"Peace cannot be kept by force;

it can only be achieved by understanding."

—Albert Einstein

BE Peace this Lent

We have hardly put away the Christmas decorations and Lent is already before us. We begin on Ash Wednesday, which this year is on 2/14/24. Because this is also Food Pantry day and Valentine's Day, ashes will be distributed at the Food Pantry between 10:30 AM - Noon, and we will have a brief service at 5:30 PM so that folks who so choose can get home for an evening with loved ones. You are welcome to receive ashes at either time.

With 2 wars raging and fascism on the rise around the globe, a dysfunctional congress and a border crisis in our own nation, I think it is safe to say that there is a LOT going on in the world these days, and we are heading in to an election season that promises to make things even more difficult. How are we to BE Peace when everyone and everything is polarized and looking for us to join the madness? How can we find our own peace and share it with others around us?

This Lent, we will look critically at the world and discern how we are called to respond, using the scriptures as a lens to guide us as we make our way toward the events of Holy Week and mystery of resurrection at Easter.

I hope you will join us each week for Sunday worship at 10 AM to hear how ancient words of poetry and story, alongside the poetry and imagery of contemporary folk songs and art, might help us to BE Peace, and to bring peace to where it is sorely needed.

Peace be with you, beloved friends, as we journey together this Lent.

-Margery

Photo credit: Art created by Rural Migrant Ministries Youth Art Group

FEBRUARY HAPPENINGS / MARCH PREVIEW

• 2/14/24 Ash Wednesday. Ashes will be distributed from 10:30 - noon outside at the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry. Brief service and ashes distributed beginning at 5:30 in the Sanctuary.

• 2/15, 2/29 Thursdays. Sufi Meditation. 7:30 -8:30pm in the Sanctuary.
• 2/22 Thursday. Dances of Universal Peace. 7:30-8:30pm in the Sanctuary. Dances of Universal Peace will also join us for Worship on Sunday, March 10 (see below).

• 2/24 Saturday. Movie Night / Pot Luck. 6 - 9pm in Fellowship Hall. Feature film: Air. Nike employee seeks to strike a business deal with rookie player, starring Matt Damon, Ben Affleck, Jason Bateman, Marlon Wayans, Chris Messina, Chris Tucker, and Viola Davis.

• 2/25 Sunday. The LAB Teen Open Mic Night. 7pm in Fellowship Hall

• 3/2 Saturday. Candlelight Concert featuring Ensemble Campanio. 7 pm in the Sanctuary (see below for more information)

• Ongoing. Donald Gallery Art Exhibit. Currently showing: Back Home by Richard Eagan, through 3/17. For more information, CLICK HERE.

• Weekly, Tuesdays & Fridays. Westchester LGTBQ+ AA. 7pm Fellowship Hall.

Enjoy a Candlelight Concert with Ensemble Companio in South Church's historic Sanctuary. 🕯️ ✨ This event is a preview of the award-winning chamber choir's 2024 concert season, "Spolia," which explores the blurred edges between memory, prophecy, and creativity through six centuries of choral music. Ensemble Companio rehearses, performs and draws members from across the northeast. South Church is proud to be one of its New York homes. Tickets are $25 / $30 at the door.  All proceeds support South Church and Ensemble Companio. Reserve yours using the Eventbrite link below or go to www.southpres.org.

At Worship on Sunday, March 10, we welcome Dan Hakim Gallagher and friends who will introduce us to the Dances of Universal Peace—simple songs and movements that provide a joyful, multi-cultural way to touch the spiritual essence within ourselves and others. Hakim leads dance circles across the country including one at South Church the last Thursday of each month. 

MARK YOUR CALENDARS! DO NOT MISS THE FUN AND THE PRIZES!!

TICKETS $100.00. SCAN THE QR CODE FOR MORE INFO OR CONTACT CNS cnsdobbsferry@aol.com

When I became a member of South Church, I began to consider what I can bring to the community of the church. I talked with folks in order to discern the needs in the church. And I prayed. Through that process, I have felt the call to work with John Gunther-Mohr, Margery, Session, and the congregation to strengthen our Stewardship Program. I believe that one way we can all be a part of the greater community of the church and our missions is to participate in its financial support. We, the newly established Stewardship Committee, have already tossed around some ideas to make stewardship of our resources and financial giving more meaningful and, perhaps, even fun!?!  Watch and listen for more from us throughout the next few months. If you have questions or interest, please reach out to John or me when you see us at church events or by email.  

-Kay McCoy. Krmit_1999@yahoo.com

-John Gunther Mohr. jagmohr@gmail.com 

No one can deny The Stewardship Samarai

South Church's community initiatives: Community Nursery School | Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry | The Donald Gallery | The Lab | Roots & Wings | South Church's campus partners: Clearwater Chorus Singers | Creative Hearts | Days of Wonder | First Unitarian Society of Westchester | Sacred Spirit Yoga | Sufi Meditation | Westchester LGBTQ+ AA

southpres.org | office@southpres.org | (914) 693-0473

Church Office hours: Tuesday noon – 6 pm; Wednesday 10 am – 5 pm; Thursday noon – 5 pm; Friday and Sunday by appointment. Closed Monday and Saturday.

SESSION: Cirstin Conneely | Kris Kliemann | John Gunther-Mohr | Alex Navarrete | Lenore Lelah Person | Linda Jo Platt

DEACONS: Peter Brenner | Anne Day | Eric Greenberg | Molly Rodriguez | Andrew Smith | Nathalis Wamba

MINISTER: Margery Rossi

DIRECTOR OF MUSIC: Dr. Amir Khosrowpour

CHURCH ADMINISTRATOR: Robin Larkins

TECH INTERN: OPEN POSITION

DIRECTOR OF COMMUNITY NURSERY SCHOOL: Linda Jo Platt

CO-DIRECTORS OF THE DOBBS FERRY FOOD PANTRY: Vera Halpenny, Gretchen Skaggs

DIRECTOR OF THE LAB: Marie-Louise Miller

LEADER OF STEERING COMMITTEE FOR ROOTS & WINGS: Lenore Lelah Person