Nourish your spirit. Celebrate life. Cherish the connectedness of all things.

IN THIS WEEK'S ENEWS-- TO SEE IT ALL, CLICK ON "VIEW ENTIRE MESSAGE" AT THE BOTTOM

• SUPPORT FOR RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE HELENE
• THANKS FROM THE OWL PARTICIPANTS
• UUTHE VOTE, SUPERMAJORITY, AND UUTHE VOTE PA
• CONNECTIONS ANNOUNCEMENT - CLASSES IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM
• SISTERS IN SPIRIT - NEW MEMBER MEETING
• SYSTEMIC CHANGE - CREATING CHANGE
• COFFEE HOUSE IS BACK!!
• OUR WHOLE LIVES (OWL) CLASSES STARTING SOON
• CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE
• OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR - WHEN IS SHE IN THE OFFICE?
• PHILOSOPHICAL, SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS (PSI)
• JESUS DISCUSSION GROUP
• UUCNH CHILDREN'S LIBRARY - ADOPT A BOOK PROGRAM
• REFUGEE WELCOME HOME TEAM- THANK YOU!
• UU JUSTICE PA - COMMUNITY SOLAR - POSTCARDS TO SENATORS
• UUA CENTRAL EAST REGION - OPPORTUNITIES FOR CONNECTION
• JOYS AND SORROWS
• UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS

SUPPORT RECOVERY FROM HURRICANE HELENE

The scale of destruction in the wake of Hurricane Helene has been utterly devastating to many communities in the southeastern United States. Some Unitarian Universalist congregations have been seriously impacted and others are still trying to assess the damage. You can help support Unitarian Universalists and their communities as they recover from this storm by giving generously to the UUA’s Disaster Relief Fund.



THANKS FROM THE OWL PARTICPANTS

Many thanks to everyone who helped in big and small ways to make the OWL training last weekend a huge success! We had many compliments on the food, everyone felt well cared for, and we couldn't have done it without you!

Abby Vaughn

Barb Draa

Charlotte Moore

Chuck Berry

Dennis Doubleday

Don Nelson

Diana Hull

Ellen Kuntz

Judy McAuley

Marsha Albright

Pete Lundquist

Peggy Trevanion

Robyn Travers

Violet Murphy

Mystery cupcake baker - they were delicious!



UUTHE VOTE, SUPERMAJORITY, AND UUTHE VOTE PA

Our National Partners, UUtheVote and SuperMajority, along with UUJusticePA, are sponsoring another national phone bank with Unitarian Universalists across the country ~on Tuesday, October 15.

Training and script will be provided. 

Let’s get PA voters engaged in the democratic process!!

SIGN UP

Tuesday, October 15

We are tracking all GOTV actions

(registering voters, postcard and letter writing, door knocking, etc)

taken on the part of UU congregations/congregants.

CONNECTIONS ANNOUNCEMENT - CLASSES IN UNITARIAN UNIVERSALISM

UUCNH, through the Connections Team, will be offering a series of classes exploring various aspects of Unitarian Universalism. This is an opportunity to learn more about Unitarian Universalism and the class is one of two required to become a member of UUCNH.  

The Introduction to UU is one based on a class developed by the UUA - the Unitarian Universalist Association. This class is presented in 3 parts, each one consisting of 2 sections from the UUA's "Tapestry of Faith Program for Adults". The dates for this class are October 6th, October 13th, and November 3rd. We will meet after coffee hour each of the 3 Sunday's and lunch will be provided. You can expect to be involved for 2 - 2 1/2 hours each day.

If you are interested in becoming a member of UUCNH or just want to know more about the UU faith, please send an email to connections@uucnh.org. Also, if you need child care let us know that as well so that we can make those arrangements.



SISTERS IN SPIRIT - NEW MEMBER MEETING

SISTERS IN SPIRIT - NEW MEMBER MEETING

WHEN: Wednesday October 9th, 6:30-8:30 PM

WHERE: UUCNH, East Room

Sisters in Spirit is a monthly, on-going, self-guided discussion group open to all women (regardless of sex assigned at birth) focused on developing spiritual, intellectual, and emotional growth and connection between members. The group re-opens to new and continuing members each April and October. We ask that each member (to the best of their ability) commit to attending the group for 6 months, to foster the sense of trust and support that defines this group. We would love to welcome you to the group!

For more information or to express your interest in attending, please message sisters@uucnh.org. You can also reach out to Rachael Smart, Michelle Broge-Connor, or Cindy Mitchell if you see one of us at church.



SYSTEMIC CHANGE - CREATING CHANGE

GENERAL ELECTION IMPORTANT DATES    

 10/21/24 Last day to register.     

10/29/24  Deadline to apply for a mail-in-ballot/absentee ballot.

11/5/24  ELECTION DAY - Polls open 7am-8pm, Completed mail ballots must be received by 8 pm. 

Go to VOTE411.org to find your personal ballot information ahead of the election.

GREAT NEWS!  UUCNH GETS OUT THE VOTE

50 congregants and friends prepared 1,180 letters to PA & MI voters. TY to all of our volunteers for working together to GOTV. Anyone can still obtain Vote Forward letters at votefwd.org to write and mail by 10/29.                                   

CLICK HERE FOR UPCOMING OPPORTUNITIES TO REGISTER VOTERS 

The next SCT Mtg. is Mon, Nov. 11 @ 7:30 pm. For the Zoom link, please contact Co-Chair Diana Hull.

COFFEE HOUSE IS BACK!!

Attention all you singers and raconteurs! Coffee House is returning on Friday, October 11th.

Have a song to sing, a joke to tell, a poem or story to share? Or do you just want to be an audience member and be entertained? Coffee House is the place for you! Join us on Friday, October 11, and ever 2nd Friday afterward, starting at 7:30 for an evening of performances by UUCNH members. You can even bring a snack to share. Once you come, we're sure you'll be a regular at The Coffee House, where the good times are always brewing!

OUR WHOLE LIVES (OWL) CLASSES STARTING SOON

The CYFD team is excited to be facilitating OWL classes starting in late October and early November.

Our Whole Lives (OWL) is a comprehensive, lifespan sexuality education curricula for use in both secular settings and faith communities.

Classes this year will be for grades:

K-1

8th - 9th

11th-12th

More details of dates and times will be coming soon. Also look out for opportunities to support the OWL facilitators team even if you do not have a child or youth in the program.

CAPITAL CAMPAIGN UPDATE

October Capital Campaign (CC)’22 Status Summary: The monthly CC Status Summary

Spreadsheet shows the prioritized project list, our initial estimated cost of each project, actual contractor quotes we have received for the work and much more.

This is the first CC’22 Status Summary since March 2024. We have had much difficulty with the Air Conditioning (AC) project. We lost the mechanical engineer we were working with, but have finally found a new one and will be meeting with him on Friday October 4, 2024. The AC project is the largest cost project in the CC. We have been wary of moving forward with other projects until we have a handle on the AC, hence there has not been much spending of CC funds recently.

Perhaps the biggest CC news is an influx of additional money.

Here’s the deal: A recent bequest to UUCNH has allowed substantial funds (over $50,000) to be set aside in a Building Reserve Fund. This fund will be used for large building/facility maintenance issues that are needed periodically – such as a roof replacement, or masonry repairs, etc. UUCNH’s previous Building Reserve Fund was drained completely to fund the roof repairs completed in early 2021. That roof project was also funded in part by operating budget surpluses from as far back as 2010 and a loan from the Children’s Memorial Fund (CMF). Discussions between the Board of Trustees, the minister and the Finance Committee reached the decision to release the CC from having to reimburse a majority of the monies used for the roof in 2021. Of the $87,000 carried in the CC Summary Spreadsheet to pay for previous roof

repairs, only the amount of $3,797 borrowed from the CMF will be repaid. That will infuse the CC with an additional $83,202, which has all been earmarked for the AC project.

Please click this link to review the latest CC Status Summary Spreadsheet update.

Several other projects have been hamstrung for various reasons and with better funding for the AC project we are moving forward with several of these projects. Projects with recent signed contracts include, the Memorial Walls in the Celebration Garden, Stormwater Improvements, additional Solar Panels and the Mechanical Engineer for design of the AC system. See this link for a more detailed discussion of our progress to date. We are trying to self-perform as much of the work as possible. Anyone with a desire to lend a hand is welcome to contact Joe Meier (see below). People with electrical wiring or carpentry skills would be especially welcome. Any questions or offers of help can be sent to Joe Meier at capitalcampaign@uucnh.org.

OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR - WHEN IS SHE IN THE OFFICE?

Well, that is an excellent question! I am glad you asked.

I am scheduled to be in the office from Tuesday- Friday from 9am to 5pm. On Monday's I will be working flexible hours remotely. Please contact me if you want to meet for any reason so I can be sure to be available.

Thanks,

Robyn

PHILOSOPHICAL, SPIRITUAL INSIGHTS (PSI)

First Sunday of October, the 6th, from noon – 1:15 PM on Zoom and at church (upstairs, follow the yellow sign). How do you answer a verbal assault and maintain your dignity and self esteem…and maybe even his? We’ll provide some answers in this session. See Tony Palermo for details. 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83044052949?pwd=U25acGMyL1BNRlFhRWpScTRyWHAyQT09

Meeting ID: 830 4405 2949

Passcode: 932743

JESUS DISCUSSION GROUP

 3rd Sunday of October, the 20th, from noon to 1:15 PM on Zoom and at church (upstairs, follow the yellow signs). How did the society and politics of first century Palestine influence Jesus’ personality and outlook. The search for the Historical Jesus continues. See Tony Palermo for details. 

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83044052949?pwd=U25acGMyL1BNRlFhRWpScTRyWHAyQT09

Meeting ID: 830 4405 2949

Passcode: 932743

In January, librarians Julie Kant and Kathy Herrin began work on the library Children's Collection.  We have now weeded about half the picture book collection and entered the titles into an online database, LibraryThing. The Craft Group has given us a generous one-time grant to purchase about 20 new picture books for the library and a half dozen “board” books for the church Nursery. We are now inviting members of the congregation to "adopt" these books for a donation of $20 per picture book and $10 per board book. A book plate indicating the donor is included; you may also adopt the book "in honor of" or "in memory of" a loved one. We plan to use the new money to complete the updating of the picture book collection.

Beginning today, the Enews will highlight a selection of books up for adoption. The adoption day is Sunday, October 27th, before and after church. We want the Children's library collection to be used by the whole community and we are very grateful for your support in adding new materials. Please contact us at library@uucnh.org for more information.

Action Alert

HB 1842 ~ Community Solar

Please take a moment to write a postcard to Senators Stefano and Boscola.

Community solar, also known as solar farms or solar gardens, is a solar energy program that allows multiple individuals to share the benefits of a single solar energy system. This concept was developed to provide solar energy access to people who cannot install solar panels on their own property.

Click Here for Addresses and Suggested Messaging

Check Out What’s Going On in Our UU Central East Region - Read the October CER Newsletter

WEEKLY CONNECTION

Zoom with UUCNH Friends

This drop-in connection will be held every Tuesday at 3:30 - 4:30 pm and will be led by Michael Horwitz. Click the link below to join the Zoom meeting. Login is the same each week.

CLICK HERE

A Joy from Robyn Travers: Thank you very much to whomever put the Highland Cow Tapestry on my office door. I absolutely love it! I would love to thank you in person so please let me know who you are. (it was Julie Kant)

A Joy from Chuck Berry: My joy is the Up Stairs Library. I had not been up there for quite a while and was amazed to see the collection of religious and philosophical books that we have. If you are conducting a Personal Spiritual Search - the library is the place to go. Kudos to our Librarians: Midge Miles and Maggie Wilson. The children's library is being maintained by Kathy Herrin and Julie Kant.

A Joy from Erin Terrizzi: On Tuesday, Evie will turn 1 years old! Aunt Amy, Aunt Erin, Grandma Rachael, Grandpa Ron, and Mommy celebrated her birthday yesterday!

An Update from Susan Powers: He (Nate) is home and has less pain. Now a series of doctor appointments and rest. Thank you for your healing thoughts.

A Sorrow from Allyson Zadnik Andy‘s father Rudy Zadnik passed away on Sunday, September 29. He was a beloved curmudgeon who will be dearly missed by his family.

Note: There are times when you may not be able to share during service but want the Congregation to know what is on your heart. In that instance, just contact a member of the Lay Pastoral Care Team (LPCT) in person or submit your Joys & Sorrows electronically by clicking here. Once submitted, the form is sent to all LPCT members. (Chris Hill, Ruth Horwitz, Susan Powers, Lynne Herchenroether, Inga Burton-Smith, and Marsha Pedone). Please be sure to submit your item by NOON on Saturday at the latest, so we get it in time for Service. Also, LPCT emails are forwarded to all members of the team. We welcome your sharing and would be honored to carry forth your message.

UUCNH Policy for In-Person Gatherings

Check Allegheny County Transmission Levels

UU Church of the North Hills

2359 West Ingomar Road

Pittsburgh, PA 15237

Phone: 412-366-0244

Rev. Lee Anne’s Work Schedule

Work Week: Tuesday – Sunday

Office Hours: Tuesday 10:00 - 6:00 by appointment

          Sunday 8:30 - 3:30 

Friday: Message Preparation

Monday: Sabbath