THE BEACON MONTHLY
March 2026
Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Montgomery

 

A MESSAGE FROM VICE-PRESIDENT MEG HALL

You may or may not celebrate the Lunar New Year but, if you do, the color red is for good luck and dumplings are the things we’re supposed to be eating. Since it’s the Year of the Fire Horse we can ponder speed, freedom and energy.

I think it’s fun to learn about new cultures and celebrations and why not embrace something new, especially if it doesn’t harm anyone.

We are already flying through the new year. If you’re like me things seem to be hectic, frenetic and fast paced. I wish we could all take a pause and reflect on how we want to be in 2026.

What do we want to see happen with ourselves, the fellowship and our communities at large? Who else would like to join with the Board in planning where we will be in the next five years? Please contact someone on the Board to let us know if you’d like to be involved in a Saturday planning session to ponder this question.

[Editor’s Note: The UUFM Board members are Meg Hall, Sam Davis, Peggy Denton, Liphus Swindall, and Susan Enzweiler]

 

HAPPY BIRTHDAY!

. . .  and many more to Susan Enzweiler (March 7th), Roger Burdette (March 11th), and Patrick Byrd (March 23rd)!
Teri Sweeney is sending out birthday greetings via email to all members and friends.  If you’d like to be included, please give Teri your email address. You can email Teri at
Terisweeney@gmail.com.

UPCOMING SERVICES:

 The speakers in chronological order of their Sundays are:

3/1/2026: This is Potluck Sunday! Meg Hall will be speaking on “The Reluctant Activist.”

3/8/2026: Bring canned goods for Second Sunday Food Donation. Gary LeRude, a lay leader from Auburn’s UU congregation, will be our   speaker.

3/15/2026: Sylvia Rogers, also a UU lay leader from Auburn, will give the presentation.

3/22/2026: Thordis Simonsen is a painter, photographer, and writer. She is also the founding director and curator of the Museum of Authenticity in Salida, Colorado. She will be speaking this Sunday.

3/29/2026: To Be Determined

The schedule for worship associates and volunteers for services always needs filling!

Please volunteer for an open slot!  We need all voices in service of our Service. If you’re interested, contact Christine or sign up on the Excel spreadsheet that is on the Greeters’ table.

UPCOMING EVENTS AND OTHER IMPORTANT NEWS:

Piano Key: UUFM still has a piano in its storage unit, but we don’t have the key to open it! If you have the key or know where it is, please contact Susan Enzweiler or Meg Hall. If we don’t locate the key soon, we’ll have to hire a locksmith to open it.

Nominating Committee: This committee is responsible for finding members to serve on UUFM’s Board. It is comprised of Rhonda Thomason, Tom Miller and Nelson Mauldin. The committee is looking to fill the positions of President, Secretary and Member-at-Large. These are all 2 year terms which begin on July 1st. If you are interested in joining the Board or have any questions about the Board, contact one of the committee members or a Board member.

March 1, 2026: First Sunday Potluck Lunch right after the service. Please bring a dish to share that serves 6 to 8 people. It’s a great way to start off the month with food and fellowship.

There are two new Potluck traditions! The Caring Committee will bring a birthday cake to every First Sunday Potluck to celebrate members’ birthdays. Secondly, to save on clean up and to create less waste, everyone is encouraged to bring their own plates, cups, silverware and napkins to the Potluck.

2nd Wednesday Dinners: March’s dinner is on March 11th. We will meet at 6 pm at San Marcos Restaurant at 61 N. Burbank Street. Everyone is welcome!

This will be our last 2nd Wednesday Dinner if no one is willing to coordinate it. Susan Enzweiler has been organizing these dinners every month for some time now and she needs to take a break. It does not take a lot of time or energy and brings us together for good food and good conversation. If you’d like to take this on, call or text Susan at 334/221-1118.

Circle Suppers: Our next Circle Supper is on March 21st (the 3rd Saturday of the month). Circle Supper is a family-style potluck where you meet at each other’s homes. Contact Beth Bowden at bethbowden@pm.me if you can attend and whether you can host. She has taken over organizing the circle suppers (with assistance with the inimitable Ruth Deramus). Newcomers are encouraged to join.

No Kings 3: Get ready for March 28! Register for the next mass mobilization, No Kings 3, at https://www.mobilize.us/nokings/event/901500. It’s on the South Lawn at noon to two p.m. The first hour will feature kids’ activities and a resource fair. The program will start at 1:00 p.m.

Name Tags: If you would like a name tag, email Beth Bowden at bethbowden@pm.me. Also let her know if you want your preferred pronouns on the tag.

UUFM “Holidays”: There are several “holidays” that UUFM used to celebrate annually. These included Remembrance Day (held last November), the Blessing of the Animals, a Flower Communion on Easter Sunday and an Ingathering Service to kick off our new church year. If you would like to plan one of these special services, see Christine Freeman to get a date set on our calendar.

Share The Plate — This quarter, January thru March – Prattville Pride
Prattville Pride is a vibrant and inclusive organization dedicated to fostering love, acceptance, and diversity. Nestled in the heart of the River Region, its members strive to create a safe space where everyone can be their most authentic selves. Founded in 2024, Prattville Pride is the first Pride Organization to be formed in Prattville, and its members are making history, creating positive change, and moving The Fountain City forward!

The other worthy organizations UUFM will contribute to in 2026 are the Alabama Coalition for Immigrant Justice (2nd quarter), the Post Conviction Relief Project (3rd quarter) and the Heart of Alabama Food Bank (4th quarter).

Upcoming Celebration Event

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Love is a fruit in season at all times, and within reach of every hand. It is the greatest gift anyone can give.