Join us this Sunday
May 20, 2018
10:30 am Morning Servi ce: A Universal Love.  Our Universalist heritage challenges us to love and to know that we are loved—both things. This may be life’s central challenge. We do a lot to try to offer love to the world. But do we believe or feel that there is a Universal Love that holds each of us?
—Rev. Peggy Meeker


9:15 am Drop-In Discussion: White Privilege . Are white people privileged? How should they feel about it? Phil Ebersole will lead a discussion.

Settled Minister

    We are thrilled to announce that the congregation of the First Universalist Church has called the Reverend Lane Campbell to be our new settled minister by a unanimous congregational vote on May 6th. Reverend Campbell will start her ministry with us in August. You can find out more information about Reverend Campbell at the church web site http://uuroc.org .

    On behalf of the congregation, the Board of Trustees wishes to express deepest
gratitude to the Ministerial Search Team for their dedication during this past year. Their discernment of the needs of our congregation guided them throughout the search process and has resulted in the successful call of Reverend Campbell.

    We are also deeply grateful to Reverend Peggy Meeker for her skilled guidance and support as Interim Minister. She has gently and ably helped us to navigate through this transitional year in preparation for this exciting new chapter of ministry.

Joyfully,
Nancy Gaede, President
First Universalist

Upcoming Events

The Project Team - Book Discussion

Join us in the discussion of Part III of Waking up White; and Finding Myself in the Story of Race . We will discuss Chapters 12-28. Please plan to join us for a stimulating discussion on Sunday, May 20th from 12:15 pm until 1:45 pm in the Chalice Room.
Train for RAIHN*
Four times a year, temporarily homeless families stay as our guests at First Universalist for a week. We provide a safe haven and tasty meals. To volunteer with us or to learn more, attend one of these orientation sessions:

  • Thursday, May 24, 2018, 6:30-8:30 pm, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, 1400 Westfall Rd., Rochester
  • Tuesday, June 12, 2018, 6:30-8:30 pm, Aldersgate United Methodist Church, 4115 Dewey Ave., Rochester

RSVP to Jen Canning,  coordinator@raihn.org or 506-9050. Questions? Ask Chris DeGolyer, Marti Eggers, or Sarah Singal after the Sunday service.

*Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network: Keeping Families Together, Bringing Families Home
FIAC (Faith In Action Council)

Information has been posted on the Court St. Bulletin Board for an event in Buffalo on Saturday, May 26th (see next item) on conversations on race and about grant monies from the UUA for conducting ‘Get Out the Vote’ projects. Please check these out!
Honest and Effective Conversations About Race

Join Nanette D. Massey on Saturday, May 26th, from 1:00 to 4:00 pm at the UU Church of Buffalo (695 Elmwood Avenue, Buffalo). Ms. Massey is a black Buffalo writer working on her first book. She believes there are plenty of imperfect white allies in the engagement for racial equality with a desire to be more vocal and effective, but who don't quite know how to begin. The workshop will be a space to open up honestly about what you do—and don’t—understand about race today. Be prepared to be challenged, and to gain ideas and tools to walk into the conversations within your personal sphere of influence with genuine confidence, humor, and humility.
Book Group

Our book selection for May is Sue Monk Kidd's  The Invention of Wings . This novel was inspired by the historical figure of Sarah Grimke, and allows us to use our imagination
while exploring facts. Please join us on May 27th upstairs in the Chalice Room at 12:15 pm for a lively discussion! You do not have to have read the book, your insights will be gratefully received and shared. Hope to see you then. Also for those of you that wish to get a head start, June's selection will be Things Fall Apart By Chinua Achebe. 

Additional Announcements

The Project Team Suggestions

 The Project Team welcomes your suggestions and comments at

DO YOU WANT TO GET JUST A LITTLE INVOLVED?

If you are enjoying First Universalist and would like to get involved without a major commitment, here are some eco-friendly ideas for you! Take a week over the summer to water the gardens. Take a turn bringing the large recycle tote out to the sidewalk on Monday afternoon. Join the EcoJustice Group in putting the collected coffee grounds and veggie scraps from our kitchen out to the compost bin. If you can't compost at home, join others in adding your household veggie scraps to the church compost. For any or all of these pleasant and helpful activities please see Sara Singal via office@uuroc.org for more details.
UNIRONDACK: Are you looking for a fulfilling, wildly fun, outdoor experience for your young one? Unirondack, a UU summer camp nestled in the foothills of the Adirondacks might be the place for you. While our high school sessions are already full for the summer, our 12-14 and 14-16 year old sessions still have room! Campers at Unirondack live the experience of building a unique, caring, UU community that puts their experience first. Built upon the values of the seven principles, we strive to create a camp community that is intellectually stimulating, welcoming to campers of all walks of life, and gives youth the opportunity to leave the rest of the world behind while they perform in talent shows, paint with watercolors over a wild Adirondack lake, swim and canoe in nature, and let their imagination run wild in theater and music. Email  Director@unirondack.org  or visit   www.unirondack.org   for more info! 
ORGAN HISTORICAL SOCIETY: Nathan Laube, co-chair of the convention and assistant professor of organ at the Eastman School of Music, along with graduate student Margaret-Mary Owens will orchestrate the presentation of the Hope Jones OHS Citation Award in conjunction with the July 2018 convention. Watch for details.
CHURCH LIBRARY AND BOOKSTORE: Books for Browsing, Borrowing and Buying. The First Universalist library and bookstore are open each Sunday during coffee hour.  We have a lending library, a discount bookstore, a free children's bookshelf, a free magazine exchange, and sometimes free books.
UU and You: An introduction to Unitarian Universalism and our church. This informational get-together is usually scheduled at noon every first Sunday of each month. If you've visited us a time or two and would like to learn more about our progressive church and its many congregational activities and volunteering opportunities, please make a note to join our UU and You meeting on June 3rd. Any questions -- email to welcoming@uuroc.org .
SOS “Save our Space!”: General Assembly needs delegates! It’s in Kansas City this year on June 20-24th. Please check https://www.uua.org/calendars/uua/general-assembly-2018   for program details, and see Shirley Bond to reserve your space.
Thank you.
USHERS & GREETERS NEEDED: Consider signing up to be an usher or a greeter. Ushers and greeters participate in an essential ministry of welcoming members and visitors to our historical church. If you’re interested, please drop an email to ushers@uuroc.com.
SUNDAY COFFEE HOUR : We need new volunteers!! If you like Coffee Hour, please consider serving at least one Sunday a year. Contact Bill Elwell for complete instructions.
PEACE VIGILS: Join us at Goodman Street and East Avenue for our weekly Sunday noon Peace Vigils from 12:00 to 1:00 pm at the RMSC (Rochester Museum and Science Center). Dress appropriately for the weather and make your sign sharing your views or choose one of many. Questions? Contact Hal Bauer, Springwater Farm: (585) 335-2325.
THURSDAY LUNCHTIME EASTMAN AT WASHINGTON SQUARE CONCERTS: These concerts are held every Thursday through May 24th, from 12:15 pm to approximately 12:45 pm. Brown bag lunches are welcome during the performances, and admission is free. For more information visit www.esm.rochester.edu/community/events/lunchtime .
I MPLEMENTING AN AED PROGRAM ( A utomated E xternal D efibrillator): Your friend next to you has just fainted and is now turning blue! What will you do next? Call for help or "Be the Help?" By taking the A utomated E xternal D efibrillator classes coming soon, your friend might be around to thank you. Signing up is not crucial, attending the class is. We need everyone. For more information see You Tube videos. To be part of the emergency team please contact Janine Casillo via office@uuroc.org .
EMAIL SCAMMING: There have been several email scamming attempts targeting email addresses at the church. Please assume that any incoming email message asking you to send the church’s money (or your own!) anywhere might be fraudulent. Do not reply to such a message, or click on any internet links appearing in the message; instead, forward it to suspicious@uuroc.org and delete it from your in-basket. It will be reviewed to determine whether any follow-up is needed. Thank you!
BLUE RECYCLE TOTE:  The church is looking for help moving the large blue recycle bin to the sidewalk on Monday afternoons, for pick-up early Tuesday mornings. It helps to live or work nearby. Please see Sarah Singal or email her via office@uuroc.org . Thanks in advance! We are keeping the blue tote inside the building until further notice. Thank you.
T o submit an item for "This Week at First Universalist," e-mail   office@uuroc.org  
no later than Wednesday at noon.   
Staff:
The Reverend Peggy Meeker , Minister

Rev. Michelle Yates ,
Minister of Life Span Faith Development

Stacey Xiaoyu Yang , Director of Music

Andrea Lewis , Office Administrator / Editor

150 S. Clinton Avenue, Rochester, NY 14604 | (585) 546-2826 | office@uuroc.org