Upcoming Worship Services

Saturday, November 18, 2017 at 7:00pm
Soul Assembly with Orange Sky

November 19, 2017 9:30am and 11:15am
Rev. Joel Miller, preaching
Shadia McAnnally, worship associate



Come to Soul Assembly!
Saturday, November 18 at 7:00pm

Don't miss the next Soul Assembly service this Saturday, November 18 at 7:00pm, when local recording artist Meg Gehman joins Orange Sky on a musical and artistic journey into the theme of Surrender. Bring friends and family, get ready to sing and dance, and see why people have been saying, "This is amazing. I can't wait until the next one!" Bring a wooden spoon or two if you can - you'll find out why at the event! Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service.
Gratitudes, Joys and Sorrows
 
Rev. Robert N. West , Senior Minister here at our church from 1963 to 1969, died this past September; he was 88 years old. Rev. West's ministry here included the chartering of two buses that took 150 people to march with Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. in Selma, Alabama in 1965. The 1968 addition to our current building (also designed by the architect Louis Kahn) was begun and completed during West's ministry. Rev. West left our church to become President of the Unitarian Universalist Association. He was a remarkable leader for our national association of congregations. The online version of the UU World magazine has an excellent article about Robert West's leadership in very difficult times. First Unitarian sends its condolences to Rev. West's family. Cards can be sent to the family through the church office -- please mark them "attention Laurie."

If you have a concern about a member of our congregation, please don't hesitate to contact Rev. Tina at 585-271-9070 x104
News from the Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee is hard at work on your behalf. As you have likely read in Rev. Joel's updates to the congregation, one of our most important tasks this year is to identify a ministerial search team, to be approved by the congregation in June. We need your help! Please take a moment to consider and recommend up to three people that you feel would make excellent members of the ministerial search team. You can submit your recommendations by visiting one of our tabling sessions after services or by emailing us at [email protected]. If we do not hear from you in person or via email, we will reach out to you by phone in the coming months. Whatever format you choose, make sure your voice is heard by recommending yourself or up to three other people. If you would like to volunteer some time to the cause, we will also need people to make outreach calls to members to help collect these important recommendations. To volunteer as a Caller, please email us at [email protected] and let us know you are willing to assist.
Happening This Week
( click on the red links for additional information!)
Surrender to your inner child and join in some community fun for Intergenerational Game Day at our church this Saturday, November 18, 4:00-7:00pm in the Williams Gallery. Participants are asked to bring a favorite, non-electronic game to play and share. All are welcome! Parents and guardians of children under age six are encouraged to bring age-appropriate games or toys to share. Pizza is at 5:00pm, and guests can feel free to bring snack foods to share with the group. Email Fritz Lange with questions or suggestions. 
 
Come to Soul Assembly! Don't miss the next Soul Assembly service this Saturday, November 18 at 7:00pm , when local recording artist Meg Gehman joins Orange Sky on a musical and artistic journey into the theme of Surrender. Bring friends and family, get ready to sing and dance, and see why people have been saying, "This is amazing. I can't wait until the next one!" Bring a wooden spoon or two if you can - you'll find out why at the event! Refreshments and fellowship will follow the service.
 
This Sunday, November 19, after both services, Jenna Bernardi will offer brief Tarot Readings in exchange for a donation to the Grace Fund. Sign up that day at her table in the Williams Gallery for your appointment.
 
First Muse: British Buddies. Join us this Sunday, November 19, at 7:30pm for an evening of music by British composers   featuring the vocal talents of tenor Anthony Dean Griffey (Met Opera) and instrumental talents of guitarist Lynn McGrath, pianist Kurt Galvan, and violist Melissa Matson in music of John Dowland, Ralph Vaughan Williams, Frank Bridge, and Benjamin Britten. Twenty-five percent of ticket revenue will be donated to our Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network ( RAIHN ) Task Force. Tickets for this concert ($15 general) will be on sale at the concert and after both services this Sunday. More information is available  here .
 
The annual Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is at our church this year on Thursday, November 23, at 10:00am. Please join our Muslim, Jewish, Catholic and Protestant siblings for a joyful celebration of gratitude. Rev. Dr. Marlowe Washington will offer the sermon, our First Unitarian Choir and the Praise Team from the Historic Parsells Church will offer rousing music. This is not to be missed. In case you didn’t know, this is a tradition that originated with our congregation, Temple B’rith Kodesh and First Universalist in 1874.
 
Come, come whoever you are and celebrate Thanksgiving together! Surrender your holiday stress and join in a Holiday Thanksgiving Meal for all ages at our church on Thursday, November 23, at 1:00pm . Sign up this Sunday with the Hospitality Team to bring your favorite potluck side dish to share, or RSVP to Fritz Lange . We always have more than enough desserts, so bring beverages, veggies or other side dishes. No need to cook, pick something up. Please bring your own table service.
 
Now showing in the Williams Gallery:   “The Sweet, Simple Things” - works by artist and church member Laura Wilder . Laura’s work has won many awards and prestigious commissions, and is on exhibit at more than a dozen shows per year, in many galleries and shops nationwide. Thematically, her art explores what her distant cousin, Laura Ingalls Wilder, called “the sweet, simple things of life,” especially the beautiful light effects in nature. Laura is especially happy to be exhibiting at our church, which has been her spiritual home since 1964. 
Calls to Action
Donations are needed for the upcoming School #22 Holiday Store . Do you have any small items that you no longer use but would make a great gift for someone else? Help fill School #22’s Holiday Store with small gifts that the students can purchase for their family members. Donations of jewelry, small games, balls, toys, hand creams, tools, handbags, scarves, blankets, etc. would all make great gifts for the Holiday Store. Please drop donations off in the labeled box in the Workroom by Sunday, December 10 .
 
Food Cupboard Reminder : If we all followed the rule “Each One Bring One,” our collection basket would overflow. Suggested foods are cereal, canned milk, canned fruit, vegetables or meats, or whatever you have to spare.   For questions, email Alison Wilder .
 
Pledge Payment Options
You have options in the way your pledge payments are processed. Some choose to send a check directly to the church. Another good alternative is automatic ACH contributions from your checking account. They are the easiest way for our Church Office to receive pledge contributions. They are easy to set up and save us credit card fees. Your monthly contributions would come out of your account on the 15th of each month. Contact Al Gundlach at 585-271-9070 x103 if you are interested.
Other News and Reminders
Our events calendar is online ! Be sure to view it often and keep up with all the activities happening at our church!
The First Wednesday Book Group next meets on Wednesday, December 6 at 11:15am to discuss the nonfiction book Bellevue: Three Centuries of Medicine and Mayhem at America's Most Storied Hospital by David Oshinsky. All are welcome. For questions, email Joyce Henzel .
 
UUs Reading Non-Fiction next meets to discuss The Sixth Extinction: An Unnatural History , by Elizabeth Kolbert on Wednesday, December 13, 7:00-8:30pm . For questions, email Audrey Perry.
 
The next Currents Discussion Group , will discuss “Rediscovering Our Shared Values” on Wednesday, December 13, 12:15-1:45pm. To be included on their mailing list and receive readings prior to discussions, email Sue, Gary , or Dave .

Youth Group alumni are invited a Youth Group Alumni Reunion Potluck on Wednesday, December 27, 5:00-9:00pm in Gilbert Hall. All Youth Group Alumni, participants and former youth group advisors are welcome. Please bring a dish to pass. For questions or suggestions, contact fellow youth group alumni Tyler Dewey or Hazel Moellering .
First Unitarian Church
220 Winton Road South
Rochester, NY 14610   

Church Office is open
Monday-Friday, 10:00am-2:00pm

585-271-9070
   Newsletter submissions may be sent to [email protected] . Church or church-sponsored events only. Deadline is each Tuesday at 10:00 am.
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