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

• Link to Minister's Message
• NHCO Holiday Toy Collections
• Gift for Mary
• PSI Group Meeting Dec 1st
• Systemic Change - Guest Speaker
• Refugee Family Collection - A Big Thank you
• Board of Trustees Meeting
• Children's Religious Education Class Schedule
• Save the date - Craft Sale
• Tree Trimming and Cookie Exchange
• Jesus Discussion Group
• Meditation Group
• Ukulele Group
• Food Pantry Donations
• UUCNH Holiday Schedule
• Concerns and Peace
• UUCNH Weekly Connection
• Joys and Sorrows

November's Minister's Message

NHCO Holiday Toy Collections

The NHCO Holiday Toy Collection is happening now! We are collecting NEW toys for local children in need. Please see the four ways to help in the flyer. 

Feel free to drop off donations next to the food pantry in Friendship Hall by Sunday, December 8th! 

Below is a list of the most-popular items:

• Art/Craft Sets 
• Barbie and Baby Doll Accessories
• Board Games
• LEGO
• Makeup
• Superhero-themed Toys
• Teen Cologne
• Gift cards (teens love these!)

See more donation ideas here

Please add to the gift for Mary

This past Sunday, we thanked Mary Doubleday for all her years of service as our music director. There is golden book available for you to express your appreciation to Mary, as well as any memories that you would like to share. The book can now be found in the breezeway. Please take a moment to add to this gift. It will be there until Christmas Eve at which point it will be given to her.

PSI (Philosophical, Spiritual Insights) Group

PSI (Philosophical, Spiritual Insights) Group – First Sunday of December, the 1st, from noon – 1:15 PM on Zoom and at church (upstairs, follow the yellow sign). Is the brain programmed for Spirituality? We’ll begin to explore the Infinite, as it’s expressed in the parietal and other lobes of our biology. 

 Join Zoom Meeting

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

Meeting ID: 830 4405 2949

Passcode: 932743

Systemic Change- Creating Change - Guest Speaker Rep Arvind Venkat

POST ELECTION - WHAT’S NEXT?

The Systemic Justice team is holding a special December Meeting with Guest Speaker, PA House Representative Arvind Venkat 

Please join us on Zoom on Mon, Dec. 2 at 7:30 PM to learn about issues which Rep Venkat believes are most likely to succeed as our congregation’s unified advocacy focus in the coming 2025-2026 PA legislative session.

Potential State Level Issues For Congregational Focus Next Year

• Gerrymandering
• Racial Justice
• Climate Change
• LGBTQA+ Rights 
• Gun Violence
• Voting Rights

To request the Zoom link for the Dec 2 meeting, please contact Co-Chair Diana Hull dianahull@uucnh.org.

Board Meeting December 2nd

An extra meeting of the Board of Trustees will be on Monday, December 2nd, at 7:00PM. Meetings are open to all UUCNH members and we welcome your participation. On occasion the board will move into executive session, in which case you will be invited to exit the zoom. Attendees will be muted upon joining and we respectfully ask that questions and comments be reserved until the end of the meeting. Please click here to join the meeting with passcode UUCNH. An agenda for this meeting will be forth coming.

Refugee Family Collection - A Big Thank You!!

Thank you to all of UUCNH for donating items, time, and funds toward our initial collaboration with the Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS) Welcome Home Refugee Set-Up program! We provided essential home items, winter coats, food, and a delicious meal for a family of three who arrived from Syria this week. Special thanks to the delivery and set-up crew of Chuck Berry, Inga Burton-Smith, Ellen Kunz, and Susan Minton; to Lois Madden and Joan Vondra for organizing and collecting the items, and Sandra Akacem for ordering the meal. We hope to collaborate again to welcome another refugee family to Pittsburgh.

Children's Religious Education Class Schedule

Religious educations classes for grades k-6 grades will occur on the following dates.

December 1st - 8th - 15th & 29th (Theme is Presence) Noticing the deeper gifts of the season

December 15th is the Children's Christmas Pageant!!!!



Save the Dates - Craft Sale -December 8th and 9th

Craft Group Annual Holiday Sale

Dec. 8 and 9

Bring your cash or checks to Church.

Do your holiday shopping to benefit UUCNH. Hand-made crafts and home-made goodies!

Jesus Discussion Group

Jesus Discussion Group - 3rd Sunday of December, the 15th, from noon to 1:15 PM on Zoom and at church (upstairs, follow the yellow signs). John’s gospel has dominated Jesus Thinking for almost two millennia. We’ll see why 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

Meditation Group

Please join us for Meditation group. We meet on the 2nd and 4th Mondays from 7 to 8 pm. No experience required just a willingness to learn and breathe. Contact meditation@uucnh.org for any questions.

Ukulele Group

The Ukulele group meets on second and fourth Monday 7-8 pm in the East Room. Beginners are always welcome. Contact ukegroup@uucnh.org with any questions.

Food Pantry Donations

UUCNH has a food pantry for donations to North Hills Community Outreach located in friendship hall. Please consider donating non-perishable food items, hygiene and cleaning supplies.

Did you forget your items? No problem... you can buy a grocery card and donate it.

Concerns weighing on your heart and what brings you peace

At the Annual Pittsburgh Cluster Assembly, Rev. Lee Anne invited those gathered to write on the back of paper doves what concerns were weighing heavy on their hearts. On the front, she invited them to write what gives them peace, which can also be expressed as what does peace look like. On the Sunday immediately following the assembly, Rev. Lee Anne asked the same of our congregation. To the left is an image of the mural with the doves.

This is a word cloud of all the concerns.

This is a word cloud of what peace looks like.

UUCNH 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. Contact Michael Horwitz michaelhorwitz@uucnh.org for zoom details



A sorrow: From Erin and Amy Terrizzi On Thursday night, November 21st they learned that Erin's mom, Mary, has been diagnosed with stage three ovarian cancer. She has a good medical team and a large support system. They ask that you please keep her in your thoughts as she starts treatment on Tuesday November 26th.

A Sorry: from Susan Minton Three individuals in this beloved community have a mutual friend. Her name is Mary. Mary has been undergoing aggressive treatment for lymphoma in her brain. She is in the crucial, final stage of replacing all her infected bone marrow with clean bone marrow. Please pray for her recovery.

A Joy: from Paige Douglas Her family is excited that Tim's mom and Paige's sister and brother-in-law are joining them for the holiday week.



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.

Minister's Schedule

Rev, Lee Anne's Work Week: Tuesday – Sunday

Tuesday-Friday: 10 - 6 and Evenings

Saturday: (variable)/Sunday: 8:30 - 2:30

Office Administrator's Schedule

Robyn's Work Week: Monday-Friday

Monday: (variable/work from home)

Tuesday - Friday (9-5)