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FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF WESTCHESTER

Service will be In-Person and via Zoom

The Scoop

Sunday, October 27, 10:00am worship


The Cosmic Mosh:

Commitment, Community, and Justice by All


~ John Freund


When we REALLY commit to our role in community, that commitment is the key to justice in that community; not the law. This is not exactly a sermon. It's almost a first-person parable. It's a story of how one evening unexpectedly renewed my faith in humanity’s capacity to covenant, and inspired me to commit to other humans.


Our worship service will be in person at the Chapel at South Church, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry, and also via Zoom. If you or anyone you live with has COVID or COVID symptoms, please do not attend in-person services. 

Click here to join our worship online, or call 646-558-8656,

Meeting ID 921 3956 4302, Passcode: 266397


Click here for the Sunday, October 27, 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


  • Thursday, October 24, 7:00pm, Positive Impact of a Plant-Based Diet ~ at South Church. See below for details.



  • Friday, November 1, 7:30pm, Men’s Group ~ on Zoom or in person at South Church. Contact Paul Gross (pgross@pulsevoices.org).


  • Sunday, November 3, 11:30am, Soup Sunday ~ Fellowship Hall at South Church. See details below


  • Tuesday, November 5, Election Day


  • Friday, November 8, 12:30pm, First Friday Daytime Women’s Group ~ Please note that we are meeting on the 2nd Friday this month. Join us for lunch at the home of Rosanna Rossell. Contact Theresa Reynolds (ntdelise@optonline.net) to RSVP.


  • Saturday, November 9, 1:15pm-2:45pm, Reading Black Lives Book Group ~ in the Barnes Room at Hastings Public Library. Please join us! Contact Claudia Gisolfi (cgisolfi8@gmail.com). We are reading Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People - by Tiya Miles (June 2024). See below for book description.


Upcoming Worship


  • Sunday, November 3, 10:00am “Enough Anxiety to Go Around” ~ Guernsey/Gross Program Group


  • Sunday, November 10, 10:00am "TBA” ~ Rev. Arlin Roy


About Our Guest Speaker


John Freund is not clergy, but has come to accept that ministry is everything, and everyone has a ministry. He is a writer of songs, poems and prose, and a multi-instrumentalist. He loves performing with loud bands in front of large audiences, and the intimacy and banter of "living room" concerts performing solo. For the last 15 years he has been a lay “pulpiteer”, delivering services of words and music several times a year at UU congregations in the northeast. He has done education, small group ministry, chaplaincy, a racism workshop, and is applying for an MSW with the intent to work as therapist one-to-one. He is an active member at Central Unitarian Church in Westwood, NJ.

FUSW in the News


A few of FUSW’s leaders were interviewed for an article about how climate change has impacted different UU congregations. The article was just published in UU World Magazine. Click here to read it.

Learn the positive impact that a plant-based diet can have on your health and gain tips and inspiration to integrating it into your life 


Thursday, October 24, 7:00pm, South Church


Dr. Jen Cadenhead, a registered dietitian nutritionist and Dobbs Ferry parent, speaks to how we can live and eat on this planet sustainably and in health and harmony with one another. Her presentation is followed by time for Q&A.


“Plant-based eating, combined with lifestyle medicine and health equity, can help prevent many health problems like heart disease, diabetes and cancer.” Dr. Jen Cadenhead, Executive Director/ Assistant Research Professor of the Laurie M. Tisch Center for Food, Education & Policy


The program is hosted by South Presbyterian Church, First Unitarian Society of Westchester, Roots & Wings CSA and Sustainable Dobbs.


Click here to learn more/register.

Service Archive 


Rev. Arlin Roy has shared his sermon from the Sunday, October 20 service, “Resilience." If you missed the service or would just like to read the sermon, visit the Recent Sermons page on fusw.org to find the most recent posts.

Soup Sunday - November 3


The First Unitarian Society and South Church are designating Soup Sunday on November 3rd to be a tasting menu of plant-based soups, sandwiches, and salads. Sign up at the kiosk in Fellowship Hall or email South Church Deacon Eric Greenberg or FUSW treasurer Susan Greenberg (landsgreenberg@yahoo.com).

Reading Black Lives Book Group


Saturday, November 9, 1:15-2:45pm, Barnes Room at Hastings Library


We're reading Night Flyer: Harriet Tubman and the Faith Dreams of a Free People - by Tiya Miles (June 2024).


“Though broad strokes of Tubman’s story are widely known, Miles probes deeper, examining her inner life, faith and relationships with other enslaved Black women to paint a deeper, more vibrant portrait of a historical figure whose mythic status can sometimes overshadow her humanity.” – The New York Times


Tiya Miles is the National Book Award–winning author of All That She Carried and a Professor of History at Harvard University. 


Please join us!


Contact Claudia Gisolfi (cgisolfi8@gmail.com).

Voices Cafe presents Cheryl Wheeler with special guest Kenny White


Saturday, November 2, 8:00pm, Cheryl Wheeler with special guest Kenny White, Westport’s Voices Café


Cheryl is a gifted singer-songwriter with a beautiful voice, and a fantastic sense of humor. She’ll draw you in, immersing you deeply in each song. Kenny White adds to the evening, as an accomplished pianist and guitarist, with a well-earned reputation as a clever lyricist too. Such a treat to see them together… an evening filled with touching moments, as well as fun and laughter!


Tickets and info for Nov 2nd at: voicescafe.org


At Voices Cafe music and social justice walk in harmony. Concerts are dedicated to causes in our local community, near and dear to UU Westport’s Social Justice Council. Join us for music that matters!

Music at CUUC Presents Pianist Adam Kent in Recital: An Anniversary Celebration


Sunday, November 10, 12:30pm, Community Universalist Unitarian Congregation at White Plains, 468 Rosedale Ave, White Plains


CUUC Music Director, Dr. Adam Kent will be performing a solo piano concert. As an anniversary celebration, Dr. Kent will be performing Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue (which is 100 years old this year) as well as piano works by Francis Poulenc which are celebrating their 125th year.


Click here to view the flyer.

NYUUJ Justice Convocation


Saturday, November 16, 10:00am-4:00pm, In-person at Albany Unitarian Universalist & Online


Join us in Albany and online as leaders from our partner organizations teach us about what's currently at stake and how we can get involved in the work. As you may know, NYUUJ focuses on four specific issues, chosen by UUs, that impact New Yorkers across the state: Environmental Justice, Housing Justice, Criminal Justice Reform, and Medical Aid in Dying.


Learn More About These Issues by Joining us on November 16th!

 

Click here to register for November 16.


Click here to find more information.

You Get to Vote for Freedom for New Yorkers this November!


Did you know the only forms of discrimination you are protected from in New York State are discrimination based on religion and race? Did you know the right to abortion is NOT currently in the New York State constitution? Did you know YOU can do something about that?


Learn and share about Proposition 1 (aka the Equal Rights Amendment)!

 

By voting "yes" on Prop 1, you expand protections across multiple categories and make sure freedoms are protected for ALL New Yorkers. You also enshrine the right to abortion in our state. Not only that, you protect those who experience miscarriage and those in the IVF process from being prosecuted under draconian anti-abortion laws.

 

Voting is just one part of the equation. There is a misinformation campaign spreading falsehoods about what Prop 1 actually does. The best way to confront misinformation is with facts, so here is a handy guide that gives not just resources to promote Prop 1 but also articles that factually explain what the bill does (and what it doesn't do).


Will you help us spread the facts about Prop 1?

Looking for Updates About Our New Home?


Visit the Members page of fusw.org, and click on the New Home Updates button to see the latest progress on our new space. Information will be posted as it becomes available.

FUSW Contacts & Information


Questions, Concerns, or Compliments for FUSW? Reach out to any member of our Board of Trustees, fusw.org/board-of-trustees (place cursor over the picture, then right-mouse click to copy the email).


Board of Trustees - The Board usually meets on the third Monday of each month via Zoom at 7:45pm. 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. The schedule varies during the summer. Check with a board member to confirm the date and time if you wish to attend a summer board meeting.


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

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shaping the world in our image of love
Deepening Spirituality · Nurturing Community · Advancing Justice
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