 From the Minister
Kintsugi is "the Japanese art of fixing broken pottery with lacquer dusted or mixed with powdered gold, silver, or platinum" (Wikipedia). Through kintsugi, the broken object is not only repaired, but becomes more beautiful - the cracks forming a lovely shiny metallic accent to the piece.
 Brokenness, our theme for March, includes two related ideas here:
1. We can transform tragedy into growth, deepening, and a life of greater wisdom and joy. The "breaks" in what we thought our lives should be - loss of a job we expected to keep, loss of a loved one, a significant injury or illness -- can serve, ultimately, to open us up to live in a freer, gladder way. This is not an inevitable outcome of catastrophe, but it is a possible one. "We can let the circumstances of our lives harden us so that we become increasingly resentful and afraid," as Pema Chodron notes, "or we can let them soften us and make us kinder and more open to what scares us. We always have this choice."
It will be helpful to reflect on the possibilities for deepening wisdom and tenderness from tragedy when we are not in the midst of it. At periods of relative stability in our lives, we are positioned to have conversations about the effects of significant loss. (When a friend is in the midst of coping with a harrowing loss, it's probably not the time to say, "You'll grow from this.") Loss and grief are inevitable in life, and the reflections and conversations we have as we explore brokenness can begin to prepare us for that pain. We can never make it not hurt. What we can do is nurture habits of thought and spirit to help us manage the pain and do the spiritual kintsugi repair work to emerge more beautiful.
2. Every gift comes with a shadow. We are sometimes tempted to shake our heads about our own or other people's shadow side. "Well, nobody's perfect," we might remind ourselves. More accurate, I think, would be to say, "Nobody simultaneously exhibits contradictory qualities." If your gift is the wisdom of experience, the shadow is not having youthful exuberance. If your gift is youthful exuberance, the shadow is inexperience. If your gift is speaking your mind freely, the shadow is occasionally giving offense. If your gift is diplomacy, the shadow is that you don't speak your mind freely. If your gift is being tall enough to dunk a basketball, the shadow is that your can't be comfortable in the back seat of subcompact car.
Part of understanding brokenness is understanding that our shadow side is not a fault that we want to hide and minimize as much as possible. Our shadows are the necessary enablers of our gifts. In fact, ultimately, the shadow is the gift, seen from a different angle. As in kintsugi, the beauty comes not from trying to hide the cracks, but in learning how to skillfully accentuate them.
Yours in the faith we share,
Meredith
Rev. Meredith Garmon, Minister
|
Practice of the Week:
Cultivate Mindfulness
Mindfulness is paying attention to present moment experiences with openness, curiosity, and a willingness to be with what is. It is an excellent antidote to the stresses of modern times. READ MORE... |
|
Worship: Sun Mar 29
 One Hundred Years from Today
Rev. Michael Tino
Five-way pulpit exchange: Rev Tino from Mt. Kisco is coming to White Plains. Our Rev. Garmon is going to Mohegan Lake. Rev. Brammer from Mohegan Lake is going to Hastings. Rev. Clarke from Hastings is going to Croton. Rev. Lenzi from Croton is going to Mt. Kisco. And all five ministers will be preaching on what liberal religion might look like a century from now.
Sunday's Music: Adam Kent plays Granados, Mompou, et al. READ MORE...
Worship: Sun Apr 5
Easter and Transformation
Rev. Meredith Garmon 
It's our annual Flower Celebration service -- so bring a flower with you! We'll reflect on the Easter story and its message of possibilities for transformation.
|
|
Science & Spirituality
Thu Mar 26
 The Science and Spirituality class meets twice monthly at CUC: on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month, 11:30a - 1:00p, usually in room 24.
Any interested person is welcome to join the class for lively discussion of ideas.
On Thu Mar 26, the class will be concluding its discussion of E.O. Wilson, The Meaning of Human Existence. The focus will be on the final chapters, 12 - 15 (pp. 135 - 188). READ MORE... |
Come tell us.
What's in a name?
Sunday, April 19th
There will be an Informational meeting led by the What's In a Name? committee following that Sunday's service. Everyone in the congregation is invited to take this opportunity to publicly express his or her feelings, in 60 seconds or less, about the possibility of a name change for CUC. Following everyone's turn at the microphone, we will ask you to select your favorite potential new name from a choice of three. THIS IS NOT A VOTE. We are giving those of you who would like to see a change, a voice in what the new name might look like.
After the meeting, the What's In a Name Committee will meet again to discuss the responses and the plan is to put this to a vote at the Congregational meeting in June. We hope you will join us and be part of this process.
Thank you! The What's In a Name Committee:
Karen M. Dreher, John Cavallero, Scott Damashek, Karen Schatzel, Adine Usher
|
|
Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk
April 19
In memory of member John Saccardi, we have organized a group from CUC to participate in the Pancreatic Cancer Research Walk on April 19th at Rye Town Park. If you are interested in participating, please click on this link to join our team: "UU's for John":
Please note, the walk is a Sunday morning. Meredith has been informed that some people will be participating and may be late and/or miss the service.
This is also the day of the What's In A Name informational meeting. The walk begins early enough that we should all be able to get back to CUC in time for it and all are encouraged to do so.
If you are unable to participate, any donation is still most welcome. Donations can also be made thru the above link and clicking on the General Team Donation link. If you have any questions, please contact Ann Marie Damashek 917-623-0624 or [email protected]
|
|
Good Morning!
Be a greeter! It's Easy!  Consider signing up when you can offer "radical hospitality" to all who walk through our doors by greeting them with your very warmest smile. Go to: Greeter Sign Up Or call/email Jane Dixon 949-5919/[email protected]. |
|
Caring & Sharing
If anyone knows of another among us who is in need of a caregiver from our Caring & Sharing Circle, contact Gail McLeod 235-8212, [email protected] or Maxi Feldman 835-0541, [email protected]. |
|
Sharing Sunday Offerings
Each month we share our plate offerings with outside organizations in need. This month, 25% of our collections will go to The LOFT - the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender Community Center and Services for the lower Hudson Valley. The LOFT provides regularly scheduled Peer Support Services that are vital to our community. In addition to educational programs, The LOFT does advocacy at the local, state and federal levels. It celebrates! Winterfest, the annual Gala, and Membership luncheons to bring our community together for important social events. See: www.loftgaycenter.org.
See Rev. Garmon if you have an idea for a future monthly plate share. |
|
Quick Links
March Journey Group Packet: "Brokenness":
cucmatters.blogspot.com/p/journey-groups.html
March Communitarian: cucwp.org/newsletters
CUC Main Web Site: cucwp.org
Boundless Way Zen of Westchester: basementzendo.blogspot.com |
|
The Communitarian Weekly
Community Unitarian Church at White Plains
468 Rosedale Ave
White Plains, NY 10605
914-946-1660, www.
cucwp.org
|
 Lifespan Religious Education
Dear RE Families, Teachers, and Friends,
If you are headed away on vacation this weekend, we wish you safe travels and a wonderful journey. If you are staying put, then we look forward to seeing you here at CUC where rest and exploration happen in one building. Please see the following seven (7) announcements:
1. This Sunday, Mar 29
Special Fun Day for All Ages!
Join me in Fellowship Hall for games and fun activities.
We need an adult assistant for the morning, so please let me know if you are available to help out.
2. Easter Egg Hunt & Flower Service, Apr 5
Next Sunday, children start in the sanctuary and go to Fellowship Hall after the Child Dedication. They will have an Easter Egg Hunt and their own Flower Service.
3.
Food Pantry Collection, Apr 5
Please bring a non-perishable item with you to the  service. The Food Pantry especially needs: peanut butter, dry cereal, canned tuna, and canned soups. Thank you for your generosity.
4. Child Dedication
Sun Apr 5. Sign up with Perry by email at
[email protected].
 This is a Unitarian Universalist ritual honoring your family's commitment to the congregation and a promise by the congregation to support and nurture your child's spiritual life. For a further description of UU Child Dedications,
CLICK HERE.
5. Stitching In Spirit:
The CUC Monthly Crafting Circle
CUC Adult RE Program
Sunday, Apr 5 at 11:45 in the Youth Room (#14)
Led by Rev. Kelly Murphy Mason, Community Minister
Fiber arts and handicrafts have figured significantly in people's communal and spiritual lives for millennia. Come join affiliated minister and avid crocheter Kelly Murphy Mason in this ongoing group exploring what it might mean for those in 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. Newcomers are always encouraged to attend.
Sign up to sing, juggle, tell a joke, bake, or show your art work at the Third Annual CUC Variety Show Fundraiser on Sat May 9
NOTE NEW TIME: 4:30-6:30 pm.
The children voted for this year's proceeds to go to The Sanctuary for Animals (
www.sanctuaryforanimals.com), a family-run organization caring for over 600 exotic and domestic animals coming from abuse and neglect. Contact Liz Suvanto at
[email protected] to join the show or sign up in the RE Lobby. For the bake sale, contact Amy Swiss at
[email protected].
7.
UU Summer Camps & Retreat Centers for Children, Youth, and Families
Whether you are looking for a place to go as a family or somewhere for your kids to experience a fun camp, there are many amazing Unitarian Universalist summer destinations:
Ferry Beach is oceanfront in ME.
ferrybeach.org
The Mountain is atop the Blue Ridge Mountains in NC. mountaincenters.org
The Rowe Center is in the Berkshire Mountains in MA.
rowecenter.org
Sophia Fahs RE Camp is one week in August on Shelter Island.
www.liacuu.org/Fahs
Star Island is a 46-acre island off the NH coast. starisland.org
Unirondack is in the NY Adirondacks.
Thank you for sharing your presence with us at CUC.
Sincerely,
-Perry
Perry Montrose
Director of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development
|
"Let all who are hungry come eat."
The Cooperative Seder Is Back!
Sat Mar 28, from 5-7pm
Last Chance! Please RSVP today.
 Please contact Christine Haran at [email protected], (917-216-5359) or Aimee Katz Zipkin at [email protected] or 914-874-4497 for details. |
UU District Events
1. Environmental Film Series at UUCHV
Here's a great chance to learn and network with other Westchester UUs about planning climate activism.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Hudson Valley (Croton) is hosting a showing of seven episodes of the Showtime documentary series, "Years of Living Dangerously." The series starts on Fri Feb 27, with another episode every 2-4 weeks. See the full schedule: CLICK HERE.
Each episode is one-hour, followed by discussion and coffee.
2. Being a Healing Presence: A Training in Pastoral Care Lay Ministry:
April 11, 2015,
, Mt Kisco, NY. READ MORE.
REGISTER
|
|
Help Wanted
We're looking for an editor for these weekly newsletters, and assistance with the order of service inserts. If you like writing, graphic design, and social media, please get involved! Communications work would be less than 2 hours a week, and there is support from a social media committee. This is a great way to give a little time to CUC. Contact Rev. Meredith for more information, or Emily Economou @ [email protected].
|
|
This Week at CUC
Sun Mar 29
11:40 am
Giving Camp. Brunch Cmt Meeting
Sat Apr 4
3:00 pm
Open Arms Shelter
Sun Apr 5
10:00 am
RE Easter Egg Hunt
11:45 am
Stitching In Spirit
|
|
Contacts
Minister, Rev. Meredith Garmon [email protected] 914-946-1660 x3
Director of Lifespan Religious Ed. & Faith Development, Perry Montrose [email protected] 914-946-1660 x4
Church Administrator, Liliana Keith [email protected] 914-946-1660 x2
Music Director, Adam Kent [email protected] 212-595-7280
Choir Director, Lisa Meyer [email protected]
Community Minister, Rev. Deb Morra [email protected] 914-830-1509
Community Minister, Rev. LoraKim Joyner [email protected] 914-948-1696
Community Minister, Rev. Kelly M. Mason [email protected] 347-497-3741
Bookkeeper, Lisa Sommer [email protected] 914-946-1660 x7
Board of Trustees
Board Chair, Randy Marshall [email protected] 914-633-3115
Vice-Chair, Karen Schmitt [email protected] 914-921-3647
Treasurer, Nicky Klemens [email protected] 914-967-4419
Secretary, Johanna Bauer [email protected] 914-636-1047 |
|
