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Metro NY
Minute -- May 2008 |
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News
From the District
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 The 2008 District Awards and Scholarships were were
presented to seven deserving individuals at the 2008
District Annual Meeting, attended by more than 270 people,
in Stamford CT May 2-3. Congratulations! Pictured here:
Jerry Davidoff (right), Rick Fierberg (left), District
trustee, and Jerry Muntz, District President.
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Jerry Davidoff received
the Lifetime Achievement Award. |
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Lara Campbell received
the Award for Excellence in RE. |
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Doug Rhodes received
the June Z. Gillespie Award. |
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Joan Karp received the
Unsung UU Award. |
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Kyle Reaves, Elyn
Wolfe, and Coral Kennelty-Cohn received Scholarship
Awards. |
Four
District trustees at large and five
members of the District Nominating
Committee were elected at the 2008
District Annual Meeting. For more
information,
click
here
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Trustees: Rick Fierberg, Janice Marie
Johnson, Toby Tyler, Rev. Cheryl Walker |
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Nominating Committee:
Doug Rhodes
(chair), Rev. Jennifer Brower, Kris Henrickson, Rev. Susan Rak, Rev. Paul
Ratzlaff . |
Delegates to the 2008 District Annual Meeting
approved a resolution
against torture
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urging congregations to oppose and speak out against U.S.
sponsored torture and to become members and supporters of
the National
Religious Campaign Against Torture.
Registration is now open for the 2008 Anti-Racism and
Diversity Conclave, sponsored by the District
Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee, May 31 at the
Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan). The Rev.
Bill Sinkford, UUA President, will be the keynote
speaker. The Conclave theme is Response Requested:
Spirit, Vision, Participation. To register,
click here. For a flyer,
click
here
.
For more information, contact
Carl Heath or the
Rev. Hope Johnson.
Need help with your website? Register for Webmaster
Workshop on May 17, sponsored by the District, at Community
Church of New York UU (Manhattan). While technologies will
be discussed, the workshop is not a technical training
session. Committee chairs, board members, ministers, and
webmasters are encouraged to attend. For more information,
click here
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To register,
click here. |
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Worth Repeating
The Spring
2008 Chalice Lighters Call will be for the
First
Unitarian Society of Rockland County (Pomona
NY), helping the Society employ a part-time Director
of Religious Education, a critical component of
efforts to increase membership.
Read more
.
Registration is now
open for
UULTI 2008! Last year's acclaimed program
returns for 2008. The UU Leadership Team Institute (UULTI)
is a week-long training opportunity sponsored by the
Metro NY, Joseph Priestly, Ohio-Meadville, and St.
Lawrence districts, July 28-August 3, Juniata
College, Huntingdon PA.
Partners for Sacred Spaces and the District
are teaming up for a workshop and architect's
tour at the Fourth Universalist Society
(Manhattan) on June 21 from 10:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
The workshop and tour are designed as an exploratory
session for congregations who may want to
participate in the
New
Dollars/New Partners
training program. To register for the workshop and
tour,
click here. For more information, contact
Andrea Lerner.
Host a Youth Con in
2008-2009! It's time to plan the District Youth
Event Calendar for 2008-2009. In an effort to make
sure the events are scattered over the course of the
year, and geographically around the district, the
District Youth Adult Committee (YAC) has
responsibility for setting this calendar. Apply
to be a host by June 10. For more information
about hosting a Con and to apply as a host for next
year, click here
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Ministry in the
Borderlands, the theme of
UU University 2008, addresses the challenges
and rewards of working across religious identities.
The keynote speaker, the Rev. Nick Carter, President
of Andover University, is actively engaged in
interfaith and inter-religious cooperation for
action. UU University takes place June 24-25, just
prior to
General Assembly, in Fort Lauderdale FL.
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
UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations
UUWorld.org, UUA's online magazine |
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News From the UUA
 In support of immigrants' rights, UUA President the Rev. Bill Sinkford spoke on May 1 at a rally in Chelsea MA along with other secular and religious leaders. Thousands of immigrants and their interfaith allies marched, rallied, and prayed around the country in dozens of cities around the country. Read more.
The UU Service Committee (UUSC) has joined with the UUA to launch a humanitarian relief fund to help survivors of the cyclone in Myanmar (formerly Burma). The UUSC will be working with survivors of the cyclone, especially those left out of traditional relief strategies. The death toll has climbed to more than 22,000 and may well exceed 100,000, according to U.S. estimates. To view a map of the affected areas, click here
. To donate to the fund online, click here. For donations by mail, please direct contributions to UUSC-UUA Cyclone Nargis Relief Fund, PO Box 845259, Boston MA 02284-5259.
The Green Sanctuary Program of the UU Ministry for Earth will be managed by the UUA's Congregational Services program, beginning in July. The Green Sanctuary Program has seen exponential growth in recent years. This transition will allow the UU Ministry for Earth leadership to cultivate important new environmental justice issues and to support UU congregations with resources and training. The transition will also allow the Green Sanctuary Program to benefit from additional staff and financial resources through the UUA. The Green Sanctuary Program will be the first UUA program devoted exclusively to earth concerns.
Valuable, updated election year resources are now available to congregations from the UUA -- including The Real Rules: Congregations and IRS Guidelines on Advocacy, Lobbying, and Elections
-- and from Faithful Democracy, a nonpartisan online clearinghouse to educate people of faith about the role they can play in the democratic process. "The IRS places certain restrictions on what congregations can do, and those boundaries need to be respected. However, there is a wide range of totally acceptable activities," says Rob Keithan, Director of the UUA's Washington Office for Advocacy.
The UUA board invites all congregational leaders to attend a General Assembly workshop: Unitarian Universalism: Making a Meaningful, Relevant Difference on Thursday, June 26, 3:15 – 6:15 p.m., Convention Center, Floridian ABC. The board is seeking input as it develops “ends” statements that identify who we’re striving to be in the future. Read more
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The Spring 2008 issue of the Annual Program Fund Quarterly Newsletter
features an article on the UU Congregation at Montclair (NJ), describing how the congregation mobilized resources to sponsor a special program for the nearby Newton Street School.
News From Congregations
The UU Congregation of
Queens (NY) celebrated its centennial on April 13 and
was presented a plaque by Queens Borough president Helen
Marshall. Plaques designed by congregation president
Essie Williams were also presented to eight former
congregation presidents, including Nancy Ruckes,
former District trustee.
Read more
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After 10 years of doing "church in a box" and meeting
for worship in the cafeteria of its local community college,
the UU Congregation of Somerset Hills (North Branch
NJ) has launched its first capital campaign to buy a home of
its own. The target is an estate in downtown Somerville NJ
large enough to house the congregation's offices, Giving
Network, religious education classes, and fellowship space.
Amazingly, this property also features a sanctuary and
several acres for outdoor gatherings. Says the Rev. Julie
Newhall, "The congregation is tremendously excited about
the prospect of having all its resources under one roof, a
roof large enough to make it a great community center for
liberal religion and interfaith activity in Somerset
County."
The UU Congregation of the
Palisades (Englewood NJ) mourns the passing on April 17
of Wally Reid, one of the congregation's founders.
His wife, the Rev. Lee Reid who passed away in 1996, was the
congregation's first minister. A memorial service was held
at the Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ) on May
10. |
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Milestones and Transitions
The Rev. Amy Strano
was ordained by the Unitarian Church of All Souls
(Manhattan) and by the Fourth Universalist
Society (Manhattan) at the Unitarian Church of
All Souls on April 13.
The Rev. Ian Maher
was ordained by the UU Congregation of Queens
(Flushing NY) on April 27.
The Rev. Bob Janis
Dillon will be installed as Minister at the
First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County (Baptistown
NJ) on May 18 at 3:00 p.m.
Wendy Pantoja
will be ordained by the First Unitarian Society
of Plainfield (NJ) and the UU Congregation at
Montclair (NJ) on June 1 at 4:00 p.m. The
service will take place at the UU Congregation at
Montclair.
Elizabeth Anne
Putnam will be ordained by the Fourth
Universalist Society (Manhattan) on June 8 at
4:00 p.m.
Rosemarie Newberry
will be ordained by the UU Congregation of
Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) on October 26 at
5:00 p.m.
Rev. Susan Karlson
has been called by the Unitarian Church of Staten
Island (NY) to serve as minister beginning
August 15. Rev. Karlson currently serves as
consulting minister at the Gulf Coast UU Fellowship
in Gulfport, Mississippi. |
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The Rev. Maj-Britt Johnson is the 2008 recipient of the
Skinner Sermon Award for her sermon titled
Anti-Racism: From Egypt to Babylon to . . .? Rev.
Johnson, currently consulting minister at the UU
Congregation of the Palisades (Englewood NJ), is the
candidate for ministry at the Community Church of Chapel
Hill (NC). Her candidating week is set for April 27-May.
The First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY) has hired Robert Petrillo as Director of Congregational Services. Rob brings many years of experience in publishing, business management, and volunteer coordination.
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Danbury (CT) raised over $23,000 at its annual Goods and Services Auction held on March 29. The congregation's minister, the Rev. Linda Hansen, explained that the "extraordinary success for a congregation of just under 150 adult members was due not only to the work of marvelous co-chairs and their helpers, to many fine contributions, and to the generosity of the congregation, but also to the dogged efforts to obtain matching funds that ultimately totaled 41%!"
The UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton and Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY) has designed re-usable grocery/tote bags that include the Fellowship's name and logo and UU messages. The purpose is multi-fold: sustainability, community awareness, and "gentle evangelism." Each member receives one bag free, with a handful of Fellowship brochures inside to handout, and can purchase additional bags.
The UU Society in Stamford (CT) has received in the Goodwill Employer of the Year Award, presented at luncheon on May 6 in Bridgeport CT. The Rev. Ron Sala and Tara Fleck, Society administrator, accepted the award on behalf of the Society. Goodwill employees clean the Society’s facilities several times a week.
The Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) has awarded its annual Ethelwyn Doolittle Justice and Outreach Fund grants
, including new grants to the African Activist Archive Project, Healthcare Now, Interfaith Task Force for Homeless LGBTQ Youth, New Jersey ACORN, and the Prison Action Network.
Other Noteworthy Items
 Save the dates for upcoming programs at the Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center in Lanoka Harbor NJ, including Seasons of Sage-ing, Ways to the Spirit, the 1st Annual Community Drum Festival, and Homecoming 2008. Read more
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The Unitarian Universalists for Jewish Awareness announced that the Rev. Patricia Guthman Haresch is the winner of the 2008 Jerry Davidoff Sermon Award for her sermon titled Sabbath: An Ecological Spiritual Delight. The award is named in honor of Jerry Davidoff, an early member of UUJA and a member of the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT), who has been instrumental in helping lift up the often overlooked Jewish presence in our religious movement. Jerry is the recipient of the District's 2008 Lifetime Achievement Award.
Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center in Lanoka Harbor NJ is seeking new members for its Nominating Committee. Please contact Carol Haag at revcarolh@verizon.net with your interest or suggestions of others..
Building and Sustaining a Small Group Ministry Program, a day-long workshop sponsored by the Unitarian Society of New Haven (Hamden CT), is scheduled for September 20. The workshop leader is the Rev. Dr. M'ellen Kennedy, a UU community minister and community psychologist. She is co-founder and has served as coordinator of the UU Small Group Ministry Network. Rev. Kennedy has been working with lay led small groups for over 20 years and has offered facilitator training to hundreds of lay and professionals leaders. For more information, contact Lois Smith.
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Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
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and Events
page for these and other events: |
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Webmaster Workshop: May 17, Community Church of New
York UU, Manhattan. Sponsored by the District. For a flyer,
click here
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To register,
click here. |
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Anti-Racism and Diversity
Conclave: May 31, Community Church of New York UU,
Manhattan. Sponsored by the Metro NY District. The Rev. Bill
Sinkford, UUA President, will be the keynote speaker. For more
information, contact Carl Heath
or the Rev. Hope Johnson.
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Young Adult and Campus
Ministry Training: June 14, UU Church at Washington
Crossing, Titusville NY. For more information and a registration
form,
click here
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Ways to the Spirit
:
July 11-13, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center,
Lanoka Harbor NJ.
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Youth Con: July 11-13,
Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). For more information, contact
Corinne Hallander. |
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