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| Metro NY Minute --
September 2009 | |
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| | | | News From the District |  |
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 Tom
Howard, member
of the Unitarian Church in Summit, has been appointed
District Representative on the UUA's
Annual Program Fund (APF) Committee. Jim Sanders,
outgoing District Representative, offers a personal welcome: "It is my honor
to announce that Tom Howard has been appointed to fill the remainder of my
current term on the APF. Tom comes to us with a good deal of stewardship
experience and will prove to be an asset to the APF as well as to your
congregations. Please join me in welcoming Tom. Tom will introduce himself
to you over the course of the next several months. I will not be leaving
you, however. After five years as the District Representative, I have been
asked to be the Acting General Chair for the APF Committee for the coming
year. It will be exciting to work with all 19 Districts of the UUA, but none
hold the same affection in my heart as Metro NY."
Save the date! The 2010
District Annual Meeting will be held April 30-May 1, 2010, at the
Hyatt Morristown (NJ). More information coming soon!
Leadership Day at the UU Congregation
at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY) on November 7 will focus on
Defying Gravity, with useful instruction for congregational
leaders to help lighten hearts and expand souls. Leadership
in a congregation can feel like a heavy responsibility. This multi-track
conference will help leaders uncover the links between leadership and
spiritual growth. The Rev. Dr. Laurel Hallman will deliver
the keynote address, followed by expert-led, three-hour workshops.
Read more  .
Showcase your congregation at
General Assembly 2010 in Minneapolis MN June
23-27, 2010! The District can sponsor up to two Congregation
Showcase events and is now soliciting proposals. The deadline is January 1. Click
here to submit a proposal. The GA
Planning Committee also is soliciting proposals for featured
presentations, workshops, worships, lectures, presentations, and
performances. All applications must be received by October 15.
Click here for
application guidelines.
Are
you interested in presenting a workshop at the 2010 District Annual Meeting? The
Annual Meeting planners would like to hear from you! The 2010 District
Annual Meeting will be held April 30-May 1, 2010, at the
Hyatt Morristown (NJ). Click
here to enter your workshop proposal. | | | Worth Repeating
The 2009 Fall
Junior Youth Retreat is scheduled for September 26-27 at Camp
Ma-Kee-Ya, Harriman State Park, NY. Youth and adults from across the
District attend. The retreat is staffed and run by high school UUs, with
religious education teachers and parents attending as additional staff
and advisors. The youth-adult ratio is about 5:1. For a flyer,
click here
.
For a letter to DREs or RE
chairs,
click here .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Peter Green.
The District Anti-Racism and
Diversity Committee is sponsoring a Jubilee One Workshop
exploring the creative potential of anti-racism in community, on the
evening of September 25 and all day September 26 at the UU Congregation
of Central Nassau (Garden City NJ). For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click
here. For more information,
contact the
Rev. Hope Johnson.
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 Universalist Church of Rochester NY 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 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 |
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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, 2010.
Chris Buja has been
appointed by the District Board of Trustees to fill the remaining
term of the Rev. Cheryl Walker as trustee, who resigned.
Chris is Director of Religious Education at the UU Congregation of Somerset
Hills (North Branch NJ) and will serve until 2010. Rev. Walker, previously
Assistant Minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan), begins
serving as minister at the UU Fellowship of Wilmington, Wilmington DE, in
September.
The Rev. Hope Johnson has been appointed
by the District Board of Trustees to fill the remaining term of
Janice Marie Johnson as trustee, who resigned. Rev. Johnson is
minister at the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NJ).
Janice has accepted the position of Director of Racial and Ethnic Concerns
in the UUA's Identity-Based Ministries. | | |
| News From the
UUA |
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 The UU
Ministry for Earth invites all congregations to participate
in the International Day of Climate Action on October 24
in collaboration with
350.org,
an international campaign to create an equitable global climate treaty that
lowers carbon dioxide below 350 parts per million.
Read more .
The UUA has been
awarded a $100,000 grant from the Large Grants Program of the
UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY) to
fund a year-long partnership with the
Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC),
a non-profit based in Chicago. IFYC's founder, Eboo Patel, is the author
of Acts of Faith, published by Beacon Press, and serves on
President Obama's White House Office of Faith-based and Neighborhood
Partnerships. The generous funding will enable the UUA's Lifespan Faith
Development staff group and the IFYC to create an interfaith
curriculum and offer interfaith leadership training
opportunities to UU youth and their allies across the country. The
Lifespan Faith Development staff group would like to connect to
congregations involved in interfaith work with youth on the local level
and also to any UUs planning to attend IFYC's Leadership Conference in
October. Contact Jessica York, UUA
Youth Programs Director.
Need help with
financing construction projects? The UUA offers many
loan and grant programs to help congregations build
or repair facilities. Programs are designed for both new and
existing congregations.
Read more.
A new
email list,
UUA-Updates, is now available focusing on the
actions of the UUA board of trustees and committees. As part
of the UUA's commitment to transparency in governance, the
Openness Implementation Committee created the
announcement-only list to keep UUs informed about what ideas
are being worked on, what committee and staff reports have
been submitted, and what actions the board is considering.
The
sale and distribution of the recently published Spanish
language hymnal, Las Voces del Camino
(Voices on the Journey), has been stopped,
owing to a large number of errors in the hymnal. A corrected
version will be printed, and all those who purchased a copy
of the original hymnal will receive a copy of the corrected
hymnal. A new publication date has not been set.
A new
monthly e-newsletter, Environmental Justice News,
is now available as a collaborative effort of the UU Service
Committee, the UU Ministry for Earth, and the Washington
Office for Advocacy. To subscribe to this e-newsletter or
other social action e-newsletters,
click here.
There's still time to sign-up for Association Sunday 2009,
scheduled for October 4. Twenty-seven District congregations
have signed up so far. This year's theme is Growing Our
Diversity and funds collected will be used to expand the
Building the World We Dream About curriculum, support
working for racial, cultural, and economic diversity in
Unitarian Universalism, and help congregations and districts
minister effectively to youth and young adults who identify
as people of color or as multi-racial. New to Association
Sunday 2009 is the
Connecting Congregations program. Congregations that
sign up for Association Sunday can choose to also sign up
for Connecting Congregations and be matched with another
congregation. On Association, congregations are encouraged
to light chalices for and share some history about their
matched congregation.
News From Congregations
 UU
Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY) member Juliana Morris won
the UUA's
Crash Course for Immigrant Justice Essay Contest. Juliana is a
24-year-old aspiring public health professional and lifelong UU. For
the past year, she has been working as a research assistant on the
southern Mexico border, learning about the health and vulnerability
of migrants. Her essay, titled, "Immigrant Justice," is about her
experiences there. Read
her essay.
The Morristown
Unitarian Fellowship is sponsoring a day-long
workshop titled
Speaking Peace -- Transforming Conflict on October
17. Participants will focus on learning how to "build
peace and partnership at home and in the world." Dian
Killian, certified trainer in nonviolent communication,
will lead the workshop. Registration is $70-$90 per
person (sliding scale).
| | | Milestones and Transitions
The Rev.
Virginia Jarocha-Ernst will be installed by the UU
Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) on November 1 at
5:00 pm.
 Kim
Mason has been named the Director of Lifespan Programs
and Services for the First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County.
Kim previously served as the congregation's Director of
Religious Education. This new position will include
responsibilities such as leading religious education,
facilitating communication systems that create awareness of
opportunities for spiritual growth, supporting the congregation
in fulfilling its mission and vision, and expanding the
congregation’s voice in Hunterdon County and beyond.
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The UU Congregation of Danbury (CT) afforded an
opportunity in July and August for members and friends as well
as participants of the Association of Religious Communities
(ARC) Peace Camp to create ceramic bowls as part of the
Empty Bowls
Project. The bowls will be sold on September 12-13 at the
"Taste of Greater Danbury." For a donation of $10, individuals
receive a bowl and can join the Congregation for a simple meal
on World Hunger Day, October 11. All money raised will be
donated to ARC's Emergency Aid Network.
Read more.
The Rev. Catherine
Torpey, minister at the South Nassau UU
Congregation (Freeport NY), is featured in the August 19
issue of the Long Island Press.
Read more.
 The
North Fork UU Fellowship (Jamesport NY) holds
weekly services in the Jamesport Meeting House, an
historic building constructed in 1731 and recently
purchased by the Jamesport Meeting House Trust, a
coalition of Fellowship members and local citizens. The
Trust has undertaken important restoration projects of
the building and grounds. Read
more .
New facilities for
the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) are now
under construction. The foundation has been poured, and the Congregation
hopes to be in their new home for the holidays. The Congregation's
previous facilities were destroyed in a devastating fire on September
12, 2006.
Spiritual
Practices to Sustain Us in Our UU Path, an
all-day workshop on November 14 at the UU Congregation
at Shetler Rock (Manhasset NY), will be led by the Rev.
Lilia Cuervo, Affiliate Minister. Participants will
receive a variety of tools to inspire and open their
minds and nurture their spirits. Rev. Cuervo co-led an
abbreviated version of the workshop at General Assembly
2009. For more information, contact
Rev. Cuervo. |
Other Noteworthy Items
 UU
young adult, Katie Tyson, was killed on July 2 in a car
crash in Colorado after attending the UUA's General
Assembly in Salt Lake City. Katie grew up in
the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church in Alexandria VA, and
was an active young adult at Boston's Arlington Street
Church. She had recently received her undergraduate
degree from Boston University, and was to begin graduate
study at BU in the fall. Katie was also involved with
Spectrum, BU's organization supporting bisexual, gay,
lesbian, and transgender students, and was to begin an
internship in the fall with the Interfaith Youth
Initiative of the Cooperative Metropolitan Ministries of
Boston. To honor Katie's memory and continue her
passionate leadership, her parents and friends, in
cooperation with members of the Arlington Street Church
and the Mount Vernon Unitarian Church, as well as the
UUA Mass Bay District, have initiated the Katie
Tyson Fund to train and develop leaders among
UU youth and young adults. Donations may be made to the
Katie Tyson Fund by check, payable to Mass Bay District,
with "Katie Tyson Fund" in the memo line. Mail to: Mass
Bay District, 182 Main St, Watertown, MA 02472. Online
donations through PayPal may be made by clicking on the
PayPal icon on the Mass Bay District page
http://www.mbduua.org/news/?article=159.
The UU
Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ)
is sponsoring a Fall Issues Workshop on October 3 from
9am to 1pm at the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ).
Participants will review how the legislative process
works in New Jersey, understand the role of
Congregational Liaisons and Action Teams, hear about
UULMNJ work in health care, environmental justice,
economic justice, and emerging issues, and prepare to
take action on pressing issues such as marriage
equality. For more information, contact UULMNJ Director
Julie Hamilton.
The UULMNJ is the recipient of Spring 2009 Chalice
Lighters funds.
Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center
in Lanoka Harbor NJ invites participation in
Homecoming 2009 on September 26, featuring
the Rev. Meg Barnhouse, interim
minister at the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ) and
well known storyteller and musician, and uu4ia,
a women's quartet from the UU Church at Washington
Crossing (Titusville NJ) who performed at the 2009
District Annual Meeting. Rev. Barnhouse and Kiya
Heartwood will give a special concert on the evening of
September 25, and the Rev. Michael Tino,
minister at the UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester
(Mount Kisco NY), will preach the service on September
27 in the historic Potter Chapel. For a registration
brochure,
click here .
UU United
Nations Office (UU-UNO) invites sermon (or
address) submissions for
Dana McLean Greeley Award.
The purpose of this annual
award program is to encourage and recognize UU
principles, thought, and action on a wide range of
global issues as well as the role of the United Nations
and the UU-UNO.
While
all submissions will be considered, those highlighting
the United Nations and the UU-UNO will
be given priority consideration.
The winner will be awarded a cash prize of $500 and have
the opportunity to deliver the sermon or address at
the 2010 UUA General Assembly.
UU Allies
for Racial Equity (UUARE) is grounded in a
vision of an anti-oppressive, multicultural UU faith.
UUARE is accountable to
Diverse
and Revolutionary UU Multicultural Ministries by
building a movement among white UUs to understand white
privilege and unlearn racism and white supremacy. A list
of resources -- including books,
articles, and web sites -- useful for those engaged in
anti-racism work -- is now available at
http://www.uuallies.org/resources.html under ARE
Education Team Resource List. This list will be updated
on a regular basis. Rev. Michael Tino, minister at UU
Fellowship of Northern Westchester (Mount Kisco NY),
serves as vice president of UUARE.
The Anti-Racism
Alliance is sponsoring a three-day workshop to
dismantle institutional racism and enlarge the circle
for anti-racism community organizing. The training will
be held at the Westchester Campus of Fordham University
from of Thursday evening October 1, all day Friday
October 2, and most of the day Saturday October 3. The
cost is $350 and scholarships are available. For more
information, contact
Peggy Clarke, member of the Board of the Anti-Racism
Alliance and Director of Religious Education at the UU
Fellowship of Briarcliff, Ossining, and Croton
(Croton-on-Hudson NY).
The Rev. Julie Taylor, candidate
for the UU ministry, and the Rev. Rosemary
Bray McNatt, District UUA Trustee and
minister at Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan),
are featured in a
YouTube video about
Distaster Chaplaincy Services (DCS), a nonprofit
organization providing spiritual care for those
affected by disasters in the tri-state area. Rev.
Taylor is Executive Director of DCS and Rev. McNatt
is Vice President.
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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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Liberal Religious Educators Association Chapter Meeting: September 24, Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For more information, contact Chris Buja. |
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Jubilee One Workshop: September
25-26, UU Congregation of Central Nassau, Garden City NJ. For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click
here. For more information, contact the
Rev. Hope Johnson.
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Saturday Afternoon at the Sacred Cow Barbeque: September 26, Unitarian Church of Staten Island (NY). With Gini Courter, UUA Moderator. For a flyer, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Rev. Susan Karlson. |
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Long Island Leadership Institute: September 26, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY). For more information, contact Doug Zelinski. |
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Murray Grove Homecoming: A
Mid-Atlantic Celebration: September 26,
Murray Grove Retreat and
Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. |
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Junior Youth Retreat: September 26-27, Camp Ma-Kee-Ya, Harriman State Park, NY. For a flyer, click here . For a letter to DREs or RE chairs, click here . To register, click here. For more information, contact Peter Green. |
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UU Ministers
Association Chapter Meeting: October 7, location to
be announced. For more information, contact the Rev.
Susan Rak. |
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New York State
Convention of Universalists Annual Meeting: October 16-17,
First Universalist Church of Rochester (NY). For a flyer,
click here . |
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Revival: October 16-18, UU Congregation of
Queens, Flushing NY. For more information, contact the
Rev. Ian Maher. |
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Youth Con:
October 16-18, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY). For more
information, contact
Katie Parker. |
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Elementary
OWL Training: November 6-8, UU Congregation at Shelter
Rock, Manhasset NY. For more information, contact
Andrea Lerner. |
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Leadership Day and
Long Island Leadership Institute Session 2: November 7, UU
Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY. For more information,
contact Doug Zelinski. |
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Presidents Roundtable: November 7, UU
Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY. For more
information, contact Andrea
Lerner. |
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Long Island Leadership Institute
Session 3: November 14, South Nassau UU Congregation, Freeport
NY. For more information contact Doug
Zelinski. |
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