Mail to info@muuf.org

Cinema Circles – A movie group for UU Members and Friends.

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Cinema Circles have been around since 2017 as a way for MUUF friends and members to discuss films in a group format. Starting this fall, we are rebooting the Circles with some possible variations for single subject themes (e.g. documentaries) as well as the more familiar varied subject format. 

What is a Cinema Circle? 

Like a book club, you (and other members of your circle) watch, when you independently find it convenient to do so, a movie that has been selected that is usually available from Netflix and the library.  Within the month you agree on a date to meet in person or on Zoom to discuss it with old and new MUUF friends who are part of your assigned circle.

Why?

Cinema Circles are part of the Fun aspects of the Adult Programs at the Fellowship which focuses on low and no cost options for our newest and current members to get involved with fun activities.  Other activities include Meals with UU Friends, Game Day, etc.

What have we learned over the years?  Here’s what you told us in a recent survey:

“It’s a good way to get to know people better, watch some great movies, share our reactions to the film and to look forward to our next gathering. “

“Discussing films and the socializing with fellow members”

“Camaraderie! Also, meeting via Zoom. (I cannot travel after dark.)”

“Sharing comments about films we have chosen as a group.”

“Interesting movies and discussions with plenty of time to plan watching”

“Get to know MUUF people better and check out movies I would never choose”

How frequently are circles held?

Most groups agree to meet once a month for about year and sometimes longer.  

How many in a Group?

8-12 seems to work well.

When do the monthly circles meet?

When you register you can meet all the times you are available and we will make a best effort to fit you into a group that works for you.  Time of day may also be important to many so there is an option for that as well.

A monthly commitment is not right for me at this time.  What else is available?

Work and/or other commitments may make it difficult for some folks to commit to a circle at this time.  Please be aware that we will soon be evaluating other ways for you to participate in movie discussions.  If you have ideas or would like to help, please reach out to cinema@muuf.org.    

Where do circles meet?

The enrollment form provides an opportunity for you to indicate whether a Zoom-only group option is optimal for you.  The rest is up to the group.  Some groups only meet at the Fellowship for their discussions. Others in folks’ homes.  All have the option of hybrid meeting places.  (Zoom in the cold months, someone’s home or the Fellowship in other months).

OK.  How do I join?

Complete the registration form and we’ll form the circles and let me know what comes next.

Help with our Trunk or Treat!

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The Fellowship will be holding a Trunk or Treat event on Sunday October 27th from 2-3 pm. This event will be open to ALL, MUUF members and friends as well as our Morristown area neighbors. Not only will this be a fun day for Fellowship kids but also a chance for community outreach. In order to make this event a success we need your help.

Please sign up to help. Thank you!

Transylvania 2024

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I traveled to Hungary and the Transylvania region of Romania in September 2024. I had some personal reasons (visiting relatives, etc) but of interest to MUUF would be my visits to our Partner Church in Sinfalva (Cornesti, see map below) and my participation in the Fourth International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faiths (“ICUUW Convo 2024”) meeting.

Here is a brief description of my trip with some photos.

I got to Budapest on Sunday 8/31. On Tuesday 9/3 I picked up Alison B. at Budapest airport. She is an American woman living in Athens and I had agreed to take her to Kolozsvar for the ICUUW meeting. On the way after a 3 hour drive we spent the night in Kocsord with Rev. Zsuzsanna Bartha.

On Wednesday we arrived in Kolozsvar. My room was in Guesthouse 1568, at the House of Religious Freedom, run by the Unitarian Church.

I went to Sinfalva on Thursday morning, with Alison. We met Rev. Palfi and his wife Ildiko and we also went to Torocko (Rimetea) about 15 miles away which is a Unitarian village which is a UNESCO World Heritage Site. Sinfalva is in a great location halfway between Torocko and Torda.

Thursday afternoon the International Convocation of UU Women (ICUUW) Fourth International Convocation of Unitarian Universalist Women and People of Progressive Faiths (“Convo 2024”) meeting started with a tour of the House of Religious Freedom.

Then Friday, Saturday, and Sunday there was a pretty full program of events: ceremonies, talks, panel sessions, worship services, and meals of course. The events all took place in the large Unitarian church or the Unitarian high school next door. I won’t go into the events in detail, but here is a photo of the schedules posted on the walls.

One event I would like to describe in particular, though, was the Chalice Lighters groups. Every participant was assigned a group which would meet three times, once each day, with the same people each time. The idea was to have an intimate space to discuss the experiences, learn from and bond with each other, etc. Well, a couple of months ago I was asked to lead the “Men’s Chalice Lighters” group. There were enough men to form a group, and I agreed. Friday evening we met for the first time, Bruce Knotts was there (very involved with UU UN Office, has been at MUUF multiple times), some other men who were accompanying their wives, and who should walk in but the Unitarian Bishop, the guy who has responsibility for 300 – 350 village churches. He said that since he was a man, he had been assigned to this group, and here he was. His name is Istvan Kovacs but he introduced himself as “Steve Smith” with a big smile. I assumed he was making a courtesy visit and he would bow out after a few minutes, but no, he stayed with us for the entire session and the next one and the third one too.

It was a great honor and privilege to interact intimately with such a cultured, educated, thoughtful person. He didn’t just pontificate, but joined in the conversation with a lot of give and take. I now consider him a friend and I’ll be communicating with him in the coming year or two as Rev Palfi retires and his replacement is named, making sure that the replacement is aware of our relationship and hopefully wants to continue and grow it.

Another outstandingly memorable event was the concert given by Ukranian women refugees in the Unitarian church. There is a Unitarian refugee support group called Gondviseles (Providence) which has had a big impact on many peoples’ lives. One of the women was actually a professional singer in Ukraine and was hired by the Kolozsvar opera. I’ve got some short video clips I have posted on the Partner Church Committee CC page. It was very moving.

The ICUUW Convo finished Sunday around 2:00 after a final dinner, and I drove to Sinfalva again. On the way I dropped Alison off at the Torda Salt Mine which is now a quasi-theme park, underground.

The timing worked out perfectly so that the MUUF Ingathering service which started at 10:00AM was 5:00 PM in Sinfalva. I was able to show the YouTube livestream on my laptop to about 10 people in Ildiko and Denes’ kitchen. You can actually just make out Sasha on my laptop.

 I had many interesting experiences after that, driving back to Budapest, staying in Berettyoujfalu with Alison for three days, etc. but that’s not relevant to Partner Church.  

PR Jumpstart Update

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Our Postcard Campaign is Beginning!

As shared at our June update meeting, the first in a series of 3 postcards inviting prospective
new members to visit the Fellowship will be mailed in the coming days. This pilot promotional
campaign targets registered Democrat and Independent voters who live within a 10-mile radius
of the Fellowship, and who are parents of 5- to 14-year-old children.
1000 households will each receive 3 different postcards over the next several weeks. The
postcard messages will also be shared on our public Facebook and Instagram pages.
As a pilot, this campaign is aimed at helping this audience find our Fellowship and UU while
providing us information on how we can best reach and welcome other demographic groups as
well.
We need your help in building our loving community and growing our Fellowship! You can do so
in two important ways:

  1. Spread the word! Share the social media posts — or the postcard images themselves
    (see below) — with anyone you think might be interested in learning more about us.
  2. Welcome our visitors! Be on the lookout for newcomers and give them a warm
    Fellowship welcome before, during, and after our Sunday services.
    Stay tuned for upcoming posts where we’ll share additional postcard messages.