<div dir="ltr"><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:times new roman,serif;font-size:large">FUUSM Family,</div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:times new roman,serif;font-size:large"><br></div><div class="gmail_default" style="font-family:times new roman,serif;font-size:large"><p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Circle Suppers Are Back!!!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Further to the announcement in the September CONFLUENCE, we
are re-starting our monthly Circle suppers … typically the 2<sup>nd</sup>
Saturday of the month, but with some scheduling flexibility. Since covid continues to mutate and produce
variant strains, for now we must limit the Circle Suppers to those who are
covid vaccinated. Masks are at the
host’s discretion.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">We discontinued the Circle Suppers once the covid pandemic
hit. So since it’s been a while, here’s a few comments for our re-introduction. The idea behind Circle Suppers is to enhance the
spirit of community within FUUSM by having regular opportunities to gather and
share a meal. The food is merely an
excuse (although an effective one), the real sharing is of ourselves. We have found that the smaller, quieter
setting of a Circle Supper allows for conversation and discovery of each
other. In particular, it is a wonderful
way for newcomers to expand the circle of FUUSM people they are familiar with. That’s why the Membership Committee has taken
the lead in organizing the Circle Suppers.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">So we are recruiting Circle Supper hosts. The hosts typically provide the basics of a
Circle Supper … a location and seating, tableware, basic refreshments, clean-up,
and a main dish (optional). Although the
location is typically the host’s home, we have also had Circle Suppers in the
Fellowship Hall. Sometimes people have
teamed up to share the work of hosting. Much
is left to the host’s discretion since they are opening their homes to us (for
example, the maximum number of guests, kids OK or not, alcohol OK or not, covid
masks or not). Menu planning is optional. People with particular dietary restrictions
are typically asked to bring a dish they feel comfortable eating. We have found that true pot-lucks work well
in our Circle Suppers. The theological
diversity of our FUUSM community apparently extends to our food as well. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">To start us off, The Tings will be hosting the first Circle
Supper … October 1 at 6pm at their home in Devola. Note that this is the first Saturday and a
good example of scheduling flexibility (there is a Service Auction campfire
event previously scheduled on October 8).
Kids are very welcome. There will
be child care so parents can feel free to enjoy the evening. It will be a true potluck … bring anything
good. Please let us know by telephone
(740-374-8729 home), email (<a href="mailto:darrting1@gmail.com" style="color:rgb(95,95,95)">darrting1@gmail.com</a>),
text (740-885-8199), or in person. We have
an upper limit of 25 or so.</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Circle Supper dates for the 6 months after that are …
Nov. 12, Jan. 14, Feb. 11, Mar. 11, and Apr. 8. Note that we are skipping December to prevent
holiday burnout. The dates can be flexed
to accommodate scheduling conflicts. So
check your calendars and let me know if you can host on one of those dates. </p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">See you at a Circle Supper!</p>
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<p class="MsoNormal" style="margin:0in;text-align:justify;font-size:12pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Darryl Ting</p>
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