Join us this Sunday
10:30 a.m. Service:  Martin Luther King Jr. Sunday.  The 2nd in series of 4 services on living our religious values, reflecting on words of prophet Micah: "What is required of you but to do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly with thy God?"

9:15 a.m. Drop-in Discussion:  Poor White People in America. The struggles of poor, landless backwoods and rural white people are the topics of White Trash: the 400-Year Untold History of Class in America by Nancy Isenberg and Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis by J.D. Vance.  Drawing on these two books, Janus Mary Jones will lead a discussion on the past, present and future of this often disparaged group of Americans.
Upcoming Events
Wondering what to donate?

Our 2017 Auction is coming!  Donation forms are available at church, 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.  

Wondering what to donate?  Services, social events, food, and unique items are big sellers…. the service auction isn’t a good place for “garage sale” donations. If you have questions about potential donation items, please contact Paula Marchese at pmarchese@rochester.rr.com.  And be sure to stay for the auction on February 5th!

New!  Small Group Ministry Opportunity

The new group will meet at 1:30 PM Thursday afternoons in the Chalice Room.  The first session will be scheduled once six people have signed up.  These sessions will be especially convenient for people who attend the Eastman at Washington Square concerts. 

The sessions will be conducted weekly or every two weeks, according to the desires of the participants. Contact Bob Remley at humans@rochester.rr.com or (585) 637-6159 to sign up or ask questions about plans for the sessions. 

If you are unfamiliar with Small Group Ministry, please visit the Small Group Ministry page on our website by clicking here.

On December 14, the Board of Trustees received and approved the report from the Social Justice Task Force.  The report can be found on our website (click 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 - January 27

Friday, January 27th from 5:30 - 7:30 p.m. will be our Empty Bowls Project.  Mitch Gruber, chief program officer at Foodlink and researcher in the history of food networks/persistent poverty will present a program at 6:30 highlighting local hunger needs and answering questions. For a donation of at least $8, you can take home a lovely handmade bowl of your choice that you used for dinner and donated to us by local potters.  All funds generated from the evening will be given to Foodlink. Please Sign up on the Religious Education Board in the Clara Barton Lounge or by contacting Kathy Russell at krussel6@frontiernet.net.

Additional Announcements

MITTEN TREE:  Thank you for your generous contribution to our Mitten Tree this holiday season!  We were able to distribute many hats, scarves, and gloves to children at School 7 and to adults at the BRIDGE Home emergency shelter. Your kindness warms our hearts, as well as the hands of those who truly need it this winter.

MINDFULNESS & MEDITATION:  Join us for an introduction and "show and tell" on Mindfulness & Meditation from 9:15 to 10:00 a.m. in the back of the Sanctuary before our January 22nd Sunday service.  Glenda's Renaissance group, SANCTUARY, will provide some ethereal music, Rev. Celie will offer a few readings, and there will be an opportunity to "sit" quietly and to ask questions.  

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 firsthand 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. Any questions happily answered by Sarah Singal (ssingal@Rochester.ff.com) or Shirley Bond (bondshirl1@gmail.com).

TRAIN for RAIHN: Join our RAIHN* team of caring volunteers to help temporarily homeless families get back on their feet. Attend a two hour orientation session about putting the RAIHN philosophy into action. Attending the orientation is not a commitment, but  we hope you will join us as a volunteer during our next RAIHN Week, March 26 - April 2. Two orientations are coming up:  Tuesday, January 24th, 6:30-8:30pm at Artisan Church, 1235 S. Clinton Ave., Rochester, AND Wednesday, February 8th, 6:30-8:30pm at St. Louis Catholic Church, 64 S. Main St., Pittsford. If you plan to attend one of these sessions, RSVP to Jen Canning, coordinator@raihn.org or 506-9050. *Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network: helping homeless families achieve sustainable independence

PEOPLE'S SOLIDARITY RALLY:  Saturday, January 21st. The rally will take place at 11AM in Washington Square Park, followed by a post-rally gathering at First Universalist Church from noon - 1PM.  Reject the post-election hate and stand up for the rights, justice, and safety of all.  Organized by Action Together Rochester - Stronger Together WNY.  

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