|
| | | | | | |
| | | | | 
| Metro NY Minute --
October 2009 | |
| | |
| | | | News From the District |  |
| | |
| | |
 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. For a flyer, click here
 .
To register,
click here.
The
Spring 2009 Chalice Lighters call for the UU Legislative Ministry of New
Jersey (UULMNJ) is extending through the the fall. For a project
description, click here .
The UULMNJ was formed to advocate for social justice in the public arena
based on UU principles. Read more
from Bill Slezak, District Chalice Lighters Coordinator.
 The
Youth Adult Committee held a retreat on Labor Day weekend at Murray
Grove Retreat and Conference Center, an opportunity to review the last year,
plan for the upcoming year, and renew commitments to each other and to
serving District youth. The Committee took a break to show support for
justice and Standing on the Side of Love.
Information and resources
for designed specifically for congregations during the flu season
are available at the District website at
http://uumetrony.org/flu.htm.
| News From the
UUA |
 |
 The National Equality March on October 11 in Washington DC
to show support for full equality for lesbian, gay, bisexual, and
transgender people is
strongly endorsed by the UUA. A number of events are planned in
the DC area in addition to the march.
Read more .
To check out solidarity events in your local area,click here.
InterConnections has gone electronic. No
longer a printed and mailed quarterly publication,
InterConnections is now emailed. Budget cuts brought an end to
the printed publication with the Spring 2009 edition. All previous
InterConnections subscribers who had provided the UUA with
an email address have been signed up to receive the email
newsletter. Others can sign up by visiting
http://www.uua.org/publications/interconnections/.
| | | Worth Repeating
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.
The District is now soliciting proposals
for District-sponsored events at
General Assembly 2010 in Minneapolis MN June
23-27, 2010. Mission-focused and
congregationally relevant events are the
priority. The deadline is December 15. Click
here to
submit a proposal. The GA Planning
Committee also is soliciting proposals for
featured presentations, workshops, worships,
lectures, presentations, and performances. The
deadline is October 15.
Click here for
application guidelines.
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.
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 .
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).
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 UUA in partnership with the UU Ministry for Earth has
hired Rowan Van Ness as Program Associate for Environmental Justice.
Rowan is currently focusing on
the American Clean Energy and Security Act, passed by the House and
introduced into the Senate, that would provide employment and
training opportunities in green construction.
Read Rowan's blog.
The Standing on the Side of Love campaign and
UUA staff are holding weekly, 45-minute webcast conference
calls to share resources and best practices with people
coordinating Standing on the Side of Love activism in their
congregations. The first call was September 25; future calls are
scheduled for each Friday at 1:00 pm. For call-in information,
click here. Also available is a
Congregational Toolkit including suggestions for organizing your
congregation, building community partnerships, taking a public
stand, and working with the media.
Join the
UUA-General Assembly email list to discuss, among other
topics, the recommendations of the Fifth Principle Task
Force. In its
interim report ,
the Task Force recommended that General Assembly take place every
other year and be governance driven rather than program driven, and
that all expenses for delegates from Fair Share congregations be
fully paid by the UUA. An updated report will be presented to the
UUA Board at its
October meeting.
The UUA Commission on Appraisal would like input
on what to study next.
Take the online
survey to participate. The Commission is charged with reviewing
"any function or activity of the Association which in its judgment
will benefit from an independent review and will report its
conclusions to a regular General Assembly."
The Green Sanctuary Program has mailed to each
congregation a copy of Renewal, a documentary film
composed of eight stories of various faith communities engaging in
environmental work inspired by their faith. Read
more.
The Rev. Peter Morales, UUA President, announced a restructuring of
UUA staff in September, intended to "allow staff to
focus more on developmental work and to facilitate coordination and
collaboration across staff group boundaries." Harlan Limpert will
serve as Vice President of Ministries and Congregational Support,
overseeing advocacy and witness, congregational life, identity-based
ministries, lifespan faith development, and ministry and
professional leadership. Kay Montgomery continues to serve as
Executive Vice President, overseeing Beacon Press, communications,
human resources, stewardship and development, and the UU Funding
Panel. Tim Brennan continues to serve as Treasurer, overseeing
General Assembly and conference services, information technology
services, finance, and operations.
News From Congregations
 A
memorial service in remembrance and celebration of the Rev. Forrest
Church was held October 3 at the Unitarian Church of All
Souls (Manhattan), where he served as minister for 31 years. Rev.
Church died on September 24 following a three-year battle with
esophageal cancer.
Watch a video of the service. An opportunity to share
reflections is available on the All Souls website;
click here. | | | Milestones and Transitions
The Rev.
Tony Johnson is now serving as Consulting Minister at
the UU Congregation of the Palisades (Englewood
NJ). Says congregation president Eddie Hadden,
"Tony’s suggestion that he start his ministry with one-on-one
conversations with congregation members was particularly
impressive to the Board. We believe he will work well with the
congregational leadership." Rev. Johnson delivered his first
sermon on October 4.
The Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst
will be installed by the UU
Congregation of Monmouth County
(Lincroft NJ) on November 1 at 5:00
pm. |
|
| | |
The UU Congregation
of Queens (Flushing NY) is hosting the
Third Annual Revival of Liberal Religion
October 16-17. Featured guests include Nick Page, UU song leader and
composer, Tom Stites, past editor and publisher of the UU World
magazine, Betty Jeanne Rueters-Ward, life-long UU and anti-racism
trainer for numerous national organizations, Aisha Hauser, UUA Children
and Families Program Director, and the Rev. Alison Cornish, minister at
the UU Congregation of the South Fork (Bridgehampton NY).
Spiritual Practices to Sustain Us in Our UU Path,
an all-day workshop on November 14 at the UU Congregation at
Shelter 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
the Rev. Cuervo.
The UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ)
was part of the Green Buildings Tour on October 3, sponsored by the
American Solar Energy's Society's National Solar Tour. The tour
showcased how green elements, including the Congregation's 9.6 kilowatt
solar system on their facility's roof, can help reduce heating costs,
increase energy conservation, and generate surplus clean energy.
The UU Society in
Stamford (CT) netted more than $1,400 from its Book and Bake
Sale in September, providing the Society income and increased visibility
in the community. In October, the Society will sponsor its Second Annual
Pro-Am Charity Chili Cook-Off to benefit the Food Bank of Lower
Fairfield County.
 The
UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) has begun construction on
its new facilities. The photograph, taken by Dr.
Athena Drewes, chair of the building committee, shows
part of the sanctuary being framed, rising up from the same location as
the prior sanctuary destroyed in a fire in September 2006. Says minister
of the Congregation the Rev. Jim Bridges, "As can be
imagined, everyone in the congregation is becoming excited. It's been a
long wait, but members are beginning to sense a conclusion of the
rebuilding process."
The First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County (Baptistown
NJ) completed their Share the Plate Collection for the Northwest New
Jersey Community Action Program, collecting $3,911.77. The Program
includes a food bank, a homelessness prevention program, and a community
health center.
The First Unitarian
Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY) was vandalized and
robbed on September 13. The vandals wrote religious, ethnic, and racial
epithets on a basement wall and stole thousands of dollars collected
during the Sunday service. The New York Police Department's hate crimes
task force is investigating the robbery.
Read more and watch an interview with the Rev. Patrick O'Neill.
The UU Congregation at Montclair (NJ) held a
"Children's Vigil" on September 15 protesting federal immigration
policies. Said the Rev. Charlie Ortman, "What our
country has done has imposed the intentional breakup of the family or a
dislocation of the children from their homeland." Rev. Ortman cited the
case of a Montclair family in which the parents were deported to Mexico,
choosing to leave behind two of their four children. Read
more.
The UU Fellowship of Northern Westchester (Mount
Kisco NY) hosted a lunchtime picnic of locally grown food as part of a
Labor Day weekend series, "Time for Lunch," sponsored by Slow Food
Westchester. The Fellowship is participating in a four-year study of
"ethical eating."
Read more. |
Other Noteworthy Items
 The UU Children's
Choir, a five-day choir camp culminating in a performance at
General Assembly 2010, is now holding auditions. The deadline for applying and
auditioning is October 20. Sponsored by the UU Musicians Network, the camp will
be held at Macalester College in St. Paul. The children engage in intense
rehearsals and fun workshops and sing for thousands at General Assembly.
Financial assistance is available. For more information, contact
Jan Chamberlin, UU Children's Choir
Director.
Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center is sponsoring a
Coming Out Celebration on October 11 from 5-7:30 pm, with support from
the UU United Nations Office, the UUA's Standing on the Side of Love campaign,
and Phoenix Consultants Group. A welcoming service will be followed by a potluck
dinner. All are invited. For more information, contact Allison Woolbert at
allison.woolbert@phxconsultants.com
or 609-693-5558.
The Northeast Regional Group, comprising
the Ohio Meadville, Joseph Priestly, St. Lawrence, and Metro NY districts,
offers workshops and webinars open to Metro NY District UUs. To see a list of
workshops,
click here.
To see a list of webinars,
click here.
The
fall newsletter
of
the International Convocation of UU
Women (ICUUW) is now available. The
ICUUW is “creative UU women and people of other progressive beliefs who
are committed to use our faith and collective power as community leaders
to launch action that benefits women and families worldwide.”
The first ICUUW was held
February 26-March 1 in Houston TX. |
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
|
| Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events: |
| | |
 |
UU Ministers
Association Chapter Meeting: October 7, Community
Church of New York UU. For more information, contact the Rev.
Susan Rak. |
|
|
New York State
Convention of Universalists Annual Meeting: October 16-17,
First Universalist Church of Rochester (NY). For a flyer,
click here . |
|
|
|
|
|
EnviroCon: October
16-18, UU Fellowship at Stony Brook (NY). For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Katie Parker. |
|
|
Long Island Leadership
Institute Session 2: October 17, South Nassau UU
Congregation (Freeport NY). For more information, contact
Doug Zelinski |
|
|
Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Fall
Conference: October 23-26, Providence RI. |
|
|
Leadership Day and
Long Island Leadership Institute Session 3: November 7, UU
Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY.
For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click here.For more information,
contact Doug Zelinski. |
|
Presidents Roundtable: November 7, UU
Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY. For more
information, contact Andrea
Lerner. |
|
|
UU Women's Association and District Women and Religion
Committee Weekend Renewal: November 13-15, St. Josephat's
Retreat House, Glen Cove, Long Island NY. For a flyer
and registration form, click
here .
For more information, contact
Reena Kondo. |
|
Youth Chaplain Training: November 20-22,
Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation (East Brunswick NY. For
more information, contact
Katie Parker. |
|
Staging of "Roots of Rebellion": November
22, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan NY),
sponsored by the District Women and Religion Committee. For
more information, click here . |
|
Elementary OWL Training: December 4-6,
Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). For a flyer,
click here .
To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Andrea Lerner. |
|
Social Action Con: December 18-20, location TBA.
For more information, contact
Katie Parker. |
|
Long Island Leadership Institute Session 4: January 23,
UU Fellowship of Huntington (NY). For more information, contact
Doug Zelinski. |
| | | |
|
