Join us this Sunday
10:30 a.m. Service:  Fire Communion .  Join us for this annual New Year's tradition, led by Tom Williams, Brendan Courtsal, and Kitty Forbush.  

9:15 a.m. Drop-in Discussion:  Open Forum Discussion.  No set topic.
Upcoming Events
There will be no Minister's community office hours on
Thursday, December 29th.  

The Office will be closed Tuesday, December 27th and
Friday, December 30. 
Social Justice Task Force Report 

On December 14, the Board of Trustees received and approved the report from the Social Justice Task Force.  The report can be found on the Social Justice page of our website, or by clicking here.  Printed copies are also available in the Clara Barton Lounge.  Please be sure to read and become familiar with this document.

We will have a meeting in the sanctuary following our service on Sunday, January 15, to discuss and answer questions about the Social Justice Task Force report.

A congregational meeting will be held in the sanctuary following our service on Sunday, January 29, to take a formal vote on adopting this new Social Justice framework.

Childcare will be provided for both meetings.
Cozy Night Supper - Dec. 30
The December 30th Cozy Night Supper will be a potluck but otherwise follows our usual format of dinner at 5:30, program at 6:30 and clean-up at 7:30!! The RSVP lets us know how many tables to set up and materials to prepare.  This program centers around the 6th UU Source, Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature. Let us know by signing up on the Adult Education Board in the Clara Barton Lounge or by contacting Kathy Russell krussel6@frontiernet.net that you will be bringing your favorite dish and holiday spirit.
Do you know the seven "R's" of sustainable living?

The EcoJuustice Group is helping us rethink the way we use and dispose of everyday items; to be mindful of consumption, our earth, and our relationship to things. Over the next few weeks, they would like to share with you the seven R's of sustainable living: 

#7 - RECOVER:  Energy and materials recovery. To learn more about energy recovery using plastics, click here. 

#6 - RE-GIFT: Share, and be a part of the gift economy. 

#5 - REPAIR: Fix or upgrade your objects rather than throwing them away.

#4 - RE-USE: Share with others.  Find new uses for old objects. 

#3 - REDUCE consumption of energy and materials. 

#2 - REFUSE:  Don't consume what you don't need to. 

#1 - RECYCLE:  Close the loop and remake.  
Additional Announcements

THANK YOU for your generous contributions for staff bonuses!  The Board was able to distribute a meaningful bonus to each of our employees, who were greatly appreciative.

BOOK GROUP: January 29th is the date for our Book Group meeting. The book choice is "Americanah" by Chimamanda  Adichie, a Nigerian author who has experienced first hand the differences and similarities of both the Nigerian culture and the American one. Through her storytelling, she helps us see the importance of understanding race, cultural identification within races and certain quirks associated with each and every race.  The book has a suspenseful narrative which helps move the plot along. We hope you will join us on the 29th at 12 noon in the Chalice Room! It is not necessary to have read the book, but hope you have time to fit it into your schedule.

START THE YEAR RIGHT WITH RAIHN:  January 1-8 will be our next RAIHN* Week when we will house and feed temporarily homeless families at our church. We have some spots available for new volunteers and also the opportunity to "shadow" experienced volunteers. See Chris DeGolyer after the Sunday service or contact her at chrisdeg@frontiernet.net.  *Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network: keeping families together. Getting families home for good.

NEXT UP... THE ANNUAL SERVICE AUCTION!  February 5, 2017.  It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year, and arguably the most fun!  Donation forms are available at church or via e-mail (pmarchese@rochester.rr.com) OR use our online donation form by clicking here. Donations must be received by Wednesday, January 25 in order to be in the auction booklet.  AND be sure to plan to attend the auction on February 5.  Don’t miss out on the fun!

WEATHER-RELATED CLOSINGS:  In the event that the Rochester City Schools are closed due to weather, the church office will also be closed that day.

To submit an item for "This Week at First Universalist", e-mail  office@uuroc.org  no later than Thursday at noon.  
Staff:

Rev. Celie Katovitch, Minister

Rev. Michelle Yates, Director of Life Span Faith Development

Stacey Yang, Director of Music

Melissa Davies, Office Administrator
150 S. Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14604 | (585) 546-2826 | office@uuroc.org