Comes to Brattleboro

All Souls Church, along with area interfaith youth, is working to establish a PeaceJam group. PeaceJam is a decade long campaign called the Global Call to Action which has leading Nobel Peace Laureates standing alongside youth to create projects that attack the ten core issues identified by the Nobel Laureates as critical to the future of our planet.

On November 14, there is going to be a PeaceJam Slam the theme of which will be “Social Justice, Economic Justice, and Environmental Justice: Weaving Three Stands Together For Peace.” The Slam will take place in Chicopee, Mass. The cost of the Slam is $30/participant. In March there is a Youth Conference in Hartford, CT during which the youth will have the chance to learn from and have contact with a Nobel Peace Laureate – TBA. For more information, contact Jesse de Vries, D.R.E. or the Rev. Barbro Hansson or check out www.globalcalltoaction.org.

All Souls Nuts and Bolts

Newsletter Information and Deadlines

The West Village Voice is a monthly newsletter published by All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist, located at 29 South Street in West Brattleboro, Vermont.

The deadline for the newsletter is the 15th of each month. Submissions may be sent via email (preferred) to ascnews@comcast.net or mailed to the editor, David Olle, at 3296 Sweet Pond Road, Guilford, VT 05301. Please put the author's name and contact information on submissions. Please submit complete articles and information to the West Village Voice (i.e., proofread, no fill-in-the-blanks or "final details to come").

Submissions to the newsletter will be edited for grammar, syntax, accuracy, clarity and/or length. In addition, we strive to follow AP style guidelines and to increase church or denominational relevance. Any changes made are motivated by a desire to send out the most accurate information about All Souls Church and the wider Unitarian Universalist community.

If you have any concerns about changes made to something you submit, please feel free to contact David Olle at 802-254-3899 or ascnews@comcast.net.

Send newsletter submissions to: ascnews@comcast.net

All Souls Church Unitarian Universalist is a democratic, religious institution that ... affirms and promotes the Seven Principles
of the Unitarian Universalist Association.

Our mission is to create and sustain an open and caring community where we may find inspiration for our spiritual growth,
opportunities for lifelong religious education and encouragement for putting our beliefs and values into action and service.

A.S.C. Board of Trustees

President David Shallenberger '10
Vice President Sue Graff '10
Treasurer Steve Squires '11
Clerk Shirley Ridgway '11
Kathryn Turnas '10 Beth McKinney '10
Tom Baehr '11 TBA for one year '11

A.S.C. Committee on Ministry

Charles Butterfield '10
Orion Barber '11
Becky Cameron '12

A.S.C. Minister and Staff

Minister Rev. Barbro Hansson
Temp. Office Manager Melissa Hayden
Director of R.E. Jesse deVries
Director of Music/Choir Ede Thomas
Housekeeper Karen Cretelle
Sexton To Be Hired
Nursery Care Provider To Be Hired

Office Hours

Tuesdays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Wednesdays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Thursdays 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

When the office is closed, phone messages left on the answering machine will be answered the next working day.

Telephone Numbers and Email

Office Telephone 802-254-9377
Office Email allsouls@sover.net

Minister's Study 802-257-5186
Minister's Cellphone 802-275-6093
Minister's Email uurev@sover.net

D. R. E.'s Telephone (802) 254-9377
D. R. E.'s Email uudre@sover.net

A.S.C. Web Site

www.allsouls.brattleboro.uua.org

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