The Scoop

Sunday, June 8 10:30am Worship Service


"What Drew Us In: Our Path to UU"


~Scheuneman Program Group


Sunday, June 8, 2025, 210 North Central Ave, Suite 130, Hartsdale 10530

Click here to join us online, or call 646-558-8656.

Meeting ID 921 3956 4302, Passcode: 266397


Click here for the Sunday, June 8, Order of Service


Please check our website fusw.org and Facebook page for the latest info and updates about our Sunday services and other events.

Upcoming Events


  • Friday, June 13, 7:30pm, Evening Women’s Group ~ on Zoom. Contact Diane Guernsey

(dianeguernsey.uu@gmail.com).


  • Friday, June 27, 7:30pm, Men’s Group ~ 210 North Central Ave. Suite 130 and via Zoom. Contact Paul Gross

(paulrubengross@gmail.com).


  • Friday, July 4, 12:30pm, Daytime Women's Group ~ 210 North Central Ave., Suite 130

Contact Theresa Reynolds

(ntdelise@optonline.net).


  • Saturday, July 12, 1:15pm-2:45pm, Reading Black Lives Book Group ~ at 210 North Central Ave., Suite 130

Contact Claudia Gisolfi (cgisolfi8@gmail.com).



Upcoming Worship


  • Sunday, June15, 10:30am, "Gratitude" ~ Rev. Arlin Roy


  • Sunday, June 22, 10:30am, Service with UUCHV

Bread for the People

Sundays & Tuesdays, 8am-9am


Consider volunteering an hour a week to provide Bread for the People. Pick up day-old bread at Stop & Shop in Dobbs Ferry, and bring to the Sharing Community in Yonkers on Sunday and Tuesday mornings between 8 and 9. Contact: Ken Perry for further details. (krperry@gmail.com).

Tea and Talk Tuesdays

Tuesdays in June | 4pm-6pm at 210 North Central Ave., Suite 130



Join us for an informal gathering on Tuesdays, beginning in June, from 4pm to 6pm. Tea, coffee and light snacks will be available. We will encourage our neighbors at 210 NCA to join us as well!

Calling All Religious Educators--this means you!


We are putting together a list of adults to assist at RE lessons. You can sign up for occasional Sundays or more often, if you wish.


If you enjoy talking with delightful young people about

life and the finer points of UU, please contact Craig Butler (craigbutlerUU@gmail.com).

Invitation to Join Meditation Group with Mashuq Deen

Wednesday, June 11, 18 | 7:00pm-8:15pm at First Unitarian Society of Westchester, 210 North Central Ave. Suite 130

 

Meditation is a practice, meaning it’s something we practice at. Our aim is not to “get it right,” or be “good at it,” but rather to “try again” with curiosity and an open mind. During meditation, we bring our body to stillness and bring our awareness to what rises within. Meditation can help us to be more accepting of ourselves in the present moment. Over time, meditation can contribute to lower stress levels and an improved body/mind relationship.


Whether you’re new at this, or a seasoned practitioner, all are welcome. Gentle instruction will be offered for a few minutes at the beginning, a combination of both seated and walking meditation will be offered, and at the end, we’ll save a little time for questions. If you have a meditation cushion, please bring it with you. There will be chairs available for those who need them. There will be an invitation to take your shoes off for the meditation, so bring socks if you think you'll want them. A thin blanket or sweater can be helpful.


Deen has been meditating for almost 25 years, has experience with multiple meditation methods as well as mindfulness body practices, and is a certified yoga teacher. He’s currently enrolled in a Zen Buddhist chaplaincy training program. Please email Deen if you’re interested in attending or with any questions you might have at mashuq.deen@gmail.com.

Our Summer Services with UUCHV

Beginning June 22, 2025


FUSW will again take turns presenting lay-led Sunday services with the UU congregation in Croton (UUCHV).


FUSW's service dates are: 

  • June 29 
  • July 13 and 27
  • August 10 and 24


If you'd like to present a service on one of these dates, please contact Diane Guernsey at dianeguernsey.uu@gmail.com.

Reading Black Lives

Saturday, July 12 | 1:15pm-2:45pm at 210 North Central Ave., Suite 130


In her last novel, Dorothy West, an iconic member of the Harlem Renaissance, offers an intimate glimpse into the African American middle class. On the island of Martha's Vineyard in the 1950s there exists a community known as the Oval, made up of the best and brightest of New York's and Boston's Black bourgeoisie. A doctor and his wife are mortified that their daughter Shelby is set on marrying Meade Wyler, a white jazz musician.


Equally alarmed is Lute McNeil, a successful Black furniture maker who is new to Oak Bluffs. Lute has fallen in love with Shelby, and he will stop at nothing to pull her away from Meade. As the day of the wedding approaches, the tension surrounding Shelby, Lute, and Meade builds, climaxing in an act that will forever change the lives of three families.


This is an unforgettable history of the rise of the Black middle class, written by a woman who lived it. It was edited for Doubleday by the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.


“A beautiful and devastating examination of family, society and race” The New York Times



“Populated by appealing characters who wrestle with the nuances of race at every stage of their lives, West's first novel in 45 years is a triumph” Publishers Weekly


Contact: Claudia Gisolfi (cgisolfi8@gmail.com).

Scam Alert!



Over the past few weeks, scammers have tried to get FUSW congregants to give the password to our "members only" page and to get “help” with Venmo and Zelle (i.e., asking for money).


They’ve done this by sending letters that appear to have been signed by our pianist in residence and by our president. Don’t be fooled! The giveaway, as with most scamming emails, is the return email address. But in any event, don’t email anyone money or private information.


If you’re unsure about an email, forward it to our administrator, Karmesha, and she will help you figure out whether it’s legitimate. (admin@fusw.org)

Commisssion on Social Witness Proposed AIWs Feedback Requested!

June 8 | 7pm ET via ZOOM


Learn more about the five proposed Actions of Immediate Witness (AIWs). 

 

An Action of Immediate Witness (AIW) is a statement about a significant action, event, or development in the world that necessitates immediate engagement and action among UU member congregations and groups. Learn more about AIWs and the social witness process at uua.org/socialwitness.


2025 Proposed Actions of Imediate Witness (AIWs)



Feedback Sessions

There will be discussion/feedback sessions offered via zoom for each of these AIWs. Delegates and congregations are invited to attend these sessions to both learn about the proposed AIW and to provide some feedback to the proposers.


June 8 at 4pm PT / 7pm ET:

Voter Justice and Racial Equity for the Citizens of the Nation’s Capital. Register to join.


Next Steps

  1. AIWs will be posted at discuss.uua.org so that delegates can engage in discussion online about each of the proposals.
  2. Delegates will vote on which AIWs to advance to the General Assembly. This vote will happen BEFORE General Assembly. The three AIWs with the most votes are the ones that will advance.
  3. During General Session II on June 19th the CSW will move to admit the three AIWs to the agenda. 2/3 of delegates must vote in favor of letting the AIWs be admitted.
  4. During General Session IV on June 21st there will be a call for a vote to adopt each of the AIWs. 2/3 of delegates must vote in favor of adopting each AIW.

A Convocation of the Unitarian Universalist Multiracial Unity Action Council: Race and Class: Intersections and Differences 

Saturday, June 7, 2025, 12pm - 2:00pm EST


Join us to hear three authors as Featured Speakers who will discuss this timely topic:


  • Prof. Toure' F. Reed - author of The Case Against Race Reductionism 
  • Assoc. Prof. Olufemi O. Taiwo - author of Elite Capture: How The Powerful Took Over Identity Politics 
  • Rev. Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove - co-author, with Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II, of The Third Reconstruction and White Poverty

To register, individuals should send an email expressing interest to (uumuac@gmail.com).

Sophia Fahs UU Camp on Lake George

August 10-16, 2025 | Silver Bay, Lake George, NY


Get ready for the 2025 Sophia Fahs Camp! We are returning to the idyllic Silver Bay on Lake George for a week of faith, connection, and FUN! Start planning now for this intergenerational experience.

 

Learn more about Sophia Fahs UU Camp by clicking here.

Safe & Sacred: Creating Safe Spaces for Everyone


The First Unitarian Society of Westchester strives to provide a safe environment for all. The Board of Trustees has implemented a policy to prevent and address sexual harassment and abuse. The goal of this policy is to ensure a respectful community and fulfill our legal duty to protect members, especially children, from harm and false accusations. Our aim is to minimize risk and foster spiritual well-being in a trusting atmosphere.

FUSW Contacts & Information


Questions, Concerns, or Compliments for FUSW? Reach out to any member of our Board of Trustees.


Board of Trustees - The Board usually meets on the third Monday of each month via Zoom at 7:45pm. If you wish to attend, please check with a board member or the administration, because the schedule sometimes shifts, especially during the summer months. Click here to join our meeting on Zoom.


Meetings are open to any member of FUSW. For confidential matters, non-Board members will be asked to leave temporarily. At the end of the meeting, there will be an open forum, during which non-Board members can speak about topics of concern, limiting remarks to two minutes. To access the minutes from previous meetings, visit the Members page of fusw.org and click on Board Minutes Archive. 


Scheduling Zoom Meetings or Submitting Information for The Scoop and FUSW Calendar - Contact our Administrator, Karmesha Peake (admin@fusw.org). Office hours are T-Th, 10:00am-3:00pm. For Zoom meetings, please include the purpose and preferred date/time. Articles for The Scoop are due by Wednesday at 10:00am. 

We are a liberal religious community shaping the world in our image of love:

Deepening Spirituality · Nurturing Community · Advancing Justice

fusw.org / 914-478-2710

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