Nurture spirituality. Foster compassion. Engage in service.
January Theme: Justice



Three Congregational Meetings are scheduled for Feb 8, Mar 15, and Apr 12. The SAPT (Social Action Planning Team -- Emily Economou, Barry Litcofsky, Ginny Strand, Jeff Tomlinson, Perry Montrose and myself) has scheduled these three Sundays for congregational deliberation about a plan for CUC's social action. The meetings will be part of the Worship Service. At about 10:50am on each of these dates, the worship service will go into "Congregational Meeting Mode." Worship will run a bit beyond 11:15 on these days -- we expect to conclude by 11:35.

Feb 8: We'll break into groups to discuss general ideas.

The SAPT will then take this input and draft the rough beginnings of a plan of action.

Mar 15: Congregational discussion about the SAPT's draft. Consideration of changes. 

Apr 12: SAPT presents revised plan to the congregation. Our hope is that at that point the congregation will be ready to adopt that plan (with or without further amendments.)

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. READ MORE. . . 

Practice of the Week: Be For Yourself

"Think about what it's like to be a good friend to someone. Then ask: Am I that kind of friend to myself? If not, you could be too hard on yourself, too quick to feel you're falling short, too dismissive of what you get done each day. Or too half-hearted telling others what you really need. Or too resigned to your own pain, or too slow about doing those things -- both inside your head and outside it, in the wider world -- to make your life better."

Saturday Zen: Sat Jan 31 

Zen practice and dharma talk & discussion is available at the Parsonage on Saturday mornings. 10:00 - 11:45a. READ MORE...

Common Read: Joint Adult RE Class

Rev. Peggy Clarke (minister at our Hastings congregation) and I are teaming up to facilitate a class on this year's UUA Common Read: Paul Rasor's Reclaiming Prophetic Witness. Choose the time most convenient for you: Tue Feb 24, 7:30p, at CUC, or Wed Feb 25, 11:00a, at Hastings. READ MORE...

Nominate Someone -- yourself, perhaps -- for a position on the CUC Board of Trustees. READ MORE...

Metro IAF (Industrial Areas Foundation): Joining an IAF organization is an important part of a congregation's social justice organizing. READ MORE...

Yours in the faith we share,
-Meredith
Rev. Meredith Garmon
Minister
Worship Jan 25, 10:00: What's Love Got to Do With It? 

Rev. Meredith Garmon

Love comes in many, many forms. And loving -- for all the ways it can be mishandled and cause pain -- is good for us.


Sunday's Music. You'll want to arrive by 10:00 for the first-Sunday-of-the-month "Music for All Ages" segment. Music from Adam Kent and musical guest Konrad Chan. READ MORE...

 

10:00 - Music for All Ages

10:10 - Inviting the Bell and Gathering Song

 



I hope you stayed warm and were able to enjoy the snow day during the storm that turned out to be a relief to some and disappointing for others. This Sunday will be sure to meet your expectations as we gather for community, worship, and learning. Please see the following four (4) announcements:

1) This Sunday, Feb. 1, K-4th grade children and Youth Group start in the sanctuary at 10 a.m. for Music for All Ages and the Wonder Box Story. Join musical guest Konrad Chan and Music Director Adam Kent as they discuss the harmonica and its particular place in Hong Kong musical training.

5th-9th grade children begin in their classrooms. The 7th-8th grade Neighboring Faiths class will be traveling to the Islamic Cultural Center of NY at 11 a.m.

3) Stitching In Spirit - Sunday, Feb. 1 at 11:45 a.m.
A CUC Adult RE Workshop led by Community Minister Rev. Kelly Murphy Mason

Whether you are an active knitter, crocheter, or other fiber art practitioner, or simply curious, come to Fellowship Hall after the service.

For millennia, fiber arts and handicrafts have figured significantly in people's communal and spiritual lives. Come join affiliated minister and avid crocheter Kelly Murphy Mason in this exploration of what it might mean to 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. Everyone is welcome.

4) Teacher Development Day
Sunday, February 8 from 8:15-9:45 a.m.
      • Learn more ways to engage the children
      • Further your classroom management techniques 
      • Connect your UU identity to teaching

4) This Chili Will Warm You Up!
 
Chili Brunch - Sunday, February 8 after the service

Hosted by the 5th-6th grade class to support their social justice projects.
Cost: $5 per Adult, $3 per child, $15 per family

I look forward to seeing you all on Sunday.

Sincerely,
-Perry
Perry Montrose
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
Links & Reminders

New On "The Liberal Pulpit": Meredith's last three sermons are now up.
"Income Inequality" -- with lots of added graphs and charts. CLICK HERE.
"The Spirit of Truth" -- with Youtube audio & slideshow. CLICK HERE.
"Welcome to Liberal Religion" -- with light bulb joke. CLICK HERE.

What's In a Name Committee -- 20-min meetings are now scheduled, and we hope everyone can participate in one of them. READ MORE...

Our Child/Youth R.E. Classes Descriptions of each of our eight R.E. classes meeting on Sunday mornings: CLICK HERE.

The UUA Common Read for 2014-15 is: Paul Rasor, Reclaiming Prophetic Witness: Liberal Religion in the Public Square.  Order your copy! READ MORE...

General Assembly 2015 is in Portland, OR -- Jun 24-28. GA is amazing fun, enriching, deepening, and transformative! We encourage all CUC members to begin planning now to attend.

Feb issue of the Communitarian: CLICK HERE.
Jan Journey Group Packet: "Justice": CLICK HERE.
The web site for Community Unitarian Church: CLICK HERE.
The Five Foundational Spiritual Practices
 - Journal daily
 - Study daily
 - Silence daily
 - Group monthly
 - Mindfulness as much as you can
READ MORE...