Sun Jun 14
2015 Spring, #13
Nurture spirituality. Foster compassion. Engage in service
From the Minister

Friends, we have a new name! What once was "Community Unitarian Church" is now "Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation." We've added 18 more letters and 8 more more syllables!

We've changed our name, but have we changed our acronym? I have already started to see "CUUC" being used (see Perry's column, for example), and perhaps that will catch on. But maybe not. UNICEF kept its acronym, even though it is no longer the United Nations International Children's Emergency Fund. (It is now simply the UN Children's Fund.) The European research facility called CERN used to have a name that matched its acronym. The name changed, but the acronym didn't. The acronym for the "Office for Standards in Education, Children's Services and Skills" is OFSTED, which uses the "f" in "for," but not the "i" of "in," uses the first two letters of "standards" and "education" -- and leaves off "Children's Services and Skills" entirely. The "rules" for acronyms are rather loose. 

Maybe we like "CUUC," and appreciate its clarity. But it's not a stretch to say that "CUC" now stands for "Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation." No acronym police will come after us.

We will NOT be forming a "What's in an Acronym?" committee to study this question for a year. But it might be worth a moment of reflection. Which acronym do you prefer?

     Yours in the faith we share,
      Meredith
     Rev. Meredith Garmon, Minister
June Theme: Prescence/Mindfulness 
Practice of the Week:
Befriend Your Body
People can get mad at the body, and even mean to it. Like it's the body's fault if it weighs too much or is getting old. But if you this, you'll end up paying a big price, since you are not separated from your body after all. Its needs and pleasures and pains are your own. Its fate will be your own someday. On the other hand, if you treat your body well, like a good friend, you'll feel better, have more energy, be more resilient, and probably live longer. READ MORE...
Worship: Sun Jun 14
UU Buddhism
Rev. Meredith Garmon
Looking at the intersection between Unitarian Universalist and Buddhism -- what each can gain from the other.

ALSO on Sunday:
  • Affirmation Ceremony for 2nd-3rd graders
  • New Member Recognition
Sunday's Music: The CUC Choir will sing, and Adam will play Debussy, Grieg, and Copland. READ MORE...

Worship: Sun Jun 21
R.E. Sunday
Perry Montrose, et al
Celebrating our children and youth and reflecting on the ways we grow through participation in the growth of our young folk.

Annual End-of-Year BBQ

Sun Jun 21, 11:30 am

Hamburgers, hot dogs, and other good food will be served along with lots of fun! Mexican roasted corn back by popular demand. Please bring a salad, side dish or dessert if you would like to. 

$3 children, $5 adult, $15 per family

 

CSA at CUC 
Starting Wed Jun 10
CSA = "Community Supported Agriculture." You can buy a share and pick up your produce at CUC on Wednesday afternoons. READ MORE...
Parking Notice:  Starting Now
Please be advised that there will be fewer parking spaces available for the next few Sundays. Park cars tightly and consider parking on Rosedale Ave. Do not park on Sycamore Lane. A section of the lower parking lot will be occupied for an organization renting the space. Thank you for your cooperation.
CUC Band Forming!
Practice is on Thursdays, 7:30pm, CUC Sanctuary
     Experienced band director and CUC member Christian Force is now putting together a contemporary ensemble to bring rock/pop/folk music to CUC. READ MORE...
Science & Spirituality
Next meeting: Thu June 11, CUC, 11:30am
     We're now reading Sy Montgomery, The Soul of an Octopus.
     This "astonishing book...explores the emotional and physical world of the octopus - a surprisingly complex, intelligent, and spirited creature - and the remarkable connections it makes with humans."  READ MORE....
     For Thu Jun 11, we'll be discussing up through chap. 6.
Going to Clearwater?
The Clearwater Festival is Jun 20-21 at Croton Point Part, Croton-on-Hudson. This year, there's a UU table, shared by the five Westchester UU congregations. If you're going, can you spare some time to help staff the UU table? That'd be great! If you can help out, please contact Janet Bear (jsbear1@gmail.com).
UU District Events
Nepal Earthquake: UUSC-UUA Response & Relief Fund

Westchester UU Events
There are some cool events at the other UU congregations in Westchester: Hastings, Croton, Mt. Kisco, and Mohegan Lake. And they invite all UUs -- and their friends. Check out these events at: westchesteruu.com/events
Caring & Sharing

If anyone knows of another among us who is in need of a caregiver from our Caring & Sharing Circle, throughout June contact Adine Usher at 328-2307 or adineusher@verizon.net or Janet Giewat at 617-2137 or bean1a2@aol.com.

Sharing Sunday Offerings
June: Kiva
Each month we share 25% of our plate offerings with outside organizations in need. Kiva is a non-profit organization with a mission to connect people through lending to alleviate poverty. The CUC 5th-6th grade class created a Kiva account and has lent $300 in ten different countries. As the loans are paid back, they will be able to re-lend the money. 
See Rev. Garmon if you have an idea for a future monthly plate share.
E-Communitarian Weekly
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation
468 Rosedale Ave
White Plains, NY 10605
914-946-1660, www. cucwp.org
Lifespan Religious Education

Dear RE Families, Teachers, and Friends,

It's an exciting end to the congregational year and we look forward to seeing you for these special activities. Please see the following six (6) announcements:

1. This Sunday, Jun 14      

Children and youth start in the sanctuary for the Affirmation Ceremony and Youth Scholarship Award.

 

Classes

K-1st: Celebrating Our Discovery Year  

2nd-3rd: We're Unitarian Universalist!  

4th: RE Sunday Prep and Atrium Project  

5th-6th: RE Sunday Prep, Atrium Project, & Kiva 

7th-8th: Review & RE Sunday Prep 

Youth Group: RE Sunday Prep 

 

2. RE Feedback from Children & Youth
Please have your child/youth fill out an RE Feedback Form if he/she will not be in class this Sunday. This will help us improve our programs and some responses will be used anonymously in our RE Sunday reading.

Download form here and then edit it in your computer, save it, and email it to me at dlre@cucwp.org. Thank you.

 

We are also hoping the children will make drawings for the covers of the teacher thank you cards (8.5wide x 5.5height). Please bring them on Sunday and put them in the box on the Welcome Table.

 

3. Do you have pictures of RE events?

We are collecting all the photos of the year in RE to create a special slide show for RE Sunday and for the archives. If  you have pictures or videos of CUUC events, classes, and worship services, please send them to me at dlre@cucwp.org or let me know if they are too large to email. Thank you. 

 

4. We Need You

The CUUC RE program needs you to Foster, Mentor, and Nourish our children & youth next year. 

 

Tell Perry or an RE Council member

you're IN and committed for RE at CUUC.

 

5. RE Sunday: Jun 21

A worship celebration of the year in RE.

  • Parade with all the classes
  • Special music 
  • Bridging Ceremony for graduating seniors
  • Barbecue after the service

6. Jr. High Youth Retreat - Register Now for Fall

  • Metro NY District retreat for 6th, 7th, and 8th graders
  • Fun and learning with other UU Jr. High youth
  • Sep 12-13 at a full-service camp in Patterson, NY
  • Registration is open now and spots fill up fast
  • Scholarships available. Contact Perry for more info.
  • Register here!
Please let me know how we can further your journey at CUUC.

Sincerely,
-Perry
Perry Montrose
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
Toy Drive for 
Coachman Family Center
Now through Sun Jun 21
School will soon be over; help the children of families at our local shelter to have a fun summer! CUC will be collecting new and gently used games/puzzles/balls/sports equipment for children of all ages.
     This drive is a project of the CUC Social Justice Team on Hunger and Homelessness. Contact Ray Messing (raymessing@gmail.com /592-4497) or Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com /949-5919) for more info.
This Week at CUC
Sun Jun 14
8:30am  RE Sunday prep
8:45am 
Choir Rehearsal
9:30am  Nursery Care
10:00am  RE Classes
10:00am  Worship/Coffee
11:40am  Journey Group A
11:40am  Journey Group N
11:45 Kitchen Committee
12:00pm  RE Council Retreat
Mon Jun 15
11:00am  Journey Group B (off site)
7:30pm   Journey Group C (off site)
8:00pm  Finance Committee
Tue Jun 16
7:30pm  Journey Group E (off site)
Wed Jun 17
3:00pm   CSA pick up
7:30pm  Worship Committee mtg
Thursday, June 18
7:30pm   Band Practice
7:30pm   Journey Group F (off site)
7:30pm   Journey Group G (off site)
Sat Jun 20
10:00am  Zen Service
Sun Jun 21
9:30am Nursery Care
10:00am  Worship/Coffee
11:30am  BBQ
11:40am   Journey Group H
11:45am   UU Musicians' Group
5:00pm  Journey Group I (off site)


Contacts
Minister, Rev. Meredith Garmon minister@cucwp.org 914-946-1660 x3
Director of Lifespan Religious Ed. & Faith Development, Perry Montrose dlre@cucwp.org 914-946-1660 x4
Church Administrator, Liliana Keith admin@cucwp.org 914-946-1660 x2
Music Director, Adam Kent music@cucwp.org 212-595-7280
Choir Director, Lisa Meyer choir@cucwp.org
Community Minister, Rev. Deb Morra
community-minister@cucwp.org 914-830-1509
Community Minister, Rev. LoraKim Joyner amoloros@juno.com 914-948-1696
Community Minister, Rev. Kelly M. Mason rev.kmmason@gmail.com 347-497-3741
Bookkeeper, Lisa Sommer bookkeeper@cucwp.org 914-946-1660 x7
Board of Trustees
Board Chair, Randy Marshall rsm2@cumc.columbia.edu 914-633-3115
Vice-Chair, Karen Schmitt schmitt8@verizon.net 914-921-3647
Treasurer, Nicky Klemens nsklemens@optonline.net 914-967-4419
Secretary, Johanna Bauer johbauer@msn.com 914-636-1047