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FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
WEEKLY CONNECTIONS NEWSLETTER
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"Resistance as Transforming Love"
Rev. Joel Miller, Preaching
Rev. Carlos R. Martinez, Co-Leading
Saturday, April 15, 2017
4:30pm Music by Orange Sky
Sunday, April 16, 2017
9:30am Music by Zachary Zwahlen
11:15am
Music by Zachary Zwahlen and
the First Unitarian Choir
This week, our Plate collection will help support
Next Weekend
:
Rev. Joel Miller, Preaching
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Let Us Keep You In Our Thoughts and Prayers
If you have a joy or concern to share, please contact Rev. Tina Simson at
[email protected] or 585-330-9177 for inclusion in our newsletter.
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Minister's Column b
y Rev. Joel Miller
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The national association of Unitarian Universalist Congregations - the UUA - is going through a lot of change in these past two weeks. In addition to the resignation of the UUA President, Rev. Peter Morales, other resignations of UUA leadership include the UUA's Chief Operating Officer, Rev. Harlan Limpert, and its Director of Congregational Life, Rev. Scott Tayler. Scott's resignation is especially hard news here at our church. He was the Co-Minister here with Rev. Kaaren Anderson from 2004 until 2013. In the short time before the next UUA President is elected, three widely-respected Unitarian Universalists have been appointed to lead our national association.
When the hiring of a new staff member was announced by the UUA several weeks ago, there was a strong reaction from many Unitarian Universalists. The UUA has not been meeting its goals for racial and ethnic diversity among its higher-level staff, and hasn't been for many years. Our congregations have also fallen short of their aspirations for this diversity. The UUA Board of Trustees has called on itself and on our congregations to immediately begin working toward our social justice goals of serving a much wider diversity of needs. To read more, click here.
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One week into our Annual Budget Drive (ABD) and we are off to a good start. We have received over $269,666 in pledges with the help of over 70 volunteers. For more information, check out the weekly "Together We Thrive" reports posted on the kiosk in the Lobby. Let's keep the momentum going. Be sure to see our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) information sheet available at the kiosk in the Lobby or contact an ABD Committee member who can email it to you. Many of your questions will be answered in the FAQ but let the committee know of other questions you may have. Reaching our budget goal will show that "Together We Thrive!" It's not too late to volunteer to help with the drive, just contact one of our ABD Committee members: John Solberg and Paul Suwijn, co-chairs; Sue Ames, John Farrell, Cynthia Looney, Louise Paulsen.
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Happening in the Week Ahead
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Aging Gratefully and Humor
The next meeting of Aging Gratefully is this
Thursday, April 13,
1:30-3:00pm in the Susan B. Anthony Lounge. Aging Gratefully is a group for anyone age 60+ meeting to discuss a topic related to aging
. This month's topic is "Humor," and all are welcome.
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Tarot Readings
This Sunday, April 16, 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.
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Now Showing in the Williams Gallery: UU/Schools Partnership Art Show
The children of Schools #15 and #22 have created their best artwork for the UU/Schools Partnership Art Show, showing now through Tuesday, April 18 in the Williams Gallery. We have held this show for many years and it is delightful for the children, their parents and guests.
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Holocaust Remembrance Day and a Unitarian Story
In the spirit of friendship and fellowship, Temple Beth-El (139 Winton Rd S 14610) has invited First Unitarian members and friends to their Holocaust Remembrance Day (Yom HaShoah) observance
next
Wednesday, April 19, 7:00pm. This event is co-organized by the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) at our church, and features a screening of Defying the Nazis: The Sharp's War, a film that aired on PBS about a Unitarian minister and his wife who went to Europe to help refugees fleeing the Nazis. Following the film will be a brief
panel discussion on local efforts to help refugees. Participants are Bonnie Abrams, Director of the Jewish Federation Center for Holocaust Awareness and Information (CHAI); Warren Heilbronner, Holocaust Survivor; Jack Maniloff, Unitarian Universalist Service Committee; and Michael Miller, Temple Beth El Resettlement Committee. A dessert reception follows.
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Spring Greetings from LabyrinthQuest!
This month, LabyrinthQuest will be at our church on Thursday, April 20, 7:00-9:00pm with healing practitioners, live music, and the Healing Boutique. Click here for more for details.
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Earth Day Share Out!
Serve others by sharing your environmental practices.
Simply use the sticky notes provided in our Lobby, write down your environmental practice and your name, and stick it on the giant Lobby blackboard within one of the categories listed.
By Earth Day Weekend, Saturday, April 22 and Sunday, April 23, we will have built a collective resource in each other for encouraging deeper environmental justice engagement, with fellow UU's who can lend the know-how to get started, share tips, or take the next step.
This event is sponsored by the Environmental Climate Task Force (Adult) and the UU Environmental and Animal Team (K-5).
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Rev. Tina's Not Gone Yet...
Dear friends,
There seems to be a lot of buzz these days about my retirement. I understand that the "fact" I am retiring is published in a few places around church. However, I have not announced this yet. So I want to take a few moments to share my thoughts and plans.
When Rev. Kaaren left last year, I agreed with the Board of Trustees that I would stay in my position for two years to ease the transition to our new called ministers. That means my desire to retire targets June 2018. This isn't a new plan, I had hoped to retire sooner, but stayed on because of our transitions. I have expressed this desire to Rev. Joel, and I know he's shared it with the board.
We have not begun to plan for my transition yet; there is so much other work we need to do together before that. And I am confident that when appropriate and timely, Rev. Joel will work with all of us to make the best plan. Frankly, I'm a heck of a lot easier to replace than the roof and we managed that just fine!
I have received a few generous notes from members expressing their concern that I am leaving. Please don't lock the door yet, I am still here and we have more than a year together. We have a lot of worshiping, and singing, and caring, and loving to do during that time. Let's celebrate our year with one another in that spirit.
In faith and love,
Tina
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Raise the Age Victory Lap
The NYS Legislature and Governor have passed the Raise the Age legislation. This means tens of thousands (yes, that many) of New York's youth, age 16 & 17, will have the opportunity to turn their lives around.
Members of our church signed post cards and petitions, attended informational meetings, rallied, met with our local senators, and lobbied in Albany. We made our presence known and have made a difference.
Take a lap!
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Church's New Website is Up and Running!
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Compassion and Justice 2017
Interfaith Impact of NYS (IINYS) is the Unitarian Universalist State Advocacy Network for New York. Monday, May 1, is the annual legislative advocacy day for IINYS. Please consider coming with us and talking to legislative leaders about three vital issues: moving NYS to single payer healthcare (NY Health Act); a responsible NYS climate change response (Community and Climate Protection Act); and, HALTing overuse of solitary confinement. Participation is free thanks to the Gilbert Spirit Fund. For details,
click here.
To arrange for transportation, contact John Keevert at
[email protected]
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The Brighton Food Cupboard
is run by Jewish Family Service, and with the support of volunteers. We can help by providing canned and packaged soup, cereals, meat and vegetables. Diapers, toiletries and paper goods are all welcome, too. Our contact person is Alison Wilder and she can be reached at 585-342-2459 or [email protected].
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UUA Vote 2017
A live streaming forum of the three candidates for President of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) was presented at the recent annual St. Lawrence gathering. Each answered a series of questions regarding their views. For more information on the candidates,
click here. To learn about being a delegate and voting,
click here. More information will be forthcoming.
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A Victory for Mother Nature
The Environmental Climate Task Force thanks all who signed our letter to Governor Cuomo during the Letter and Petition Signing Weekend. The Cuomo administration Department of Energy Conservation just refused a section 401 Water Quality Certification for the Northern Access Pipeline, saying it
was too big a threat to water quality and wildlife, effectively blocking at least this attempt at expanding the fossil fuel infrastructure.
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Environmental Climate Task Force Green Tip of the Week
How often have you used a plastic spoon or fork when metal utensils were available? Think about keeping your own utensils handy and even travel with them.
Plastic utensils are marked with a #6 and it's possible to recycle them, but many just end up in landfills. If you don't use them, less will be made.
Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, Repair, Recycle.
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Kahn's Corner
The Kimbell Art Museum (Dallas, Texas), designed by Louis Kahn, is currently hosting exhibitions of Kahn's work. Louis Kahn, the Power of Architecture will run until Sunday, June 25. A complementary exhibit, The Color of Light, is on loan from the collections of his children. On display is a selection of pastels, done in 1950 when he studied in Rome. A catalog with over 500 images is available.
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Pledge Payment Options
You have options in the way your pledge payments are processed. Some choose to send a check directly to our church. Another good alternative is automatic ACH contributions from your checking account, which is the easiest way for our Church Office to receive pledge contributions. They are easy to set up and they save our church credit card fees. Your monthly contributions would come out of your account on the 15th of each month. If you're interested, please contact Al Gundlach at 585-271-9070 x103 or [email protected].
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Church Office:
585-271-9070 (Monday-Friday, 10:00am-2:00pm)
Want to learn more or thinking about Membership?
Email Rev. Carlos R. Martinez at [email protected].
Next deadline is Tuesday, April 18 at 10:00am.
Order of Service or Screen announcement submissions:
Send to
[email protected].
Next deadline is Thursday, April 20, at 1:00pm.
For Emergency Pastoral Care:
585-271-9070 x104
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Copyright © 2017. All Rights Reserved.
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