 From the Minister
Our theme of the Month for March is "Brokenness."
While some of us are in the midst of personal tragedy and loss, many of are not -- at present. It will be helpful to reflect on the possibilities for deepening wisdom and tenderness from tragedy when we are not in the midst of it. At periods of relative stability in our lives, we are positioned to have conversations about the effects of significant loss.
Loss and grief are inevitable in life, and the reflections and conversations we have as we explore brokenness can begin to prepare us for that pain. We can never make it not hurt. What we can do is nurture habits of thought and spirit to help us manage the pain and grow from it.
The Journey Group Packet for March is now available -- you can pick up a hard copy in the CUC foyer. On line, the packet is here:
https://docs.google.com/a/uuma.org/file/d/0B3MDIW1191c-ckJoRFl6aWtLYVU/edit
Yours in the faith we share,
-Meredith
Rev. Meredith Garmon, Minister
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Practice of the Week:
Start a Study Practice
You can learn a lot by reading. Certain texts are helpful guides for developing spiritual wisdom. Select worthy texts of "wisdom literature." Since spiritual deepening is never completed, maintaining a regular, ongoing discipline of study is the important thing here. Set aside 15 minutes a day for reading and reflection on your choice of wisdom literature. See:
http://cucmatters.blogspot.com/2015/02/start-study-practice.html |
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Worship: Sun Mar 1
The Spiritual Practice of Generosity
Rev. Meredith Garmon
"Generosity," as Christina Feldman so aptly put it, "lies at the heart of spiritual practice. Extending generosity to ourselves and others gladdens our heart, is a direct way of healing division, and brings joy."
Sunday's Music: Special musicians Ian Shafer (oboe) and Leonard Hindell (bassoon) join Adam Kent.
10:00 "Music for All Ages" with Adam, Ian, and Leonard. READ MORE...
Worship: Sun Mar 8
Broken Open
Rev. Meredith Garmon
How difficult times can hep us grow. |
Concert Series
Chamber Music Gems, Sun Mar 8, 3:00 pm
Music Director Adam Kent teams up with violinist Elena Peres, bassoonist Leonard Hindell, oboist Ian Shafer, and cellist Michael Nicolas for perennial chamber music gems by Brahms, Schubert, and Poulenc.
Sunday with Rodgers and Hammerstein, Sun Mar 22, 1:00 pm
Join the CUC Choir and the Fellowship Choir of the Hudson Valley UU Congregation in a program of solos, duets, and choral arrangements from some of the most iconic and beloved Broadway musical ever written.
Suggested donation: $20 adult ($10 seniors and students)
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Sharing This Morning's Offerings
Each month we share our plate offerings with outside organizations in need. This month, 25% of our collections will go to The LOFT - the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center and Services for the lower Hudson Valley. The LOFT provides regularly scheduled Peer Support Services that are vital to our community. In addition to educational programs, The LOFT does advocacy at the local, state and federal levels. It celebrates! Winterfest, the annual Gala, and Membership luncheons to bring our community together for important social events. See: www.loftgaycenter.org.
See Rev. Garmon if you have an idea for a future monthly plate share. |
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Community Chat
Sun Mar 15
Join the Committee on Ministry for a COMMUNITY CHAT after service in Fellowship Hall. Help us reflect on church activities and living our Mission. Bring your coffee - we'll have some cookies! |
CUC and Social Justice
The first of three Congregational Conversations happened last Sunday, Feb 8. Our SJPC (Social Justice Planning Committee -- Emily Economou, Barry Litcofsky, Ginny Strand, Jeff Tomlinson, Perry Montrose and myself) has scheduled two additional Congregational Conversations: Mar 15 and Apr 12. The question we asked on Feb 8 was: What social justice issue are you passionate about and how do you see yourself participating? If you missed the Feb 8 service, email your thoughts about that question to me or any other member of the SJPC.
CUC's social action plan should involve a balance of the five types of social justice work (service, education, organization, advocacy, and witness), and the issues will need to be selected based on grounding, accountability, fit, and opportunity. See:
http://cucmatters.blogspot.com/2015/01/social-justice-planning.html |
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From Selma to Now
Tue Mar 10
All Souls Unitarian Church (1157 Lexington Ave @ 80th Street, Manhattan) extends an invitation to all UUs in the area to attend a program, From Selma to Now, on Tue Mar 10, from 7:00p-10:00p. See:
http://westchesteruuevents.blogspot.com/2015/02/from-selma-to-now.html |
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This Week at CUC
Sat Feb 28
10:00a/Parsonage - Zen Service
Sun Mar 1
8:00a/R41 - RE Council
9:30a/R32 - Nursery Care
10:00a/Sanctuary - Worship and Coffee
10:00a/Sanctuary & Classrooms - RE
11:40a/R41 - In the Spirit of Truth
12:00a/Sanctuary - Adam Kent Rehearsal
Mon Mar 2
6:30p/Fellowship Hall - Tai Chi
Tue Mar 3
7:30p/Sanctuary & Fellowship Hall - Choir Rehearsal
Wed Mar 4
7:30P/R41 - Program Council
Thu Mar 5
11:30a/R24 - Science & Spirituality
Sat Mar 7
10:00a/Parsonage - Zen Service
Sun Mar 8: DAYLIGHT SAVINGS TIME STARTS
8:45a/Sanctuary - Choir Rehearsal
9:30a/R32 - Nursery Care
10:00a/Sanctuary - All Ages Worship and Coffee
11:30a/R41 - Welcome Committee
11:40a/R12 - Journey Group A 11:40a/R22 - Journey Group N
12:00noon/Sanctuary - Adam Kent Rehearsal
3:00p/Sanctuary - Friends of CUC Concert |
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Our CUC Mission: Nurture spirituality; Foster compassion; Engage in service
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Weekly News
Community Unitarian Church at White Plains
468 Rosedale Ave
White Plains, NY 10605
914-946-1660, www.
cucwp.org
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 Lifespan Religious Education
We look forward to celebrating the arrival of a new month with you on Sunday. It's bound to be a warmer one. We begin with a Sunday full of activity. Please see the following four (4) announcements:
 Children and youth start in the sanctuary for Music for All Ages when Music Director Adam Kent presents oboist Ian Shafer and bassoonist Leonard Hindell who will talk about their respective musical instruments and the unique, expressive sounds they offer.
There will also be a Wonder Box Story about generosity.
Classes
Pre-K: Stars Lesson from
The Welcome Year
K-1st:
My Family - All Kinds of Families
2nd-3rd: We Share Our Earth with All Living Things
4th: Bird Walk & Watch with Rev. LoraKim
5th-6th: Kiva Microfinance
7th-8th: Hinduism Introduction
9th: Coming of Age
10th-12th: Youth Group Journey Group on Love
The Youth Service has been moved to April, so next Sunday will be a special spiritual practice experience for the children. More information on this event will be coming.
This Sunday, Mar. 1 at 11:45 a.m. in the Youth Room (#14).
Join affiliated minister and avid crocheter Kelly Murphy Mason in this ongoing group exploring what it might mean for those in our faith community to be "stitching in spirit."
Please feel free to bring with you any handicrafting projects you might have underway - or else just bring an open and inquiring mind. This CUC crafting circle will be meeting the first Sunday of the month for the duration of the church program year. Anyone with any degree of interest is welcome to join at any point, and newcomers are always encouraged to attend! See:
http://cucmatters.blogspot.com/2015/02/stitching-in-spirit.html
We are looking for people interested in being mentors for this year and the future. This is a great opportunity to connect with one of our youth and offer a guiding hand in the credo writing process. Your presence can be an anchor for a youth on this journey. Please contact Perry if you are interested.
4) Child Dedication
April 5 - Sign up with Perry by email at [email protected].  This is a Unitarian Universalist ritual honoring your family's commitment to the congregation and a promise by the congregation to support and nurture your child's spiritual life. For a further description of UU Child Dedications, CLICK HERE. Please let me know how we can brighten your spirit and enlighten your mind, as we move through the remainder of the congregational year together. Sincerely,
-Perry
Perry Montrose
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
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What's In a Name?
Update
IT'S NOT TOO LATE...though there will be no more small group meetings, we still want to hear from you. There's still time to give us your input!
HOW TO GET THE MATERIAL: You can find hard copies of both the reading packet and questionnaire on the table in the main lobby. OR if you prefer, you can e-mail Karen Dreher at [email protected] and she will e-mail you all materials.
HOW TO GET YOUR COMPLETED QUESTIONNAIRE BACK TO THE COMMITTEE: Give it to either Karen Dreher or John Cavallero on Sun Feb 22 or Sun Mar 1 OR scan your questionnaire and e-mail it to Karen at [email protected].
DEADLINE IS Sun Mar 1. |
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Caring & Sharing
If anyone knows of another among us who is in need of a caregiver from our Caring & Sharing Circle, contact Gail McLeod 235-8212, [email protected] or Maxi Feldman 835-0541, [email protected]. |
Greeters Needed
Now that the holidays are over, we are asking you to choose some Sundays when you can offer "radical hospitality" to all who walk through our doors by greeting them with your very warmest smile.
Please use the link: http://doodle.com/ug2sgbitq8fm7fe6 to sign up or call/email Jane Dixon 949-5919, [email protected] |
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The Cooperative Seder Is Back!
Sat Mar 28, from 5-7pm
Come join us for a full Seder! We welcome everyone: those who would like to remember and honor their heritage, those who are curious as to what a Seder is all about, and of course, those who just want to be in community with some great food!
We ask everyone who attends to bring a dish to share. Please go to PerfectPotluck.com where you can look up our Seder by last name--Haran and password CUC. Alternatively, there will also be a written sign-up sheet outside of the Sanctuary. Please note that there will also be a small fee to cover expenses.
Because this cannot be a walk-in event, we ask that everyone sign up by Sat Mar 21.
If you have any questions or would like to come on board to help out with this fun event, please contact Christine Haran at [email protected], (917-216-5359) or Aimee Katz Zipkin at [email protected] or 914-874-4497.
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Environmental Film Series at UUCHV
Here's a great chance to learn and network with other Westchester UUs about planning climate activism.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Hudson Valley (Croton) is hosting a showing of seven episodes of the Showtime documentary series, "Years of Living Dangerously." The series starts on Fri Feb 27, with another episode every 2-4 weeks. See the full schedule:
http://westchesteruuevents.blogspot.com/2015/02/environmental-film-series-at-uuchv.html
Each episode is one-hour, followed by discussion and coffee. |
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Contacts
Minister, Rev. Meredith Garmon [email protected] 914-946-1660 x3
Director of Lifespan Religious Ed. & Faith Development, Perry Montrose [email protected] 914-946-1660 x4
Church Administrator, Liliana Keith [email protected] 914-946-1660 x2
Music Director, Adam Kent [email protected] 212-595-7280
Choir Director, Lisa Meyer [email protected]
Community Minister, Rev. Deb Morra [email protected] 914-830-1509
Community Minister, Rev. LoraKim Joyner [email protected] 914-948-1696
Community Minister, Rev. Kelly M. Mason [email protected] 347-497-3741
Bookkeeper, Lisa Sommer [email protected] 914-946-1660 x7
Board of Trustees
Board Chair, Randy Marshall [email protected] 914-633-3115
Vice-Chair, Karen Schmitt [email protected] 914-921-3647
Treasurer, Nicky Klemens [email protected] 914-967-4419
Secretary, Johanna Bauer [email protected] 914-636-1047 |
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