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Metro NY Minute -- February 2010

 
 
News From the District
 
 
The Rev. Burton Carley  will be the keynote speaker at the 2010 District Annual Meeting, April 30-May 1, at the Hyatt Morristown (NJ). Rev. Carley is Senior Minister at the First Unitarian Church of Memphis, a former member of the UUA Board of Trustees, and the 2005 Berry Street Essayist. Rev. Carley will speak on What Binds Us Together? focusing on how we might understand our center as a people of faith and deepen the quality of our spiritual bonds.
Olympia's Daughters will be featured guests on Friday, April 30, at the 2010 District Annual Meeting. With UU roots and named after the first woman ordained by a national denomination -- the Universalists -- Olympia's Daughters is a women's a capalla ensemble that "challenges attitudes, fosters healing, and hopes to build bridges between communities and cultures through the universal language of music."  See and hear Olympia's Daughters on YouTube.
Junior high youth from all over the District will gather on April 17-18 at the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship for the spring Junior Youth Con. The con is led by senior high youth, and adults attend as advisors. For a flyer, click here . For a letter to directors of and teachers of religious education, click here . To register, click here. 		 
Worth Repeating

Presentation of the 2010 District Awards and 2010 District Scholarships will be a highlight of the 2010 District Annual Meeting. You are invited to submit a nomination for one or more of four awards, and to encourage youth to apply for a scholarship. The nomination and application deadline is March 1.

The Standing on the Side of Love campaign is re-imagining Valentines' Day as National Standing on the Side of Love Day. Resources, including a worship packet and small group ministry curriculum, are available online. In addition to other activities, the campaign asks that participating congregations take a collection to help fund the campaign. Read more.
More Good Stuff to Check Out!

Worship Service Providers available to District congregations

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

InterConnections for lay leaders

Social Action of the Month of the UUA

Congregational Bulletin, UUA monthly email

uuworld.org, UUA's online magazine

UU Service Committee news

Small Talk newsletter for small UU congregations

 
 The Margaret Fuller Bicentennial Committee (MFBC) is offering congregations a unique fundraising opportunity featuring "Roots of Rebellion," an original drama written and directed by Laurie James,  MFBC project director and co-chair of the District Women and Religion Committee. Read more . 
News From the UUA
The UUA teamed up with the UU Service Committee (UUSC) to create a Haitian relief fund following the devastating earthquake on January 12. Their disaster response will focus on those survivors less likely to have access to aid, such as child domestic workers (restaviks), women-headed households that work in the informal sector, and people living with HIV/AIDS. As of February 5, more than $495,00 has been donated online alone. Many District congregations have already contributed to the fund, as well as to organizations such as Doctors Without Borders. Congregations are encouraged to email Andrea Lerner with specifics about their collections on behalf of Haiti so that a total dollar figure might be calculate
The Annual Program Fund Fair Share per member rate will remain at $56 for fiscal year 2010-11. Similarly, the percent of budget option for large congregations will also remain at 4.2%. Said Laurel Amabile, Annual Program Fund Director, "We have heard the concerns voiced by many congregations who continue to feel the impact of the economic downturn . . . The Association will continue to deliver essential services to our member congregations and assist in addressing fiscal challenges as they arise." Fiscal year 2010-11 begins July 1, 2010, and is the third straight year for which the per member Fair Share rate has been set at $56.
 The UUA is seeking nominations for the Award for Distinguished Service to the Cause of Unitarian Universalism. The deadline is April 1. Recent recipients have included Denny and Jerry Davidoff and the Rev. Forrest Church. Candidates for the award should, over a considerable period of time, have strengthened the institutions of Unitarian Universalism or clarified the UU message in an extraordinary way. Ministers or laypersons may be nominated. Nominations should include supporting reasons and information about the candidate. Nominations may be emailed to Nancy Lawrence.
Sunday and Every Day: My Little Book of Unitarian Universalism is now available at the UUA Bookstore. This child-friendly introduction puts a sampling of the Unitarian Universalist faith in a child's hands. The book introduces the seven Principles and six Sources in children's language, followed by prayers, songs, and stories, and includes prayers written by children, inviting young readers to create prayers of their own. For ages 5 and up.
It's an excellent time to start making plans to attend the 2010 General Assembly in Minneapolis MN June 23-27. The Opening Celebration and Banner Parade will feature UU singer-songwriter Peter Mayer. The Ware Lecturer will be Winona LaDuke, internationally renowned Native American activist working on sustainable development. Registration opens March 1. Read more . 
 An insurance open enrollment period lasting until February 26 is available for the UUA long-term disability, life, and dental insurance plans. Congregations and other UU related organizations who previously declined coverage can enroll without providing proof of medical insurability during the open enrollment period. All staff who work 750 hours or more each year are eligible. Read more.
A redesigned UUA website, www.uua.org, debuted on February 1. Featured in the revision is a new homepage designed particularly for visitors, which make up 85% of the homepage traffic, and a new resources page for lay and professional congregation leaders. Read more. 

News From Congregations
The Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) has been selected as a 2010 Breakthrough Congregation by the UUA, as reported in the January issue of the Metro NY Minute. "Becoming a Breakthrough Congregation came as a surprise to us. It felt like we just kept doing what we needed to do, paying attention to the challenges under our noses, listening to folks who pushed us to risk and experiment and then one day we looked in the mirror and we had made some significant strides!" writes the Rev. Vanessa Southern, minister at the Church. Read more  from Rev. Southern and Church president Raine Franz about how the Church achieved this remarkable distinction.
 
Milestones and Transitions

The Rev. Jim Covington celebrated his 20-year anniversary as Minister at the UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton, and Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY) on January 24.

Jerry Brown celebrated his 20th anniversary as Music Director at the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) on February 7. Special music was offered during the 11:00am service, followed by a concert featuring Church members and friends.
The Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks will be installed as Minister by the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield on April 18 at 5:00 pm.
 
The UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton, and Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY) gave tribute to their minister, the Rev. Jim Covington, on January 24 in celebration of Rev. Covington's 20th anniversary as Fellowship minister. The Fellowship presented Rev. Covington with a chalice and a collection of coffee mugs hand-painted by children in the religious education program. President Rick Turner invited three former presidents to speak briefly, and Spirits in Harmony, the Fellowship's eight-voice women's choral group, sang Imagine, one of Rev. Covington's favorite songs. "It was a deeply moving time . . .a gracious and memorable celebration," said Rev. Covington.
 The UU Fellowship of Poughkeepsie voted unanimously on January 23 to place in its bylaws a provision on inclusion: "Systems of power, privilege, and oppression have traditionally created barriers for persons and groups with particular identities, ages, abilities, and histories. We pledge to do all we can to replace such barriers with ever-widening circles of solidarity and mutual respect. We strive to be a congregation that truly welcomes all persons and commits to structuring congregational life in ways that empower and enhance everyone’s participation." A similar provision was originally recommended by the UUA Committee on Appraisal in its review of Article II of the UUA bylaws. Delegates to the 2009 General Assembly did not approve the bylaws amendment but passed a resolution urging congregations to act on the pledge expressed in the inclusion provision and report back to the UUA Board of Trustees before the 2010 General Assembly. The District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee has prepared a resource packet  to help congregations in this work.
 The UU Congregation of Princeton has been working hard to move towards greater sustainability.  Recently installed solar panels that produce 25 Kw of power will generate 25-28 renewal energy certificates per year. The congregation will save several thousand dollars this year in electric charges. 

In April 2008, the Congregation adopted a resolution to work towards Green Sanctuary status from the UUA. Working with the Green Sanctuary Committee, the Board of Trustees formulated and adopted an Ends Statement  in 2009 that articulates sustainability goals. Read more about the Congregation's green sanctuary project.

The UU Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY) is home to one of the few permanent indoor labyrinths in the country. The 32-foot labyrinth is permanently inlaid in the sanctuary floor. Fellowship member Linda Mikell facilitates labyrinth walks open to the community and designed to bring peace and clarity in a spiritual setting. Read more.   
The UU Society in Stamford (CT) welcomed in the new year with several new members and a new mission statement: “We exist to build a community that deepens individual faith, celebrates unity among diversity, and promotes a just and humane world.”
 The UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton, and Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY) responded to the call for addressing the topic of inclusion issued by delegates to the 2009 General Assembly with a service on January 17 featuring the Rev. David Billings, historian and anti-racist trainer for the People's Institute for Survival and Beyond.
 The Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) will welcome the Rev. Mark Morrison Reed to the pulpit on March 7. Rev. Reed, who spoke at General Assembly in 2009, will also read from his book In Between: Memoirs of an Integration Baby and facilitate a workshop on March 6 on ritual. Read more . 
Other Noteworthy Items
Charlie Clemens, UU Service Committee president for the past six-and-a-half years, will step down from his role as the organization's chief executive officer to accept a new position as head of a major human rights research and teaching institution at Harvard University. Read more.
 What does it mean to be a multigenerational  congregation? Ministers, religious educators, presidents, and other UUs are invited to come and learn the answer at a workshop by the Rev. Phil Lund on February 25 at Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) as part of the District Chapter of the Liberal Religious Educators Association's Professional Day. Registration, including breakfast snacks and lunch, is $25. For a flyer, click here . To register, click here.
 The UU United Nations Office (UUUNO) will hold its 2010 Annual Intergenerational Spring Seminar, A Climate of Change; Head, Heart and Hands, on April 7-10. Youth and adults will gather in New York City to gain a deeper understanding of a topic on global concern. This year's topic is climate change, featuring keynote speaker Dr. Tony Broccoli, director of the Rutgers Center for Environmental Protection. Reena Kondo, member of the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) and active in the UU Ministry for Earth, will participate in a faith-based panel on climate change.
 The UU Congregation of Greater Bridgeport in Stratford CT is sponsoring on March 12-13 The Skillful Heart, a workshop on communicating with compassion, facilitated by nonviolent communication trainer Jerry Koch-Gonzalez of the Institute for Peaceable Communities. For a flyer, click here . To register, click here.
Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center in Lanoka Harbor NJ continues hosting its monthly services and potluck dinners to welcome and support GLBTQQI (gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, queer, and questioning) people and their families. Upcoming services are on February 14 and March 28. Service at 5:00 pm, potluck at 6:00 pm. RSVP 609-693-5558 or murraygrove@murraygrove.org.
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
  
bullet Young Adult Community Sixth Annual Winter Retreat: February 13-15, Frost Valley YMCA, Claryville NY. For more information, click here or contact Ryan Novosielski. 
bullet
Youth Con Om Nom: February 19-21, First Unitarian Society of Plainfield. For a flyer, click here . To register, click here (registration closes February 8). For more information, contact Katie Parker.
bullet Presidents Roundtable: February 20, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan). Presidents, vice presidents, and ministers are welcome to attend. For more information, contact Andrea Lerner.
bullet LREDA Chapter Professional Day: February 25, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan). For a flyer, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Kim Mason.
bullet Long Island Leadership Institute Session 5: February 27, UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
bullet Building Healthy Congregations: March 6, UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
bullet
Youth Leadership Development Con: March 19-21, UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester (Mount Kisco NY). For more information, contact Katie Parker.
bullet
Building Healthy Congregations: April 10, First Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
bullet Long Island Leadership Institute Final Session: April 17, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
bullet Junior Youth Con: April 17-18, Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship. For a flyer, click here . For a letter to DREs, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Peter Green.
bullet 2010 District Annual Meeting: April 30-May 1, Hyatt Morristown (NJ). For more information, contact Laurie Golson.
bullet Building Healthy Congregations: May 8, UU Church of Staten Island (NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski.
bullet 11th Annual Anti-Racism Conclave: May 15, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan). For more information, contact the Rev. Michael Tino.
bullet Multicultural Renaissance Module: May 18-20, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For more information, contact Andrea Lerner.
  

Guided by our living faith, the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York exists to be a source of connection and transformation for our congregations and our larger world.