Unitarian Universalist Church of the

North Hills

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Newsletter

Friday, September 20, 2024

INTERCOM

Sunday Service - September 22, 2024

10:30 am (EDT)

Trying to Find Balance

Rev. Lee Anne Washington

Sunday is both the Autumnal Equinox and World Gratitude Day. The Autumnal Equinox is one of two brief moments when daylight and darkness are in equilibrium. When so much is being expressed in terms of extremes, how can we maintain our own sense of balance?

Join us as we explore the symbolic nature of the equinox and engage in the spiritual practice of gratitude.

Some people perform rituals on the fall equinox to restore balance and harmony to their lives. Others light a bonfire or candles to release negative energy or burdens. We will be building an autumnal altar. You are invited to bring something like seasonal fruit, seasonal squash, seeds and seed pods, fresh or dried flowers, dried herbs, or mushrooms to place on the altar.

By the way, this would be a great opportunity to bring your favorite autumn flavored goodies to share at coffee hour.

Our Share the Plate recipient for September will be the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention (AFSP). AFSP raises awareness, funds scientific research, and provides resources and aid to those affected by suicide. The Western PA Chapter serves 25 counties with suicide prevention education, Suicide Loss Survivor programs and Out of the Darkness Walks.For more information: https://afsp.org/chapter/western-pennsylvania

How to Donate to Share the Plate

CYFD ANNOUNCEMENT - OWL TRAINING HELP NEEDED!!

UUCNH will be hosting an Elementary OWL Training for Facilitators the weekend of September 27th - 29th! This is an amazing opportunity for UUCNH to show off its amazing space and hospitality! We are in desperate need for volunteers to help that weekend in feeding our participants. Please sign up here to take a short shift. https://www.signupgenius.com/go/904044CAAAB2EA20-51424919-owltraining#/

OWL stands for Our Whole Lives, a healthy age appropriate lifespan sexuality education program that spans our whole lives from Kindergarten through older adults. For more information about OWL, please click on the UUA Website button to the right.

UUA Website

LEADERSHIP COUNCIL MEETING

You’re Invited to Leadership Council on Saturday, September 21.

Would you like to practice creative problem solving? In addition to committee and team updates on their exciting work, we will complete an activity for teams to work together to creatively design a solution to a problem.

Join us at the September 21st Leadership Council meeting, 9:30 - 11:30 in Friendship Hall. Everyone is welcome.

For further information, please contact Marsha Albright or Sandy Faulkner.

UU THE VOTE PITTSBURGH AND CLIMATE JUSTICE REVIVAL

On Saturday, join First Unitarian Pittsburgh for their UU Climate Justice Revival in the morning. After that, we'll head to the Pittsburgh Mennonite Church to canvass voters. We'll provide lunch and training!

On Sunday, we have two options for how you can spend your day!

OPTION A: 10am - 1pm - Voter engagement street canvasing before the Steelers game - Meet at the Roberto Clemente Statue (by the baseball station, not the football station1) on North Shore Trail (google map link)

OPTION B: 9am – Forum on Integrated Voter Engagement, First Unitarian Pittsburgh, Schweitzer Room

10:30am – Worship at First Unitarian Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is in the national Environmental Justice spotlight because of the pending sale of US Steel to Nippon Steel and the consequences for air quality and health in the Mon Valley.

Join UU the Vote, UU Justice PA, Pittsburgh-area UU congregations, Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN), and SuperMajority as we build a bench of UUs taking action in Pittsburgh communities on the frontline of environmental degradation. This weekend includes participating in the UU Climate Justice Revival at First Unitarian Pittsburgh before canvassing, then an incredible forum on IVE.

Integrated Voter Engagement (IVE) is a form of deep canvassing which registers voters, identifies issues important to residents, and builds the grassroots power to achieve justice. We’ll begin with lunch on Saturday, a canvass training and hit the doors talking to voters. On Sunday morning we will attend worship and tailgate at the Pittsburgh Steelers game.

RSVP NOW! JOIN EITHER OR BOTH DAYS!

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 TEAM

ALERT: The last day to Register to Vote is

--> October 21, 2024

GREAT NEWS! UUCNH GETS OUT THE VOTE

To date, 46 congregants and friends have prepared 970 letters. Some have volunteered multiple times.

Sign-up to join us! GOTV Dessert and Potluck Evenings

We'll have one more desert night on Mon, 9/23 at 6:30 pm; the final night of letter writing is a Potluck Supper on Sun, 9/29 at 6:00 pm. We encourage all to join us to attend the potluck to celebrate our super effort to GOTV. Please register for the potluck at Letter Writing & Desserts and Potluck and include the potluck dish you'll bring. We do plan to have some letter writing that night for anyone able to do that.

Event details and registration QR code is also posted on the SCT bulletin board in Friendship Hall. Please sign up to help us reach our goal of 1000 letters.

SYSTEMIC CHANGE TEAM

HELP REGISTER VOTERS: The League of Women Voters of Greater Pittsburgh has organized voter registration events for which it is still seeking volunteers at the following:

Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank Walk-up or Drive-up Events. Click HERE to sign up and find full details and address email Kathy Herbst at kathy.herbst@lwvpgh.org.

Contact Kathy Herbst: kathy.herbst@lwvpgh.org

Sat. Sept. 21 9:00 - 11:30 am McKeesport

Wed. Sept. 25 4:30 - 7:00 pm South Side

Thurs. Sept. 26 2:00 - 4:30 pm Clairton

Sat. Sept. 28 9:00 - 11:30 am Wilkinsburg

We welcome congregants to join us at our next SCT Meeting (for Oct) on Mon, Sept. 30 @ 7:30 on Zoom. For a Zoom link, or questions about any SCT activities, please contact Co-Chair Diana Hull.

THANKS TO OUR VOLUNTEERS FOR OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR TASKS

A giant thank you to the team of volunteers who kept our office going without an office administrator.

Julie Kant

Dawn Lindsay

Marsha Pedone

Jane Switzer

Joyce Kepner

Edith Ruiz

We couldn't have done it without you!

GOOD NEWS! WE HAVE A NEW OFFICE ADMINISTRATOR

Better news... it's me. Robyn Travers... for those who don't know me. I have been a member of UUCNH for 15 years. I have served on the board as well as multiple committees. I am so excited to be serving this dear community in a new way, as your admin. As we move through this transition, I know you will give me the grace to settle in and learn the ropes. However, please know from day one, I am here to support you.

You may see some changes over the next couple of months but they will all be for the better, I promise. The first change is that I am happy to print and make copies for you. I will be in the office at least 4 days a week, so please email me with your documents at office@uucnh.org and I will have them ready for you when you need them. No need to make a trip to church. Let me support you. I am looking forward to this new journey together.

---Robyn

UUA CENTRAL EAST REGION - Opportunities for Connection

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

IMPORTANT NOTICE! PERMANENT CHANGE!

From now on, please submit your articles for the eNews by the end of the day on Wednesday via enews@UUCNH.org. Also, please send any calendaring requests for church space to facilitiesuse@uucnh.org. This has worked well for us and we would like to have it continue indefinitely.

JOYS AND SORROWS

A Sorrow from Philip and Barbara Clark: Phil's twin sister, Penny Brush, recently passed away from a cardiac arrest. Losing a sibling is painful, but we are comforted knowing that her daughter, Corinn, was a treasured part of her life in Des Moines -- where they both lived for the past decade.

A Sorrow from Cheryl Rampelt: Connie Hester is in Presby being treated for a rare condition. I'm sure she would appreciate our prayers and support.

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.