Join us this Sunday
10:30 a.m. Service:  Guest speaker Lynn M. Acquafondata is mental health counselor and joins us from First Unitarian where she serves as a community minister.

9:15 a.m. Drop-in Discussion:  Weeds Can Be Our Friends.  Weeds are not the enemy.  They can be attractive to look at, they often provide ground cover, they contribute to enriching the soil, they can give clues as to the type of soil you have.  Many are edible and some are medicinal.  Kate Fleury will explore weeds in all their glory.
Upcoming Events
A car is no substitute for a home.

Help Put the Brakes on Family Homelessness – RAIHN Car City 2017: a fundraiser as well as a way to shed light on homelessness in Rochester.  Families, youth groups and other teams are invited sleep in their cars at Asbury Methodist Church on Saturday night, May 6th.  There will be dinner provided by Tasteful Connections as well as evening activities, including Car-aoke, a sundae bar and Bedtime Yoga. In addition, a panel of RAIHN graduates will speak about their experiences. Photography by Michele Ashley, a celebrated documentary photographer, will also be displayed.

If you don’t want to sleep in your car but want to support RAIHN Car City, join Team VirtUUal.  Here’s how:

 - Go directly to the Team VirtUUal /Marti Eggers page by clicking on THIS LINK.

- then click on the Donate Now button.

The rest is up to you.  A donation of $30 or more will admit you to the evening activities as well as the overnight (if you so choose!).  Your donation in any amount will be gratefully received and will directly help families get home for good.
Clean Sweep - May 6, 2017

Every spring the City of Rochester treats volunteers who pick up parks and public places with food, a Tshirt and a baseball game. This year it is on Saturday, May 6th. Begin at Frontier Field (free parking) with coffee and donuts, join a group, take free transportation to the site, come back at the end of the morning for lunch, stay for the Red Wings game which starts at 1:35. Tools are provided. It’s a great event for families! Or you can just show up at Washington Square Park about 9:15; the Washington Square Park Neighborhood Association cleans up there. A rough head count of those wanting tickets would be helpful. Contact Sarah at [email protected].

http://www.cityofrochester.gov/cleansweep/

FIAC Update

When the world is too much with us and hope for social justice seems hard to find, look for the FIAC Logo! The Faith in Action Council (Joy Leccese, Becky Elwell and Heather Jones) was charged by the congregation to choose among three social justice issues (homelessness, poverty and racism) one that will be the focus of exploration, outreach and action for the upcoming church year. Racism is the issue we have chosen. On May 21st, 2017 the congregation will vote to accept or not this choice. In the next few weeks you will learn about why FIAC is so passionate about how our beloved community will be strengthened by focusing so thoroughly on the American Dilemma. 
Additional Announcements

WE'LL BUILD A LAND: STEWARDSHIP 2017 -  Thank you, thank you,  for helping Build the Land… The Beloved Community… with your pledges!  Most of our members and friends have returned pledge cards for the 2017-18 fiscal year. If we have missed you, it’s not too late! Please return your pledge card today, or pledge online at uuroc.org/stewardship.

DONATIONS NEEDED! (extended until April 30):  Homeless shelter, House of Mercy, has opened its new, permanent location at 285 Ormond Street. Their residents are in need... kindly donate SCRUBS or SWEATS ~ new or gently used; any size. We will collect them in a box in Clara Barton Lounge ~ by April 30th. Volunteers from our Homelessness Task Force will deliver them to the Ormond St shelter. The generosity of this wonderful church is so greatly appreciated.  ~Lois Baum, HTF Chair,  [email protected].

BOOK GROUP: The book selection for April is The Enchanted by Rene Denfeld. Please join us on April 30th at 12 noon in the Chalice Room on the second floor.  You don't have to have read the book, hopefully our stimulating conversation will inspire you to do so! Contact Sarah Singal ([email protected]) or Shirley Bond ([email protected]) with questions.

INTERFAITH IMPACT ADVOCACY DAY:  Interfaith Impact of NYS invites members and friends of First Universalist to participate in its annual Advocacy Day in Albany, Monday, May 1st, 9:30am - 3:00pm. Registration is free, but please let us know you’re coming so we can organize teams (email your name, address, e-mail and congregation to [email protected].) Main issues to be addressed are green energy (Climate Change and Community Protection Act), HALT (Solitary Confinement Act) and health care for all (New York Health Act). For car pool information or if you have questions, contact Dick Gilbert at 244-7403 or 738-8229 or [email protected].

UU COMMON READ BOOK DISCUSSION: Continues May 4th & May 18th from 6-8pm in the Chalice Room. The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement, by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Facilitated by Rev. Michelle Yates, Phil Ebersole, and Suzie Gutierrez. Please contact Rev. Michelle at [email protected] with questions and interest.

JOIN US FOR AN AFTERNOON OF GAMES!  UUnAMOR (pronounced you-nah-more) is hosting a little party for you, with various games, accompanied by some yummy Vegan snacks. $10 each to support our church, please pay to the office.  We would love to have you join us ‒ let's have some fun! (Note the DATE CHANGE FROM 4/29... instead now to:
Saturday, May 6th, from 1:00-3pm, in Clara Barton Lounge.)
Contact Lois Baum, [email protected].

CLEAN-UP DAY:  The 2017 Spring Clean-up Day has been scheduled for Saturday, May 13th, starting around 9:00 AM.  If you have ever wanted to volunteer for the church or to just get to know the building as well as other members a little better, this is a perfect opportunity! There will be all kinds of cleaning, fixing, painting, etc. jobs to be completed – something for all skill levels.  Bring along your favorite tools or cleaning products.  Breakfast snacks and a light lunch will be provided.  Socializing and fun will also be part of the agenda.  For more information, please contact Tom Ruganis at 746-7796 (cell) or 442-2968 (home) or email to [email protected].  

FLOWER COMMUNION: This year, our beloved UU ritual of Flower Communion will take place on Sunday, June 4th. The same Sunday, there will also be an opportunity for a Child Dedication. Dedication is a beautiful UU ritual of blessing that welcomes children into the life of the congregation. If you would like your child to participate, please let Rev. Celie know ([email protected]) by May 21st.

UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: The UUA General Assembly will be held in New Orleans this year from June 21st ‒ 25th. Details are on the UUA website at www.uua.org/ga/program/schedule. Everyone who has gone raves about what a wonderful experience it is. If you are interested in attending, please speak with Shirley Bond and she will answer your questions or point you in the right direction.

To submit an item for "This Week at First Universalist", e-mail  [email protected] 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 | [email protected]