UU Congregation at Rock Tavern

A Bold New Exhibit by Artist Jennifer Levine Explores Identity, Vulnerability, and Liberation Dec. 1st-Jan. 31st 

ROCK TAVERN, NY – Acclaimed Hudson Valley-based painter Jennifer Levine unveils her latest body of work, Experiment Wildly, at the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship in Rock Tavern, NY. The exhibit will adorn the walls of the Sanctuary as of December 1st 

Take a glimpse into Levine’s bold artistic journey at a reception for the artist on Saturday, Dec. 13. from 1 pm to 4 p.m. in the sanctuary, located at 9 Vance Road, Rock Tavern, NY. December 14th is the snow date. There will be an Artist led tour and talk about this powerful and intimate exhibition at 2pm.  Known for her large-scale figurative paintings in oil and acrylic, Levine's work centers around themes of female identity, motherhood, and emotional resilience. In Experiment Wildly, she offers a raw and courageous response to chaos and vulnerability—particularly as a woman and mother in today’s uncertain world.

"This new body of work asks the essential question: What can you hold on to?" says Levine. Using distilled visual language of simple lines and a refined color palette, she draws on mythological and historical art, while also channeling the expressive power of artists like Richard Diebenkorn, Pierre Bonnard, and Tracey Emin. Levine, who holds an MFA from SUNY New Paltz and is currently completing a prestigious three-year certificate at the New York Studio School, made the bold decision to leave behind a high-paying administrative role and her marriage to fully commit to her creative life. Her story echoes those of the often-unrecognized women of the Abstract Expressionist era, as explored in the book Ninth Street Women.

Artwork will be available for sale.

Exhibit Details

Location: Unitarian Universalist Congregation, 9 Vance Road, Rock Tavern, NY

Dates: Artist Reception is December 13th 1-4pm and Artist Talk at 2pm.

Snow Date is December 14th 1-4pm 

Viewings are available Sunday afternoons by appointment.  Contact: info.uucrt@gmail.com

ROCK TAVERN – Immerse yourself in classical guitar music while supporting the Hudson Valley Regional Food Bank.

Noted guitar trio Hudson’s Crossing will present a benefit concert on Saturday, Jan. 10, 2026 from 3 to 5 pm at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern. Proceeds will go to the food bank. The trio -- Martin Brounstein, Lawrence Levy, and Jeffrey Wilt --  has played together since 2021 and performs throughout the Hudson Valley and northern New Jersey. Their repertoire includes works by Bach, Vivaldi, Debussy, Weiss, Granados, Lennon/McCartney, David Gate and more.

The three musicians have varied, and deep roots in the world of classical guitar. Jeffrey Wilt has been in love with the sound of the classical guitar since the early 60’s when he sat transfixed, watching Andres Segovia’s “Masterclass” television show on Channel 13.

For almost twenty years Martin Brounstein has  attended the annual Mannes Music School Classical Guitar master classes. During these times he's had master classes from the world’s finest educators and concert guitarists.

After piano lessons as a child, Lawrence Levy eventually took up guitar.  He attended Musician’s Institute and the New School’s Jazz Studies program. Over the years he’s played in many different musical styles and ensembles.

Jan. 10 will be a Saturday for the arts in Rock Tavern where attendees can view the paintings of Jennifer Levine, whose exhibit Experiment Wildly will grace the walls of the sanctuary. Her paintings offer a raw and courageous response to chaos and vulnerability—particularly as a woman and mother in today’s uncertain world.

A donation of $20, paid at the door, is suggested for the benefit concert

*****************************************************

In their debut concert, Trio Aurora, featuring Hollis Kellogg, Elfin Vogel and Claudia Reynaud raised $438.00 as a benefit for Greater Newburgh Habitat for Humanity. Many thanks to all who attended.

******************************************************

We meet the 3rd Thursday of the month at 7 pm via Zoom.

For the December 18 book discussion, we chose Emma by Jane Austen. This classic novel set in early 19th century England explores the themes of love, friendship and self-awareness. Wanting to pick a classic, this Austen classic was chosen because of the holiday scenes depicted.

For those of you who like to plan ahead, the January book will be Ordinary Grace by William
Kent Krueger. Read Ordinary Grace for January 15. We welcome all to join us. Join us via the Zoom link below:

https://zoom.us/j/96634364686?pwd=aklyNStYMVN1T0RoSFZsL0NON0l2dz09

Meeting ID: 966 3436 4686 Passcode: educate

We meet the first Thursday of the month at 7 pm.via Zoom.

On December 4, we will discuss All the Light We Cannot See, which is a 4-part miniseries available on Netflix. Based on the Pulitzer Prize winning novel by Anthony Doerr, it is the story set in World War II in France of a blind French girl and a German radio expert who have both been influenced by a mysterious voice on the radio in their childhood.

Watch to see how they become connected in St. Malo as the war ends. All are welcome to join us.
Use the Zoom link below to join the discussion.

https://zoom.us/j/96634364686?pwd=aklyNStYMV N1T0RoSFZsL0NON0l2dz09

Meeting ID: 966 3436 4686 Passcode: educate
Join by phone: 1 929 205 6099 Meeting ID: 966
3436 4686 Passcode: 8282691

Mike Landrum has stepped down from active duty as chair of the UUCRT Arts Ministry and has taken
a role as an advisor in the “ready reserve.” Because Mike’s shoes will be so hard to fill, Hollis Kellogg, Deborah Cashara and Jaye Moyer have all stepped up.

Mike has always been a supporter of the arts. He is an artist himself, with a long history in acting, and he’s also a sculptor of wood. For years he has been the art curator at UUCRT. He has solicited local artists, and they have enhanced our space with their paintings, as well as with some exhibits by sculptors and assembly artists. He has supported, recruited and assisted in concerts held in our space, and has overall been an important force in keeping the UUCRT a haven for the arts.

Mike's keen eye for beauty and his dedication to our Arts Ministry will surely be missed and his shoes will be hard to fill. Mike’s contributions are immeasurable.

Of course, his contributions to the arts are just one of the many ways he has helped this congregation. He has been president at least three times, a force behind constructing our building, a frequent presenter, and a craftsman responsible for much of the wooden adornments in the building, among other accomplishments. In short, his work was and continues to be foundational.

~Arts Ministry

Greetings all!

The holiday season is creeping up on us already, and while it is a positive and exciting time of year, it can also be one of unnecessary waste. Did you know that between Thanksgiving and New Year’s, the amount of trash generated increases by a whole twenty-five percent? That comes to an additional one million tons of waste every week! But no need to be a Grinch about it.

We can still celebrate in a way that’s eco-friendly and economical. Some tips to reduce waste during this time of year can include:

· Use newspaper, brown paper, recycled paper, or even scarves to wrap gifts, instead of conventional wrapping paper. (Not-so-fun fact: most mass- produced gift wrap isn’t even recyclable!)

· Send an e-card instead of a physical card – or use a handmade or recycled card.

· Reuse ribbons. (We throw away 38,000 miles of it per season!)

· Buy decorations secondhand – the thrift stores are usually overflowing with decorations of all kinds!

· Opt for natural greenery over plastic décor.

· Focus on “consumable” gifts like tea or sweets, or
“experience” gifts such as tickets to a performance or a workshop.

· Participate in a toy swap (such as the one attended by some of our congregants in November.

· In lieu of physical gifts, make a charitable donation in someone’s name.

· Check out gifts that “give back”; look to organizations and companies such as Fair Trade Certified, SERRV International, Gifts for Good, the Zero Waste Store, and Conscious Step.

Let’s spread some (green) cheer this season!
-Elizabeth M., Michelle D., and Anne D.

Choosing Hope” is December’s theme in our children’s program, Religious Exploration (RE).
Here is a description from the creators of the Soul Matters curriculum that Ms. Bernie uses with the children on Sundays:

“As winter approaches, days grow shorter, and the world around us changes. This month is a wonderful time to notice the light that shines in ourselves and in others, even when the days feel
dark. In Unitarian Universalism, we believe hope is a choice we can make, a choice that helps

us act with courage, kindness, and curiosity, and helps us stay connected to each other and the world around us. Our lessons this month celebrate this power we have to choose hope, with each session exploring a
different way that choice transforms our life and
the lives of others. It’s a reminder that even when
the world around us seems cold and dark, we can
bring warmth and light.

The last Sunday of each month is an unstructured “RE Play Day” for the children — and a planning
day for our RE team. On this day, there is no formal lesson. Instead, children are encouraged to connect with one another and strengthen their sense of community through child-led play. They may enjoy the playroom and the various games available in the RE room, with parents providing supervision and helping with cleanup as needed.

Hope you can join us!
Warmly,

Michelle DiLorenzo, RE Chair

Minutes: “Social Action Together” Ministries Sunday, Nov. 2, 2025

-Markly spoke to the group about the merger of “Onward Forward” and “Social Action Ministry” to be renamed “SAT” (Social Action Together) and meeting the first Sunday of each month. UU Board member Donna Deming will be the liaison b/w SAT and the Board.

-Report back by several members of “SAT” who attended the Newburgh “No Kings Protest” Rally in
Newburgh, Oct. 18th, organized by the organization Indivisible. Several hundred people participated in
a march and gathered on the hill behind the Newburgh Library. The group was diversified including children in costumes, and representatives from other social groups, and local officials.

-Discussion of next “SAT” project: providing food was one suggestion at the last meeting. Mobilize + Indivisible are two groups with common goals of community engagement also suggesting food assistance due to threat of elimination of SNAP.

-Folks discussed how this can be done as there are many food distribution centers in the area (at least 40 nearby). Dahlia suggested assisting the Hudson Valley Regional Food Bank distribution center in Montgomery which supplies many local food pantries. You can sign up to volunteer on their website.

Folks agreed that the third Sunday collection at the UUCRT should now go to this regional food distribution center.

-Donna provided a flyer advertising the Newburgh Holiday Table on Dec 25. UUCRT is one of the sponsors of this event. Opportunities are available to volunteer ahead of time and on the day as well as an offer to join in with community to celebrate the season. Sign-up sheets are available in the Meeting House.

-Charles will continue writing in the Chalice Light descriptions of local social action groups.

-Claudia invited folks to a November 11th, at 11am, community event at the Beacon Memorial Park near Teller Ave. “There will be food music and x-change of services”.

Markly ended the meeting by asking all of us to share how we feel about the government policies we are faced with.

Next meeting 12/7/26 after service.

-Nora Gallardo, SAT Chair

What we do! The Caring Ministry provides short-term, physical help to individuals and families within our congregation who are in need. While we cannot offer emergency or ongoing services, we can offer our collective love through support with:

-short term meals
-rides for medical appointments
-check-ins / for those who feel isolated
-cards for celebrations as well as hardships
-connection for those going through a difficult time

Because it is sometimes difficult to ask for help, the Caring Ministry relies upon our entire congregation to identify and communicate the needs of our parishioners. We work with Rev. Diane in confidence, to coordinate care.

If you, or if you know of anyone needing help, please reach out to Linda Manglesdorf or Rev. Diane, please contact: aa.uucrt@gmail.com or info.uucrt@gmail.com

Rev. Diane Diachishin is available to offer pastoral care for people who are struggling with loss, grief, or other challenges. Pastoral care differs from therapy or counseling in that it does not attempt to fix problems or address mental health issues. Rather, it provides a loving, accepting, hopeful presence, and, in doing so, makes it easier for people to get in touch with their own inner wisdom and strength. Most of all, pastoral care is simply being present for you. It brings the love and care of our entire congregation to those in need.

Contact Rev. Diane aa.uucrt@gmail.com or info.uucrt@gmail.com if you, or you know of someone who might benefit from pastoral care.

We seem to be getting more visitors, especially families, which I primarily attribute to our road sign and people talking to people. We had about fifty people a week ago at our Sunday service, counting
ten children. Keep up the good work, Guys!

-Jim Tarvin, Welcoming Ministry Chair

Our 2025-2026 Themes are:

• December: Choosing Hope
• January: Practicing Resistance
• February: Embodying Resilience
• March: Paying Attention
• April: Embracing Possibility
• May: Awakening Curiosity
• June: Flourishing Together

The Soul Matters experience does not only give one a way to practice spirituality, It provides a deeper understanding of what it means to practice. These themes offer opportunities for reflection, personal growth, and building connections within the UUCRT community.

We meet the second Friday of each month at 2:30pm in the sanctuary. The first meeting is Friday, September 12. For those who wish to attend via zoom we have a joint group with the UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie. They meet the second Wednesday of each month at 7:00pm. First meeting is on September 10th.

Please contact Rev. Diane aa.uucrt@gmail.com or info.uucrt@gma il.com, if interested. There are a few spaces left; the groups tend to fill up very quickly.

Join Markly, Jim, and others, for breakfast on Sat Dec 20 at 9 am at the Alexis Diner, Newburgh, corner of Rt 9W and 52. This is a time for fellowship and conversation.

They look forward to getting together on what has become a monthly event.

Sandra Kissam, age 90, of the town of Newburgh passed away on October 23, 2025. She resided in the Hudson Valley nearly all her life and was an active protector of its resources. Sandra was born in Bronx, NY, the daughter of Nettie and John Fischer. Sandra’s father had immigrated from Hungary, and her maternal grandparents were from eastern Europe as well. Sandra grew up in Woodstock and graduated early from a one-room schoolhouse. She then majored in drama at Syracuse University and then Boston University and was an actress in NYC. She then furthered her education at City College and SUNY New Paltz to attain degrees in speech therapy and then special education. She worked as a special education teacher for Ulster BOCES, first in Rosendale and then in New Paltz. She was a long-time member of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Rock Tavern.

Sandra is survived by daughters Cybele Kehr and Mary Alice Lulves (James); grandchildren Jakob Kehr, Seth Kehr, James Lulves (Emily) and Melanie Lulves, and great grandson Alexander Lulves. She is also survived by her brother Michael Fischer; and cousins Sonia Reines and Helene Kaley and their families. She was predeceased by her husband Benjamin Kissam and her son-in-law Andrew Kehr.

Sandra was always active in organizations to benefit the greater community and natural resources. She had leadership qualities to help inspire others, and the intelligence and personal strength to challenge government officials or individual business interest when striving towards important outcomes to benefit the overall public – even when this required complex and prolonged effort.

She often worked late into the nights and promoted her goals locally in the Hudson Valley as well as in Albany and Washington DC. Some involvements during her adult life included those addressing civil rights, her teachers’ union, health care rights for underserved, wildlife preservation, and numerous environmental organizations. Some of her enjoyed activities were horses as a young person; and hiking, nutrition, exploring, and stewardship as an adult. Sandra had widespread and broad interests, and she always read many books and newspapers.

In 1987, Sandra formed the organization SPARC (Stewart Park and Reserve Coalition) with her  husband Ben. SPARC worked to preserve the open land surrounding Stewart Airport, and she strived to collaborate and gain support from many other local and regional organizations towards that goal. Some of these included Open Space Institute, Sierra Club, and Orange County Federation of Sportsman’s Clubs, as well as numerous other organizations. In 2005 following a successful lawsuit, SPARC and its supporters successfully saved 6,700 acres of land and formally had them declared protected as Stewart State Forest. Sandra has also been active in other organizations including those opposing construction of the Danskammer power plant and Orange County RAPP (Residents Against Pilgrims Pipeline).

Throughout Sandra’s life she had close and long-standing friendships with many people, including Wayne Hall later in her life, who shared the goals she was striving towards.

Arrangements were handled by Hudson Valley Funeral Home. Burial was at Cedar Hill Cemetery and was followed by a memorial at the Unitarian Universalist Congregation in Rock Tavern led by Michael Landrum.

On December 13, James Leo will headline at the HVFG in the UUCRT in Rock Tavern. James, a native of Bensonhurst, Brooklyn, experienced a life-changing moment in 1970 when he encountered the music of Sam “Lightin” Hopkins.

Inspired by the mastery and emotive power of Hopkins’ blues, James decided to learn to play the guitar, attempting to echo the unique sounds and feelings produced by the acclaimed bluesman. As he embarked on his musical journey, James expanded his influences to include Robert Johnson and Django Reinhardt, the latter known for his contributions to gypsy jazz. Further enhancing his skills, he had the opportunity to study under the guidance of the late Danny Kalb and Frank  Christian, both prominent figures in the Greenwich Village music scene. He is currently studying with Mike Dowling and will forever be a “student of the guitar.”

There will be no meeting in December. Join us on January 17, 2026.