50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333 Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD

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RESPONSES TO WALL CHARTS Membership Potluck April 24, 2009 How Did You Find USH? Website (4 responses) Saw it from Rte. 44 and stopped in Website (UUA, then USH) Friend Came to performance, liked the sanctuary, returned next day for service; have come ever since Parents Have had friends who come here Drove by it, said, “WOW!” Experiment - alternative to Roman Catholic – my daughter became familiar with UU faith and knew it would be right for me – she was right! Spirit moved me and brought be here . . . .eh? Friend, website, drove by on way to University of Hartford What do you like best about Sunday mornings? BJ’s sermons (6 single responses, plus those listed in multiple lists below) BJ’s sermons + music Music Classes Candles (2 single responses, plus one listed in multiple list below) Singing Meeting new people and getting to know better the ones whose names I have learned. Also the music. When sunlight filters through the wooden slats of the roof and mirrors the peace of the service Sermons, Music, Deep Centering - smiles & connections Singing & sermons & people Hard to pick, like the service as a whole Sermons, singing, candle lighting     What keeps you coming back to USH? Warm, fuzzy family feelings The people Habit, comfort, and a bunch of other things Community atmosphere- get togethers BJ’s sermons Services w/messages that speak to my heart/soul Diversity of services LGBT acceptance Overall atmosphere Community Principles A developing sense of belonging Peace and belonging and feeling myself centered and energized. People – Great! Messages, warmth, social agenda The sense of peace I find here stays with me all week Feeling welcome, being among like minded, open spiritual explorers Community, opportunities for involvement and personal growth       New Ideas for the future at USH Not new, but return to one service I wonder about all the people I may never meet who come to the 2nd service Alternative gift venture; charitable giving at Christmas Early service in the chapel 1x/month Saturday evening service Give me time! I really liked the silent auction at the Greening of the Meeting House event     Changes you’d suggest: Evaluate two services . . . . perhaps return to one Chapel service – once a month? Sat. evening service occasionally Warm meeting rooms, coffee hour, and sanctuary – or else give out sleeping bags Have a bottle drive - it would help the earth and raise money Also once a year you could plant a tree somewhere Limit candle lighting to once a month Longer time for silent reflection after the sermon Open all group meetings for membership to all adults who wish to join (eg. SGM, NVC)             (note from Anne: not sure what this is driving at) Some use of chapel for ???? Add the names and contact info (phone, address) of new people as a supplement to the directory several times a year.     Special interests /hobbies you would enjoy sharing with others at USH: Training my dog NVC Canning from garden – vegetables Dialogue sessions Art/craft Art as healing? (No expertise there, just interested) Social Justice work

Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 05/06/09)