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Metro NY
Minute -- January 2008 |
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News
From the District
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 The
Rev. Dr. Tracey Robinson-Harris will deliver the keynote
address at the 2008 District
Annual Meeting, May 2-3, 2008, at the Marriott Hotel in
Stamford CT. Rev. Robinson-Harris is the UUA's Director for
Congregational Services. On Friday night,
Geoff
Kaufman, well-known singer and guitarist, will be
entertain and inspire. Registration for the Annual Meeting
begins February 15.
The
District Board is pleased to announce that Andrea Lerner has
accepted the role of District Executive. Since July, Andrea
has been serving as Acting District Executive.
Previously she was Program Consultant for four years.
Read more
 .
Beyond Fundraising, a day-long workshop sponsored by
the District, will be held February 16 at Community Church
of New York UU (Manhattan). Wayne Clark, the
UUA's Director of Congregational Stewardship Services and
author of Beyond Fundraising: A Complete Guide to
Congregational Stewardship, will be the workshop
presenter. Click
here
for a flyer.
Click here to register.
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.
Claire Sexton, Young Adult and Campus Ministry Consultant,
says "It's been an exciting year for the District --
creating and implementing new staff positions for both young
adult ministry and youth ministry. I'm so glad to be here,
and I'm looking forward to 2008!"
Read more
.
The Leadership Development Conference is an
opportunity for a team of youth and advisors from your
congregation to learn valuable leadership and youth ministry
skills! Please register by January 20 for the February 1-3
event at the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester
(Mohegan Lake NY). For a flyer,
click here
.
To register,
click here. If you have questions, contact
Beth Dana. |
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Worth Repeating
Presentation of
the 2008
District Awards and
2008 District Scholarships will be a
highlight of the 2008 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, 2008.
Save the date for UU University 2008: June
24-25, 2008, just prior to
General Assembly 2008. UU University is a
gathering of congregational leaders who want to
increase their knowledge and ability to serve their
congregations. Nick Carter, President of Andover
Newton Theological School, will be the keynote
speaker on "leading theologically diverse
congregations, and how our congregations can
interact with and have a positive impact on a
theologically diverse world."
The UU Young Adults
Winter Retreat, sponsored by the Young Adult
Steering Committee, will be held Presidents' Day
weekend, February 15-18, at
Frost Valley in Claryville NY, a YMCA camp.
Young adults can take part in skiing, arts and
crafts, worship, campfires, making friends, and
more. The cost is $250, and scholarships are
available for students. Registration deadline is
January 10. For more information,
click here or contact
Samantha Payne
Garland. For a flyer,
click here
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More Good Stuff to Check Out!
Worship Service Providers available to
District congregations
RE-Sources
for religious education leaders
Job
opportunities around the District
SmallTalk
for
small congregations
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
 The UUA's national advertising campaign closes out the year with a special two-page advertorial in the final 2007 Time magazine issue – the popular and highly-read Person of the Year edition. This latest UUA ad may be the most provocative yet – with the headline "My God is Better Than Your God." The body copy explains that this is not the type of religious discourse that UUs find helpful in these trying times, and that Unitarian Universalism is an open-minded spiritual community where people with different beliefs worship together. Advertising in Time began with the October 15, 2007, issue. Funds raised during Association Sunday will continue to support the UUA's advertising plans in 2008.
UUA officers and staff are developing a plan to respond to concerns about security arrangements at the June 25-29, 2008, General Assembly in Fort Lauderdale FL. The concerns are that racial profiling incidents could arise at GA because the convention center requires a higher level of security and more identification than has been required at previous GAs. Because the convention center is inside the perimeter of the Port of Fort Lauderdale, everyone 18 and older entering the convention center is required to show a government-issued photo identification card. Read more. To learn how to obtain a photo identification card in New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, or Pennsylvania, click here
, or visit www.dmv.org.
Association Sundays have raised $1.1 million (including a $500,000 matching gift challenge) for national marketing, grants to congregations for local growth and outreach projects, and President Sinkford's new program in support of ministers of color. An additional $200,000 is expected to be contributed. More than 630 congregations participated nationwide, including 36 in the District. Let the UUA's Stewardship and Development Department know what you think of Association Sundays by participating in the Association Sunday survey. It's not too early to sign up to participate in Association Sunday 2008 -- October 12, 2008 -- by emailing associationsunday@uua.org.
The Stewardship Sermon Award is granted annually in recognition of a sermon that best explores and promotes the financial support of Unitarian Universalism. The $1,000 award is jointly sponsored by the UUA's Annual Program Fund, the Unitarian Universalist Ministers Association, and the Liberal Religious Educators Association. The deadline for submissions for the award is February 14. Religious professional leaders are invited to submit sermons delivered between January 1, 2007, and February 10, 2008, to APF Assistant Melissa Ferris.
The UUA Bookstore has a new website featuring easy shopping and a great search function. New titles are available, too. Consider Come Into the Circle: Worshiping with Children by Michelle Richards among many others. Read more
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The Committee on Committees of the UUA Board of Trustees is accepting applications for membership on the UUA Audit Committee, which oversees the annual audit of financial statements, selects the firm to conduct the audit, reports the results to the Board of Trustees, and monitors accounting policies and internal controls. For further information about the Audit Committee and the online application, click here. The deadline for applications is January 11.
Leading Congregations Into a Multiracial, Multicultural Future: Now is the Time! will take place February 22-24 in San Jose CA. Congregational Services of the UUA invites you to join congregational leaders from around the country to explore the dynamics of creating multiracial, multicultural congregations. The keynote speaker will be the Rev. Jacqueline Lewis, Senior Minister of Vision, Worship and the Arts at Middle Collegiate Church in New York City. Also speaking will be Dr. Shakti Butler, director and producer of the documentary Mirrors of Privilege: Making Whiteness Visible. Click here for more information and online registration. Click here
for a brochure. The registration deadline is January 23.
News From Congregations
 Community
Women, the women's group of the Community Church of New York
UU (Manhattan), is donating to the church a small
replica of the eight-foot statue of Eleanor Roosevelt by
Penelope Jencks, which is at 72nd Street and Riverside Drive
in New York City. The replica will be the only feminine
symbol in the chapel.
The UU
Society in Stamford (CT) opened its doors December 2 to
those who attended Stamford's traditional event in Latham
Park: Santa descending Landmark Tower, followed by the
lighting of the tree and singing carols. The Society offered
free cocoa, held a bake sale to raise funds for St. Luke’s
LifeWorks Toy Collection, and displayed crafts at an
inviting religious education table.
Other Noteworthy Items
 Can We Build Beloved Community Through Political Action is the theme of Winter Institute 2008 sponsored by Meadville Lombard theological school, February 8-10 in Chicago, led by Dr. Melissa Harris-Lacewell, Associate Professor of Politics and African American Studies at Princeton University and author of Barbershops, Bibles, and BET: Everyday Talk and Black Political Thought. Click here for full conference details.
The UU Legislative Ministry in New Jersey
(UULMNJ) will hold its first conference January 12 at the UU
Congregation of Princeton (NJ). The UULMNJ, supported by 21
UU congregations in New Jersey, intends to provide focused
resource information, public policy alerts, and advocacy.
The conference will include keynote speakers from the
Maryland Legislative Ministry and a variety of breakout
sessions. By the end of this meeting, the UULMNJ will have
created its first official steering committee.
Click here
for a flyer and registration form. For more information,
contact
Elaine Nigam. |
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Milestones and Transitions
The following have been
granted preliminary fellowship by the UUA
Ministerial Fellowship Committee.
Jef Gamblee
Greg Geiger
Ian White Maher
Rosemarie Newberry
Wendy Pantoja
Elizabeth Anne Putnam
The Rev. Mary
Tiebout began service on December 1 as Consulting
Minister of the UU Fellowship of Sussex County
(Newton NJ).
The Rev. David
Leonard retired on January 1 from service as
Minister of the First Unitarian Society of
Plainfield (NJ).
The Rev. Addae
Watson was installed as Minister at the First Universalist Church of Southold
(NY) on January 6.
Amy Strano
will be ordained by the Unitarian Church of All
Souls (Manhattan) at 4:30 p.m. on April 13.
The Rev. Bob Janis Dillon will be installed as
Minister at the First UU Fellowship of Hunterdon
County (Baptistown NJ) on May 18.
Wendy Pantoja will be ordained by the
First
Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ) at 4:00 p.m. on
June 1.
Elizabeth Anne
Putnam will be ordained by the Fourth Universalist
Society (Manhattan) at 4:00 p.m. on June 8.
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Susan Beaumont of the Alban Institute will be the keynote presenter at the
7th National Conference for Large Congregations in Louisville, Kentucky,
from March 13-16, 2008, sponsored by the UUA. In addition to the keynote
presentation, "From Perspiration to Inspiration: Spiritually-Grounded Leadership
for Large Congregations," there will be 32 workshops, inspiring worship, an
evening devoted to UU growth, and an address on current challenges and
opportunities for large churches by Stefan Jonasson, UUA Director for Large
Congregations.
Click here for full conference details.
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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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Long Island Leadership
Institute: January 12, 2008, UU Fellowship of
Huntington (NY). For more information, contact
Reba Siniscalchi.
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UU Ministers
Association District Chapter Post-Holiday Social:
January 13, New York City (location to be announced). For more information, contact the Rev. Anthony (Tony) Johnson.
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YRUU Never Never Land Con:
January 18-20, UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft
NJ). For more information, contact
Corinne Hallander.
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Sustainable Environmental
Justice, January 19, Community Church of New York UU.
Co-sponsored by the District Women and Religion Committee.
For a flyer and registration information,
click here
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For more information, contact
Reena Kondo.
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Big Ideas for Small
Congregations (up to 150 members): January 26, Community
Church of New York UU (Manhattan). For a flyer,
click here
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To register,
click here. Sponsored by the Metro NY District. For more
information, contact Andrea
Lerner.
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YRUU Leadership Development
Conference, February 1-3, Fourth Unitarian Society of
Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY). For a flyer,
click here
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To register,
click here. For more information, contact
Beth Dana.
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Long Island Leadership
Institute: February 9, location to be announced. For
more information, contact
Reba Siniscalchi.
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UU Ministers Association District Chapter Winter Retreat: February 15-16, Stony Point Conference Center, Stony Point NY. For more information, contact the Rev. Anthony (Tony) Johnson.
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Beyond Fundraising:
February 16, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan).
Sponsored by the Metro NY District. For a flyer,
click here . To
register,
click here. For more information,
contact Andrea Lerner.
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Presidents Roundtable:
February 23, Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan).
Sponsored by the Metro NY District. For more information,
contact Andrea Lerner.
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YRUU Con: February
29-March 2, Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ). For more information, contact
Corinne Hallander.
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Long Island Leadership
Institute: March 8, location to be announced. For more
information, contact
Reba Siniscalchi.
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YRUU Bridging Con: March 28-29, location to be
announced. For more information, contact
Corinne Hallander.
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Caring Congregation
Training: March 28-30:
Mount Manresa, Staten Island NY. Sponsored by
the Metro NY District. For a flyer,
click here
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For more information, contact
Andrea Lerner.
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Junior Youth Con: April
11-13, UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ). To
register,
click here. For more information, contact
Peter Green.
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Long Island Leadership
Institute: April 12, location to be announced. For more
information, contact Reba
Siniscalchi. |
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