UUSM is first and foremost a community. We like to get together often just for the fun of it – enjoying good company and conversation, learning more about each other, and deepening relationships. All of these shared experiences enable us to build a foundation for learning and working together.

Because we like to have fun together, our congregation sponsors a host of opportunities that encourage us to connect and get to know one another. Like all UUSM activities, the things we do to have fun are warm and welcoming, especially for those who are new to our community. They provide a great way to get to know other people in our community, so newcomers will feel right at home. Everyone is welcome to participate!

Circle Dinners

Circle Dinners are a great way to foster community building at UUSM! This program consists of four Saturday-evening dinners for eight people, with one dinner taking place each month during the early months of the calendar year. Each dinner has four paired participants (create your own pairing, or let us do that for you), with rotating responsibilities for hosting (at your home or at UUSM), or providing the main dish, salad and wine, or dessert / bread & butter. The food is always great, but it’s the company and stimulating conversation that really make for a wonderful evening! Circle Dinners permit participants to get better acquainted with other UUSM members and friends in a relaxed atmosphere. Program signups usually take place during the months of December and January, with the dinners happening once each month on Saturday evenings, January through April.

To learn more about this program, send an email to the Circle Dinners Coordinator.

Women’s Potluck

The Women’s Potluck provides a venue by which the women of UUSM have an opportunity to get to know each other in a mostly unstructured atmosphere, sharing food and stories while developing and strengthening friendships. We meet on the first Monday of each month at 6 pm, congregating in the kitchen and Beck Hall. Each participant brings a dish of any kind to serve six: appetizer, main dish, side dish, salad, or dessert. It may seem haphazard, but it all works out.

Feel free to join this ever-changing group that has been meeting for over 15 years! No reservations needed – it’s a loose-knit affair with no agenda of any kind. The purpose is to enjoy friendship and food. Questions? Send an email to the Women’s Potluck Coordinators.

Men’s BBQ Nights

Men’s BBQ Nights give our congregation’s male members and friends opportunities to socialize, share ideas, and discuss current topics by way of a monthly dinner and informal discussion. We meet on the third Thursday of every month from 6 to 8 pm in the kitchen and Beck Hall, with our grill set up in the courtyard. Each participant is asked to bring their own food to bar-b-que (or microwave) and a beverage; appetizers, salad, bread, and dessert are provided. For additional information or to receive reminders by email, send an email to the Men’s BBQ Nights Coordinator.

Young Adults Group

UUSM has a new Young Adults Group. Intended for individuals age 18-35 to gather in faith and feast, this group’s first regular activity is monthly potluck dinners on the third Tuesday of each month, from 6:30 to 8:30 pm in Beck Hall. All young adults are welcome to participate!

If you have questions about this group or would like to receive special email reminders, contact the Young Adults Group Coordinator.

First Friday Family Fun Night

Like its name implies, First Friday Family Fun Night happens on the first Friday of every month, and provides an opportunity for people of all ages – especially families with children – to get together and have fun. Calling all those who enjoy playing games and eating! Pizza, salad, and dessert are served, and a minimal donation is requested to cover expenses.

This event usually takes place in UUSM’s Beck Hall, but sometimes it is hosted in participants’ homes. The fun starts at 6:30 pm every first Friday of the month. It’s always a good time, and no advance reservations are required!

Questions? Send an email to the First Friday Family Fun Night Team.

Annual Congregational Picnic

Right after our regular congregational year kicks off on the Sunday after Labor Day, UUSM members and friends gather in a nearby park for an end-of-summer picnic filled with eating, playing, singing, dancing, lively conversation, and laughter. Our Men’s BBQ folks keep the charcoal burning while we grill whatever we’ve brought, and the picnic tables are laden high with pot-lucked side dishes and beverages to share. Questions? Contact our fabulous Picnic Coordinators.

Holiday Events

Holiday celebrations provide an opportunity for UUSM members and friends to have fun together at various times during the year.

Life at UUSM gets really busy at the end of the calendar year. It all starts with a multi-generational Thanksgiving service that reminds us of the meaning of gratitude, and holiday-season activities continue throughout December until the beginning of the New Year.

Our annual Hanging of the Greens (usually on the first Saturday of December) provides an opportunity for members and friends to decorate our buildings with fresh holiday greenery as we enjoy the warmth of friendship and sing together, then conclude with a delicious potluck meal. Activities throughout December celebrate the religious observances of many denominations, with Advent candles, Hanukkah observances, an outing to enjoy holiday lights, a warm and wonderful Christmas Eve service, and a Burning Bowl / Planting Urn ritual to start the New Year off right.

In addition to Hanukkah, Jewish rituals and traditions are celebrated several other times during the year. In the spring, UUSM’s Community Passover Seder features a specially prepared haggadah that connects the Passover story with Unitarian Universalist ideas, and everyone savors a delicious, Jewish-style meal pot-lucked by participants. The Jewish High Holy Days are also acknowledged annually on the Sunday between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur, with special rituals and foods.