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November Theme: Forgiveness



You're welcome to join me tomorrow (Sat Nov 15) and the following Sat (Nov 22) at the Parsonage for the two-part class, "Our Story, Our Faith." The class is from 2:00 to 4:00 on each of these consecutive Saturdays. We'll overview and discuss what UU is -- our history, our polity, our theology -- and how to articulate our UU faith. Great for those new to UU -- and great for longtimers who would enjoy a "refresher."

Practice of the Week: Love Your Inner Child 

"Most childhoods are rocky, one way or another. As a kid, you probably felt hurt, were disappointed, felt like a loser, wanted recognition and love you didn't get, shelved some big dreams, and made decisions about yourself and life with the 'logic' of a child." READ MORE...

November Journey Groups: Forgiveness

If you're not in a Journey Group, sign up online. CLICK HERE.
The November theme is forgiveness. Please begin looking over the packet and preparing for your November Journey Group meeting. For document format, CLICK HERE. For blog-post format, CLICK HERE.

Saturday Zen: Nov 15

Zen practice at the Parsonage. 10:00 - 11:45a on Sat Nov 15. Come around to back door. New to meditation? Come 10 minutes early for a brief orientation. READ MORE...

Jazzfest: Sat Nov 22, 7pm

Music at CUC kicks off with our annual Jazzfest! concert. The Marie-Fatima Rudolf Trio (Marie-Fatima Rudolf, piano; Alec Safy, bass; Aaron Seeber, drums) will lead off the program, followed by legendary jazz pianist Valerie Capers, who will be joined by bassist John Robinson and drummer Doug Richardson. 

Bird Walk: Sun Nov 23, 8:30am, gather behind Parsonage

Join Rev. LoraKim Joyner for this bird-watching stroll around the CUC grounds. The theme of this Bird Walk is gratitude.

Thank you for being a Unitarian Universalist!
-Meredith
Rev. Meredith Garmon
Minister
Worship Nov 16, 10:00: Masada   

Rev. Sarah Lenzi

The story of the Jewish rebels holding out in the hilltop town of Masada is a complex one. Join as we explore the meaning of resistance and hope, aided by this millennia-old story. Rev. Lenzi is the minister of the UU Congregation of the Hudson Valley, in Croton-on-Hudson. She comes to CUC via a pulpit swap that will have Meredith preaching in Croton on Sunday.

Sunday's Music: Piano jazz legend Valerie Capers, along wihth bassist and recorder player, John Robinson, will play. More info, CLICK HERE.

10:00 - Prelude by Capers & Robinson
10:10 - Inviting the bell & gathering song

 



We are looking forward to seeing you this Sunday for a morning full of meaningful experiences and connection in UU community. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about our Religious Education Ministry and welcome your thoughts. Please see the following seven (7) announcements:

1) Parent-Teacher Meeting, this Sunday, Nov. 16 at 9am in Fellowship Hall and then the classrooms. This will be an opportunity to find out what happens in RE, meet your children's teachers, and ask questions. Discover our vision of RE and the specifics of each class. Childcare will be available.

2) This Sunday, Nov. 16 at 10am:
K-4 - Children begin in Fellowship Hall where they will write cards to military personnel overseas to complete the Veteran's Day activity from last Sunday. There will be a brief review of the story and activity, then each child will make a card to send. Children will go to their classes afterward.
5th-6th gr. - Our Whole Lives, Session 2: Family Relationships
7th-8th - Christianity Introduction
COA & YG - Please arrive in the kitchen at 9am to make stone soup!

3) Join us for Stone Soup Brunch after the service this Sunday in Fellowship Hall.

Members of Coming of Age and Youth Group invite you to enjoy the warmth of soup and connection, while supporting their social justice activities.

$5/adult; $3/children; $15/family. There is no charge if you are just joining us for coffee after the service.

Your help is needed with Stone Soup! We are asking that each RE family bring in something for the soup brunch. We especially need root vegetables. To sign up to bring items for the soup, CLICK HERE. Please drop off items in the kitchen as early as possible.

Thank you so much for supporting our youth!

4) Do you have an interest in engaging children and youth in social justiceopportunities? Grab a bowl of soup and join us for a conversation this Sunday in room 41 at 11:40am.

5) Next Sunday, Nov. 23, is our multigenerational Thanksgiving Service. Our worship elements will be woven into a family story about gratitude for the place where we are. This engaging service will be meaningful for children, youth, and adults.

We are looking for several people of all ages to participate in the Thanksgiving Service story about a family that heads west and learns the true meaning of "being home." Please come to the front of the sanctuary after the service this Sunday for a 15-minute run-through, if you would like to participate.

6) Room for one more at Thanksgiving?
Please consider making a place at your table for an international graduate student (most are Fulbright Scholars) studying in the New York area.

This year CUC will be partnering with One To World, whose mission is to bring future leaders of the world together with Americans, sharing similarities and appreciating differences to build cultural understanding across the globe. It is our hope to find hosts for 15-20 students and in some cases their families, for traditional and not so traditional Thanksgiving dinner on Thursday, November 27, 2014.

If you have room at your table or have questions, please contact Jane Dixon
jrdixon@optonline.net or 949-5919. Transportation arrangements, the length of their stay, and any additional visits are all left up to individual host families.

7) We are looking to fill two RE staff positions with people outside of CUC. Please pass along the information and let us know if you have a friend or co-worker who might be interested in being our...
  • Pre-K teacher for 3 hrs/wk (2.5 on Sunday mornings). For job description, CLICK HERE.
  • Youth Program Coordinator for 10 hrs./wk, including Sunday mornings. For job description, CLICK HERE.
Thank you for sharing your uniqueness with us. We appreciate your whole family's presence in our community.

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

Gazette for Nov 16: CLICK HERE.

New on The Liberal Pulpit blog:
- This Week's Prayer (Nov 10)
- Forgiveness 1
- Forgiveness 2
- Forgiveness 3

Hymnal Supplement coming. In November, we'll have copies of Singing the Living Tradition, and a chance to dedicate each one. About this supplement: CLICK HERE.

"What's In a Name?" Committee is coordinating a discussion about what we think the name of our congregation should be. 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.

The web site for Community Unitarian Church: CLICK HERE.
November Monthly Theme Packet, "Forgiveness": CLICK HERE. Or CLICK HERE.
November issue of The Communitarian: CLICK HERE.

The Liberal Pulpit 2014 #4 (six sermons): CLICK HERE.
"My Spiritual Journey" by Rev Meredith Garmon: CLICK HERE.

The Five Foundational Spiritual Practices
 - Journal daily
 - Study daily
 - Silence daily
 - Group monthly
 - Mindfulness as much as you can
READ MORE...