Join us this Sunday
10:30 a.m. Service:  The Year Ahead: What will this interim year be? It will certainly be a year of transition, and likely some uncertainty, and it will also and simply be a year in which you move forward on your mission of nurturing the spirit and serving the community, navigating life’s changes and living into the future, while I listen and accompany and support you. Let’s covenant to that!

We’ll also celebrate and commission the Search Committee, offering them our blessings and support as they begin their journey toward finding your next settled minister.
-The Reverend Peggy Meeker

9:15 a.m. Drop-in Discussion:  Hard Facts.  A new report indicates that African-Americans and Hispanics in the Rochester area are worse than average for New York state and the USA as a whole, both in absolute terms and in comparison to non-Hispanic whites. Phil Ebersole will summarize the report and lead a discussion of why this is so.  Read the full report at  ACTRochester.org  or  racf.org/Reports .
Upcoming Events
Are you a (7) Principled Person?
Join us on Saturday, September 16th for our first monthly Mindfulness and Meditation session. During this church year, each monthly session will focus on one of the Seven Principles of Unitarian Universalism. We’ll have discussion around the meaning of each one, and how we can incorporate it into our mindfulness practice and our actions. Time is from 9:30-11:30 a.m. in the Clara Barton Lounge. Coffee, bagels and fruit to nourish your mind and body; meditation to fuel your spirit. Joy Leccese is facilitating this event.
Concert Across America - September 24
Join us on Sunday, September 24th at 3:00 p.m. in the Sanctuary for a special edition of Eastman at Washington Square, in collaboration with The Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence. This is one of many concerts that will be taking place all across the United States on this day. The event, called A Concert Across America, is in remembrance of the victims of gun violence. Participating artists will include faculty members and students of Eastman Community Music School and some members of our own First Universalist Church. Musical numbers will be interspersed with lessons and readings. Julia Figueras (WXXI) will be our MC. This is a free event; donations are welcome.
Please Join Us for RAIHN Week
During RAIHN* Week, September 24-October 1 , we will turn our church into a home for temporarily homeless families. We will convert our classrooms into bedrooms, cook meals, stay overnight, wash bedding, and provide other help. To join our volunteer team, sign up in the lounge after church on Sunday, or contact Chris DeGolyer, raihn@uuroc.org if you have questions. If you'd like to learn more before volunteering, we have opportunities to "shadow" experienced volunteers. * Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network: keeping families together. Getting families home for good.
Additional Announcements
SOCIAL JUSTICE PLATE: It is that time of year again. Back to School! Many of our volunteers work with the children of School 7. Our September 17th collection will be earmarked for the purchase of backpacks. We have done this previously and the excitement and thanks by the children cannot be overstated.
Please be as generous as you feel comfortable, and thank you.

REMEMBERING CHARLIE GIBSON: A memorial service for Charlie Gibson, long-time and beloved member of our congregation, will be held Saturday, September 23rd , at 10:30 a.m. in the church Sanctuary. The Reverend Peggy Meeker will be officiating. Stop by the Caring Committee table in the Clara Barton Lounge to sign up to help with this event.

BOOK GROUP:  Join us on Sunday, September 24th at 12 noon in the Chalice Room for a lively discussion of Sex Wars by Marge Piercy. If you have a couple of books you would be willing to recommend for our 2017-18 year please bring the titles with you. All are welcome and it is not necessary to have read the book. Hope to see you there. For questions contact either Shirley Bond and Sarah Singal at bookgroup@uuroc.org .

NEWS FROM THE MINISTERIAL SEARCH COMMITTEE (MSC):  On August 26-27, Jeff Donahue, our UUA transitions coach, led the MSC members in a very fruitful and enjoyable retreat. We learned about the search process, wrote our covenant, and determined the roles of the seven committee members. We are pleased that Steve Munson has agreed to chair the committee. We will follow UUA guidelines for the search, a year-long process. As a first step we will survey the congregation to learn what aspects of the ministry you value the most. We will also hold cottage meetings, where we gather in small groups to discuss what we want in a ministry. Look for the survey from us soon!

UUA FALL LEADERSHIP DAY: October 14, 2017 at the UU Church of Buffalo. Leadership as a Team Sport : This leadership conference is designed to address a number of common areas of shared ministry for congregations. The day features a keynote by Rev. Renee Ruchotzke followed by workshops on various areas of shared ministry and networking time. Register by Oct. 13 at https://uua.wufoo.com/forms/k189inbl1wo40go/ .

ADVOCACY TEAMS WORKSHOP: Rochester Friends Meeting extends an invitation to neighboring congregations to join in a session to learn effective techniques in legislative advocacy on Thursday, September 14th at the Mennonite Fellowship. To learn more or to register, visit fcnl.org/advocacyteams .
To submit an item for "This Week at First Universalist", e-mail  office@uuroc.org  no later than Thursday at noon.   
Staff:
The Reverend Peggy Meeker, Minister

Rev. Michelle Yates, Director of Life Span Faith Development

Stacey Yang, Director of Music

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