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Metro NY
Minute -- April 2009 |
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News
From the District
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 April
10 is the deadline to make your reservations at the reduced
rate at the
Hyatt
Regency Hotel in Jersey City NJ for the
2009
District Annual Meeting on May 1-2. To make a
reservation, use the group code G-UUNY.The Rev. Meg
Riley, UUA Director of Advocacy and Witness
Programs, will be the keynote speaker. On Friday night,
Exit 43, four talented musicians from the
Unitarian Church in Westport (CT), will entertain and
inspire. Choose from 21
outstanding workshops. Our theme is Turning Outward . .
. Acting on Faith, focusing on how congregations can serve
the broader community, a powerful way to help members grow
spiritually.
Online registration closes April 24.
The District Board of Trustees met with congregational
leaders at the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) on March
20, along with District UUA Trustee, the Rev. Rosemary Bray
McNatt; District Executive, Andrea Lerner; and District
Program Consultant, Doug Zelinski. Following dinner, the
group discussed the Board’s efforts to develop an Ends
Policy aimed at removing historic and perceived barriers to
welcoming and inclusion in District congregations and
broader communities. This Ends Policy will provide guidance
to Andrea and her staff in developing District programs. The
ability to hear the voices of congregational leaders is key
to the Board’s work. The Board thanks the following
participants for sharing their views: Rev. Susan Veronica
Rak, East Brunswick NJ; Rev. Paul Ratzlaff, Huntington NY;
Brian Murphy, Lincroft NJ; Judy Tomlinson, Montclair NJ;
Rev. Mary Tiebout, Newton NJ; Rev. Tony Johnson, Plainfield
NJ; Fred Lange, Plainfield NJ; Jeanne Carsten, Princeton NJ;
Rev. Sarah Lammert, Ridgewood NJ; Susan Karlson, Staten
Island NY; Joe Parsons, Summit NJ; Russell Hill, Toms River
NJ; and Bonney Parker, Toms River NJ. The Board intends to
continue these conversations from time to time at various
locations around the District
Registration is open for the UU
Leadership Team Institute (UULTI) to be held at Juniata
College on July 26 through August 1. UULTI is a remarkable
week-long residential learning experience that seeks to
renew faith, embrace congregational growth and change,
welcome and nurture all, and fulfill the promise of
Unitarian Universalism in the wider world. All
congregational leaders are encouraged to attend, including
board members, ministers, committee chairs, religious
education professionals, treasurers, administrators,
musicians, and other current or emerging leaders. All
participants will be inspired and empowered by practical
tools and powerful ideas. This year a special track for
youth is being included. UULTI is sponsored jointly by the
Joseph Priestly, Metro NY, Ohio-Meadville, and St. Lawrence
districts. For a flyer,
click here
 .
To register,
click here.
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Worth Repeating
The 10th Annual
Anti-Racism and Diversity Conclave is scheduled for
May 30 at the Community Church of New York UU
(Manhattan). This year's theme is 100% Organic
Anti-Racism: Environmental Justice and
Anti-Oppression. The day-long session is sponsored
by the District Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee.
For a flyer,
click here
.
For a schedule and description of workshops,
click
here
. To register,
click
here.
UU
Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC) 2009 will
feature Jim Scott, UU activist and musician, and the
Rev. Bob Janis-Dillon (pictured), minister at
the First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County (Baptistown
NJ), as Minister of the Week. A week-long family
experience, UUMAC will take place July 19-25 at
DeSales University in Center Valley PA. For a
brochure,
click here
.
For a registration form,
click here
.
For a scholarship application,
click here
.
Lay Theological
Education Grants are available to congregations
for creating programs that focus on spiritual and
theological deepening for lay leaders. Funded by
Association Sunday 2008, typical grants will be in
the range of $2,000-$10,000. The application
deadline is October 1, 2009. Details are available
at the
Association Sunday website, including a blog
link and information about how to apply.
The New
York State Convention of Universalists will
hold its 2009 Annual Meeting on October 16-17 at the
First Unitarian Church of Rochester in Rochester NY.
The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Richard
Gilbert, Minister Emeritus, First Unitarian Church
of Rochester. All UUs are invited to attend.
For a flyer, click
here
.
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
Action Campaigns 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 |
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For fiscal year 2009-10, the District
board has voted to keep congregations' per-member rate
for Full Share payments to the District at the current
2008-09 rate of $23. Earlier, the UUA board made a similar
decision to keep the Fair Share per-member rate for fiscal
year 2009-10 at the current 2008-09 rate of $56.
While some congregations face financial challenges, other
congregations may be able to support the District at a
higher level. Congregations who are able to do so are
encouraged to become "Full Share Plus One" congregations by
adding $1 per member to their District Full Share payment
for 2009-10.
The Spring 2009 Chalice Lighters is
underway for the UU
Legislative Ministry of New Jersey, which will
use funds collected to hire part-time staff. For a project
description,
click
here  . As
of April 2, with four contributions contributing so far,
$1,637 has been collected. As of April 2, nearly 30,500 has
been collected for the Fall 2008 Chalice
Lighters recipient, the
UU
Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY), to help
rebuild the congregation's facilities that were
destroyed in a devastating fire on September 12, 2006. Read
more
from
Bill Slezak, District Chalice Lighters Coordinator.
The Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt,
District UUA Trustee, shares her
excitement about
General Assembly in her current blog
entry. Says Rosemary, "There are so many
reasons [I'm excited about GA] I can’t
blog about them all, but I’m glad to
give some highlights." |
News From the UUA
 Registration is now open for General Assembly (GA) in Salt Lake City UT June 24-28. Early registration ends April 30. This year's GA will vote to adopt a new Statement of Conscience on Peacemaking, elect the next UUA President, and welcome the 2009 Ware Lecturer Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University and a frequent media commentator. General Assembly will be highlighted by the addition of UU University, a superb lay leadership training opportunity, as part of GA programming at no additional cost. GA delegate credentials will be mailed to congregations by May 8, including instructions for absentee ballots. Congregations can decide whether and how to instruct their delegates on voting.
For more information about the election, click here
. For a quick summary of GA highlights, click here
.
The UUA Office of Youth Ministry is offering scholarships up to $500 to youth attending General Assembly in Salt Lake City UT June 24-28. Applications are due by April 20. For more information, click here.
The application deadline for the Davidoff Fund for Lay Leadership Scholarship has been extended to April 30. The scholarship serves to subsidize the attendance at General Assembly of presidents from congregations who have not been represented by lay leaders at General Assembly in the last ten years (since 1999). The first 20 eligible applications received will be awarded subsidies to cover 50% of General Assembly registration costs. For an application, click here
.
Is your congregation working on going green? The UUA offers helpful resources for congregations publicizing environmentally friendly programs. You'll find an overview, advice on reaching out to the media, sample press relations materials, sample media coverage, and a Green Sanctuary fact sheet
for congregations participating in the Green Sanctuary Program to distribute to the media.
The UUA Youth and Young Adults Ministries Office is sponsoring an Inward Journey of Spiritual and Identify Development, a day-long workshop on May 16 at the UU Congregation at Montclair (NJ). Youth and young adults aged 15 to 30 years old and identify as a person of color (persons of Native American, Asian, Arab, Latino/a, African descent, trans-racially adopted, bi-racial, multiracial and international) are invited to join in conversations and activities that will focus on identity and spiritual development in Unitarian Universalism.
Audiorecordings of articles in the current UU World magazine are now available. The recordings can be listened to in most browsers or downloaded to your computer for playback using an mp3 player. The audio version of UU World is produced in cooperation with the UUA Office of Accessibility Concerns.
A new listserv has been created for congregations interested in or already investing in the UU Common Endowment Fund (UUCEF). The UUCEF is available for the investment of endowment funds, trust funds, and other assets of congregations that have a long-term investment perspective and the need for income to support their missions. To join the list, click here.
News From Congregations
 The
Rev. Alison Cornish, minister at the UU Congregation
of the South Fork (Bridgehampton NY), is the recipient
of the 2009 Social Witness Sermon Award of the UU
Ministers Association and the UUA's
Commission on Social Witness. Rev. Cornish will
preach her winning sermon, What Can’t You Eat?,
at 8:00 a.m. on June 27 at General Assembly. Rev.
Cornish is also honored by a $500 stipend. The Social
Witness Sermon Award focuses on a current Congregational
Study/Action Issue (CSAI). This year's related CSAI is
Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice,
adopted by the delegates of General Assembly in 2008.
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Milestones and Transitions
Skylands UU
Fellowship (Hackettstown NJ) will hold a
Dedication Service on May 3 at 2:00 p.m. for the
Fellowship's new facility. After 45 years of
renting, the Fellowship purchased its first home, at
1811 Route 57, Hackettstown NJ. The 126-year-old
church is part of the Beattystown NJ Historic
District that has both Federal and state landmark
recognition. Note this is a change in the date
from previous announcements.
Community Unitarian
Church at White Plains ( NY) is celebrating its
100th anniversary as a congregation and the 50th
anniversary of its building.
The Rev. Susan Karlson will be
installed by the Unitarian Church of Staten
Island (NY) on April 26 at 5:00 p.m. Please
RSVP to 718-447-2204 or
uucsiinstallation@gmail.com. |
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Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (NY) is celebrating its 100th anniversary as a congregation and the 50th anniversary of its building. There will be a symposium on "Liberal Religion in the 21st Century" and an International Dinner on April 25. The Sunday morning service on April 26 will feature the premiere of a specially commissioned musical piece and messages from the Rev. Victoria Safford, the Rev. Lisa Ward, and other visiting dignitaries. All are invited to participate. For more information, visit the Church's website or call 914-946-1660.
The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY) is undertaking a capital project to replace the roof on its Landmark Sanctuary building. Funding for the project is supported by a $300,000 low-interest loan from the New York Landmarks Conservancy, a non-profit, private agency created to support historic buildings in New York City. The work is expected to begin in mid-May and be completed in October.
Tough economic times require bold action. The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ) kicked off this year's annual canvass with a surprise "reverse offering" on March 1. The Society gave away $2500 in $20 bills during the normal offertory time. The youth also received $20 each. Everyone was challenged to match the money and then pay it forward in a way that makes a difference in the world. "Boldly Make a Difference Sunday" has created a lot of excitement and momentum in the congregation. A blog is posted at the Society's website so that people can share stories of what they have done with the money. For more information, contact the Rev. Sarah Lammert.
The Upper Delaware UU Fellowship (Beach Lake PA) held a tribute to "Paul Newman: Actor, Philanthropist, and Unitarian Universalist" at a service on March 7. With film clips, music, and readings, service presenters Marianne Avery and Tom Repasch showed how Newman's life and work reflected UU principles. Following the service, members of the community were invited to a showing of Thornton Wilder's Our Town, featuring Newman as Stage Manager in one of his last roles. Newman died in 2008 at the age of 83.
The Green Sanctuary Committee of Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) is sponsoring a service on April 19 featuring UU musician and composer Jim Scott, honoring nature and Mother Earth.
The UU Society in Stamford (CT) held a Hard Times Potluck Dinner in March. Many friends and members came with great family recipes such as meatloaf, tuna casserole, and chocolate cake. The Society also hosted a Drumming and Dance Community Event with Carlos “Gogo” Gomez, who has played with Tito Puente, Mariah Carey, and the Gypsy Kings, and the Sacred Circle Pagan Group hosted its first Movie Night, showing The Wicker Man.
Bill Slezak, District Chalice Lighters Coordinator, will join the Rev. Charlie Ortman, minister at the UU Congregation at Montclair (NJ), on his seven-week cross-country bicycle trip beginning April 13 to raise funds for a local soup kitchen. Charlie and Bill will be starting the trip in Southern California and hope to complete the 3021-mile trip in early June. Those who would like to help sponsor their journey are invited to complete a sponsor form
.
The UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton, and Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY) celebrated the debut performance of its new Fellowship Choir on March 22. Music Director Keith Harris led 18 voices singing Ordinary Miracle, chosen especially for Miracle Sunday, a service focusing on the Fellowship's pledge campaign.
Other Noteworthy Items
 UU podcasts -- sermons, religious education materials, and more – are available from the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) for your ipod, mp3 player, or computer. Hear the voices of UU contributors to the CLF's worship publication, Quest (also available in print and online), via iTunes subscription or listen à la carte. Subscribe to CLF Quest Podcasts for free at www.clfuu.org/podcasts, or listen to segments à la carte at www.clfuu.org/quest. CLF Quest Podcasts has nearly 1,000 subscribers worldwide.
The UU Urban Ministry (UUUM) has announced that Rev. William G. Sinkford will join the organization in a special one-year role as Senior Minister and Advisor effective August 15. Rev. Sinkford is currently completing eight years as President of the UUA and will leave office on June 28. Elected president of the UUA in 2001 and re-elected in 2005, he is the first African-American to serve in that position.
Sophia Fahs UU Religious Education Camp will be held August 9-14 at the 25 acre United Methodist Camp Quinipet on the western shoreline at Jennings Point of Shelter Island, sponsored by the Long Island Area Council.
Applications to the Starr King School for the Ministry are due by May 1. For more information, contact their new Director of Recruitment, Crystal Weston, 510-845-6232 ext 108. For those not enrolled in Starr King, there are many online course offerings, including Children's Literature: A Religious Education, Queers (BGLTQ), Religion & Ministry, and Organizational Systems Thinking for Religious Leaders. To learn more, click here.
All Souls Church, Unitarian, in Washington DC is hosting a conference for UU congregations interested in socially responsible investing. Money, Values and Impact: A Conference on Ethical Investing for UU Congregations is scheduled for May 9. Participants will learn about opportunities to help build a more green and just economy while making sound financial moves in difficult times.
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Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
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| Visit the District's Calendar
and Events
page for these and other events: |
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Youth Con:
May 15-17, Unitarian Church of All Souls, Manhattan. For
more information, contact
Corinne Hallander.
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Anti-Racism and
Diversity Conclave: May 30, Community Church of New
York UU, Manhattan. For a flyer,
click here .
For a schedule and description of workshops,
click here .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact For more information, contact
Rev. Dr. Michael Tino.
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Youth Con:
June 19-21, UU Congregation of Monmouth County, Lincroft NJ.
For more information, contact
Corinne Hallander.
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