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Metro NY Minute --
May 2010 |
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News From the
District
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UU
Leadership Team Institute By the Sea, hosted by
the Joseph Priestly District and the Metro NY District
and scheduled for August 26-August 29 at the Ocean Grove
NJ Retreat Center, is a residential learning experience
for congregational leadership teams to equip them with
practical tools and powerful ideas that can transform
their congregations. For a flyer,
click here  .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Doug Zelinski.
The
St. Lawrence District is sponsoring a UU Leadership Team
Institute Leadership retreat July 25-28
at Notre Dame Retreat House in Canandaigua Lake NY for
congregational leaders in the four districts comprising
the CenEast Regional Group -- Metro NY District,
Ohio-Meadville District, Joseph Priestly District, and
St. Lawrence District. Registration is $305 after May
15. For a flyer,
click here .
For a mailable registration form,
click here .
For online registration after May 15,
click here. For more information, contact
Jan Gartner.
The
Ohio-Meadville District Summer Institute,
July 11-July 17 at Kenyon College, Gambier OH, includes
workshops that focus on lay theological education and
are sponsored in part by the
UU
Leadership Team Institute (UULTI). More than 600 UUs
are expected to attend this year's Summer Institute.
More Good Stuff to Check Out!
|
 UUs
from across the District attended the 2010 District
Annual Meeting held April 30-May 1 at the Hyatt Morristown
(NJ). Highlights included the election of Daniel Gregoire
(left) and Mia Morse (right) as new members of the
District board and the election of the Rev. Bob Janis-Dillon,
Patsy Kaplan, and Jerry Muntz as
new members of the District Nominating Committee. The Rev. Burton
Carley delivered the keynote address, and Olympia's Daughters
entertained on Friday evening.
View pictures from
the Annual Meeting. Those attending the 2010 Annual Meeting are
invited to complete a
brief survey of their experience.
Maryann Woods-Murphy
(Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ)) -- Winifred Latimer
Norman Award
Britt Cryer (Central
Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ)) -- Award for Excellent in
Religious Education
Kirsten Henrickson
(Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ)) -- June Z. Gillespie Award
Rich Held and Elaine Vander Plate
Held (UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ))
-- Unsung UU Award
Matthew Leonard
(Unitarian Church at Westport (CT)), Zachary Morrice
(Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (NY), and
Katie Parker (UU Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY)) --
Scholarships
Doug
Zelinski, Program Consultant for Leadership Development, will
conclude his District service on June 30 and begin serving
as Director of Leadership Development for the Massachusetts Bay and
Clara Barton districts cooperatively. "I want to thank you . . . for
the opportunity to work with you in deepening and broadening my
faith," wrote Doug in an announcement earlier this month. "It has
been a blessing to know and work with each of you and I know that we
will remain connected in the hope and task of making Unitarian
Universalism a vital force in the world."
 John
Hawkins, member of the First Unitarian Society of
Plainfield (NJ), has been appointed by the District Board
as District UUA Trustee, replacing the Rev.
Rosemary Bray McNatt who resigned in April. John served
four years on the District Board, including two as Secretary, is
past president of his congregation, and chaired its most recent
ministerial search committee. John will serve as District UUA
Trustee until the conclusion of General Assembly 2011.
Read John's blog.
More
District services to congregations will be provided by staff
shared among the four districts of the CenEast Regional
Group (Metro NY, Joseph Priestley, Ohio-Meadville,
and St. Lawrence districts), beginning in July. The "shared
services model" approved by the four districts and the UUA
was outlined at the 2010 District Annual Meeting by District
President Ted Fetter, including the District's planned
emphasis on "threshold congregations" where there is
particular opportunity for growth and expansion.
Read more
from Ted Fetter.
Congregations' per-member Full Share rate to the District
will increase from $23 to $24 for fiscal year
2010-2011, beginning July 1, 2010. To provide some cushion
to congregations during the economic downturn, the Full
Share rate was not increased last year. Instead, the
District's budget was balanced by a significant transfer
from reserves. Raising the Full Share rate for fiscal year
2010-11 allows the District to protect remaining reserves
and continue providing high levels of service to
congregations.
The Margaret Fuller
Bicentennial Committee (MFBC) is offering a unique
one-day walking tour to "Follow the Footsteps of Margaret
Fuller in New York City" on May 22. Laurie James, co-chair
of the District Women and Religion Committee, is MFBC
project director. Read
more .
News From the
UUA 
 A relief fund to help UU
congregations that suffered losses from flooding in
Tennessee and Kentucky has been established by the UUA in
partnership with the Thomas Jefferson District, the
Mid-South District, the Greater Nashville UU Church, and the
First UU Church of Nashville. Contributions may be made
online or by mail to the UUA, 25 Beat St,
Boston MA 02108, Attn: Stewardship and Development Gift
Processing. Note "Nashville Flood Relief" on the check. Read
more. The Rev. Jason Shelton, Director of Music
at the First UU Church of Nashville and composer of the
hymns Standing on the Side of Love and Fire of
Commitment described the situation in Nashville: "Our
death toll is rising as the rivers are starting to recede
and the bodies can be found. The devastation is just
incomprehensible . . . multi-billion dollar damage. Six
blocks of our downtown -- the heart of the tourist district,
the Opryland Hotel, and the Grand Old Opry -- are
underwater."
Advance registration for
General Assembly 2010 closes June 11, and after
May 15, hotel rooms and the group rate are subject to
availability. Those not able to attend General Assembly can
watch streaming live video of many of the events.
A schedule of the events that will be streamed live is
now available.
Responding to the new
Arizona state law cracking down on illegal immigration,
the UUA Board voted May 6 to ask delegates to the
2010 General Assembly to approve moving the location of the
2012 General Assembly from Phoenix AZ. Withdrawing the
contract could cost the UUA $615,000. According to the
resolution, this money would be offset by funds raised by
congregations. A two-thirds majority of delegates would need
to approve the resolution.
Read more. In a statement issued about the
Arizona law, UUA President the Rev. Peter Morales said
"Everything I hold sacred as an American and as a person of
faith is threatened by this legislation."
Read President Morales' statement.
Congregations have until May
31 to send their reports to the UUA as charged in
the
Responsive Resolution on Inclusion passed by
delegates to the 2009 General Assembly. The Responsive
Resolution called on congregations to report on actions
taken to make inclusion a reality. In January, District
congregations were sent an
informational packet
by
the District's Anti-Racism and Diversity Committee to spark
conversation on this issue. Congregations should email their
reports to
responsiveresolutionc24@uua.org. A summary of
congregations' reports will be published on the UUA website
in late June.
Congregations
signing up for Association Sunday 2011 are
automatically entered into a raffle, and UUA President the
Rev. Peter Morales will deliver a sermon on Association
Sunday for the winning congregation. As an added bonus,
congregations that sign up by the closing of General
Assembly -- June 27 -- will have twice the chance to win. Watch
a video message from President Morales.
The UUA Board
appointed a Credentialing Taskforce at its October
2009 meeting to "examine all UUA credentialing processes and
to recommended appropriate changes to the Board by April 1,
2011." A status report from the Credentialing Taskforce was
presented to the Board at its April 2010 meeting.
Read the report .
The third and fourth episodes
of
A Religion For Our Time, a series of short
videos highlighting inspiring work in UU congregations, are
now available. Episode Three highlights the building
campaign of the UU Fellowship of Elkhart (IN). Episode Four
presents a creative approach to youth programming at the UU
Fellowship of Wilmington (NC).
The New UU, a Tapestry of Faith curriculum
available online from the UUA, provides important tools to
help congregations welcome, orient, and integrate newcomers
into their faith communities. Also new is
Love Connects Us for grades 4 and 5, a
curriculum celebrating the ways UUs live out their faith in
covenanted community.
The UUA invites you to send high-resolution,
high-quality pictures of
your congregation's activities, including pictures of
worship, social action, group trips, building or grounds
maintenance, and more. Email your pictures to
uupix@uua.org.
Rebuilding the Gulf Coast: A Unique Partnership between the
UUA and the UUSC is a 30-minute video
documenting the collaboration between the UUA and the UU
Service Committee (UUSC) in helping to rebuild communities
in the wake of hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Also available
is a downloadable discussion guide.
The UUA
seeks to fill the position of
District Executive
for the Massachusetts Bay and Clara Barton districts.
People with disabilities, people of color, and Hispanic/Latino/a
and BGLTIQQ candidates are encourage to apply. Email a letter of
interest and resume to Harlan
Limpert, Vice President for Ministries and Congregational
Support.
News From Congregations
| Milestones and Transitions
The Rev. Tracy Sprowls-Jenks
was installed as Minister by the First
Unitarian Society of Plainfield on
April 18.
Julia Hamilton was ordained by the
Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) and the
Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) at the Fourth
Universalist Society on April 25.
The Rev. Rosemarie
Newberry, Community Minister at the UU Congregation of Monmouth County
(Lincroft NJ), began May 1 serving as hospice chaplain for
VITAS in Monmouth and Ocean counties in NJ. She continues
to serve as chaplain for people with development disabilities at
the New Lisbon Development Center and is available to
congregations for workshops on accessibility and end-of-life
issues.
The Rev. Sarah Lammert, currently Minister at
the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ), will
join the UUA staff on August 1 as Director for
Ministries and Faith Development. The newly created
position heads the staff group combining the previous two
groups, Lifespan Faith Development and Ministry and Professional
Leadership. The Rev. Roberta Finkelstein will
serve the congregation as Interim Minister beginning August 1.
Rev. Finkelsteine is currently Interim Minister at the First
Unitarian Church of Orlando (FL).
 The
Rev. Barbara Fast has been called to serve as
Minister by the UU Congregation of Danbury (CT)
beginning August 15. Rev. Fast previously served the
Unitarian Church in Westport (CT), most recently as
Associate Minister. The Rev. Suzanne Spencer
currently serves Danbury as Interim Minister
The
Rev. Matt Tittle has been called to serve as Minister
by the Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ)
beginning August 1. The Rev. Carlton Smith
current serves Paramus as Interim Minister.
The Rev. Betsy Scheuermann will begin as
Consulting Minister at the UU Ocean
County Congregation (Toms River NJ) on September 1.
The Rev. Lilia Cuervo, Affiliate Minister at the
UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY)
and past Consulting Minister at the UU Fellowship of
Bellport (NY), has been called to serve as Associate
Minister by First Parish in Cambridge (MA) beginning September
1. Rev. Cuervo will be the first Latino minister in the church's
nearly 400-year history.
Julie
Taylor will be ordained by the Fourth
Universalist Society (Manhattan) on October 10 at 5:00
pm. |
 The UU
Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) will hold its first
service on May 23 in their new facility, following nearly four years
of planning and construction to replace the building destroyed by a
devastating fire in September 2006.
The UU
Congregation of Queens (Flushing NY) has developed a new
program -- the UU Justice Ministry (UUJM) -- with a
focus on immigration reform. Beginning in September, the
congregation will house six UUs living communally and helping to run
the congregation's drop-in center for the immigrant population of
Northern Queens. UUJM fellows must make a commitment of one year.
Applications
may
be submitted through June. For a flyer,
click here
.
Read more
.
The First UU
Church of Essex County (Orange NJ) sponsored a successful
fundraising concert on February 28 to benefit local Haitian relief
organizations, including the Haitian Pastors Association. Titled
"Banding Together for Haiti," the concert featuring a number of
musical guests was held in the newly renovated Parish Hall and was
attended by some 200 people. A total of $2044 was raised.
The First Unitarian
Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY) rededicated
its Angel of Light mosaic on April 11. Created by Tiffany
Studios in 1915, the mosaic was purchased for $10,000 from
what is now Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan),
which had determined that the mosaic did not fit with the
architecture of its new facility. Angel food cake was served
following the rededication.
 The
Lakeland UU Fellowship (Wayne NJ) reported its 40-inch
wooden peace sign was stolen a day before a vigil in
late April calling for the end of nuclear proliferation. "We stand
for peace and harmony," said Fellowship minister the Rev. Ann
Benedetto. "Stealing our peace sign is like stealing the Torah from
a temple or a Bible from a Baptist church."
Read more.
The UU
Society in Stamford (CT) hosted a concert April 9 to
benefit both the Society and No Vet Left Behind, a Connecticut-based
organization providing transition housing to homeless veterans. The
event raised $1000 to help No Vet Left Behind. On April 25, Ethan
Fleck and the Green Team collected more than $100 for
Pennies for the Planet, a nationwide campaign in which children
collect coins to help protect wildlife and their habitats.
Other Noteworthy Items
 The
UU United Nations Office is sponsoring
Envoy Social Justice Training in Bethesda MD on June 5.
Participants will learn about programs such as United Nations
Sunday, United Nations Religious Education; Every Child Is Our
Child; Women, Security, and Peace; Climate Change, and more. The $30
registration fee includes breakfast, lunch, and materials.
Professional expense guidelines for religious
education professionals are
now available from the Metro NY District Chapter of
the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA). Based
on recommendations by the UUA and the national LREDA, the guidelines
offer specific dollar amounts for several categories of religious
education professionals and are tailored to Metro NY District
activities.
 The
UU Ministry For Earth (UUMFE) now offers to congregations a
series of "green
papers" on the broad topic of environment and justice
as well as specific areas of focus such as food, climate disruption,
environment and health, and animal welfare. More than 30 UU
ministers, lay leaders, and UUA staff contributed to the
collaborative editing and review process.
The New York State
Convention of Universalists will hold its 2010
Annual Meeting on October 22-23 at the First UU Society of
Syracuse (NY). The keynote speaker will be UUA Moderator Gini
Courter.
The Church of the
Larger Fellowship (CLF) offers
Make Your
Own Sunday by subscription, a searchable database of
more than 1000 UU worship materials selected, maintained, and edited
by the CLF.
Meadville
Lombard Theological School offers
Summer Intensive Courses on Contemporary Paganism,
Preaching As If You Mean It, Arts and Aesthetics, Approaches to
Theology, Creating Quality Worship, and Method is the Message.
Enroll by May 31. |
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Upcoming Workshops and Meeting
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| Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events: |
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Multicultural Renaissance
Module: May 18-20, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference
Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Andrea Lerner. |
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Building Healthy Congregations: May
22, Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY). For
more information, contact Doug
Zelinski. |
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Conomatopoeia (Youth Con):
May 21-23, UU Congregation of Danbury (CT). For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Katie Parker. |
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Youth Bridging Mini-Con:
June 12, Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ). For more
information, contact Katie
Parker. |
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Building Healthy Congregations: June
12, UU Fellowship of Briarcliff, Croton, and
Ossining (Croton-on-Hudson NY). For more information, contact
Doug Zelinski. |
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Liberal Religious Educators Association District Chapter
Retreat: June 13-16, Ocean Grove NJ. For more
information, contact
John Cavallero. |
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UU Mid-Atlantic Community:
July 18-24, DeSales University in Center Valley PA. For a flyer,
click here .
For a brochure and registration form,
click
here .
For more information, contact
Jo Paoletti. |
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UU Leadership Institute Leadership Retreat:
July 25-28, Notre Dame Retreat House, Canandaigua NY. For a flyer,
click here .
For a mailable registration form,
click here .
For online registration after May 15,
click here.
For more information, contact Jan
Gartner. |
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Junior/Senior OWL Training: August
6-8, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For more
information, contact Andrea Lerner. |
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UU Leadership Team Institute By the Sea:
August 26-29, Ocean Grove Retreat Center, Ocean Grove NJ. For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click
here. For more information, contact Doug
Zelinski. |
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