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Metro NY Minute -- March 2007

  
 
News from the UU District of Metro NY
 
Register now for the District 2007 Annual Meeting on April 27-28, 2007, at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT! This year's theme is Rich, Warm, and Full: Nurturing Our Congregational Life. The Rev. Meg Barnhouse will be the special guest on Friday evening; the Rev. Calvin Dame will deliver the keynote address on Saturday. Online registration ends April 20.
The Spring 2007 Chalice Lighters Call has begun for the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield Acrobat Reader Required (NJ) to help the Society implement a marketing campaign, a key component of their membership development plan. More than $30,000 has been received as of March 1 for the Fall 2006 Chalice Lighters Call Acrobat Reader Required to benefit the Gulf Coast UU Fellowship (Gulfport MS) and the UUA-UU Service Committee Gulf Coast Relief Fund in efforts to recover from the ravages of hurricane Katrina. Read an update Acrobat Reader Required from Bill and Rickey Slezak, District Chalice Lighters Coordinators.		  
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 Acrobat Reader Required for small congregations

Action Alerts from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy

InterConnections for lay leaders

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

UUWorld.org, UUA's online magazine
The District Committee on Accessibilities is available to help your congregation become more welcoming to those with some form of disability. Consider a Sunday worship service or a workshop presented by the Committee. The Committee is also looking for new members and for help with an exhibit at the District 2007 Annual Meeting. Contact Rosemarie Newberry at 732-331-9463 or email -  . Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
Registration is now open for General Assembly (GA) 2007 in Portland OR June 20-24! Early bird registration runs from March 1 through April 30. A booklet of complete information Acrobat Reader Required about GA 2007 was sent to each congregation in late February. Rashid Khalidi, prominent author on the Middle East, will deliver the Ware Lecture. GA attendees will engage in a unique open meeting process -- Open Space Technology -- where participants' own questions and passions will determine our Association's direction for the 21st century. Read more Acrobat Reader Required about Open Space Technology.
Registration is now open for UU University on June 19-20, just before General Assembly 2007 in Portland OR. Gil Rendle, a senior consultant at the Alban Institute and highly acclaimed author and speaker, is the keynote speaker. All current and future lay leaders are welcome and encouraged to attend UU University, dedicated to increasing leaders' abilities to serve their congregations. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a flyer.
Registration is now open for the UU Leadership Team Institute, a collaborative initiative of the Murray Grove Association and the Joseph Priestly, Metro NY, Ohio-Meadville, and St. Lawrence districts. A six-day residential program July 28-August 3, the Institute is designed for congregational leaders wishing to strengthen their team and leadership skills in order to make a real impact in their congregations and communities. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a flyer.
Convo 2007 is scheduled for May 5-6 Acrobat Reader Required at All Souls UU Church in Bellville OH. Convo, short for Universalist Convocation, is an annual, national gathering of people who have roots in Universalism or who identify as Universalists. The keynote speaker for the event is the Rev. Ron Rembert, chair of the Department of Religion and Philosophy at Wilmington College.
The Long Island Area Council Annual Dinner will be held on April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY). The program will include scenes from Shakespeare and UU music. For more information, contact Susan Caravello.
 UU Mid-Atlantic Conference (UUMAC) is a summer camp for UUs, a multi-generational, intentional community meeting annually each summer at DeSales University for a week of fun, recreation, spiritual rejuvenation, and growth. You are welcome to join the UUMAC family! This year's camp is July 22-28, 2007. Click here for a brochure Acrobat Reader Required.
Spring forward, fall back. A reminder that the start of Daylight Saving Time is earlier than ever this year, and the clocks are set an hour later at 2:00 a.m. on Sunday, March 11. In previous years, Daylight Saving Time began on the first Sunday in April and ended on the last Sunday in October. But starting in March 2007, Daylight Saving Time will begin on the second Sunday in March and end on the first Sunday in November.
 Do you know an outstanding UU lay leader who has started on the path toward ministry? Consider recommending this person for the 2007 Rev. Chuck and Nancy Thomas Scholarship Acrobat Reader Required, awarded in the amount of $11,000 to support one individual in the first year of seminary.
 The UUA announces the launch of the Green Construction Award Pilot Program designed to stimulate the growth of Unitarian Universalism by encouraging congregations to design, construct or renovate, and operate green facilities. The program will be launched on Earth Day, April 21. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
The Reverend William G. Sinkford, president of the UUA, was honored for the second consecutive year by Beliefnet.com as one of the nation's Most Influential Black Spiritual Leaders. The Rev. Sinkford shares the spotlight with faith leaders from many spiritual traditions, including Iyanla Vanzant, Archbishop Wilton Gregory, Imam Siraj Wahhaj, and the Rev. Johnnie Colemon. Read more.
 The Unitarian Society, A UU Congregation (East Brunswick NJ) is sponsoring a concert featuring Glass Planet, a pop/rock/blues band, on March 10 as a way of reaching out to the larger community and bringing more people through the front doors, albeit on Saturday night as opposed to Sunday morning. The hope is to eventually expand into a concert series.
 Olympia's Daughters, well known women's a capella choir, will be performing at the UU Church at Washington Crossing (Titusville NJ), on March 31. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
 The Unitarian Church in Westport (CT) has successfully completed the first phase of a new microfinance initiative by raising money for two village banks in a severely impoverished area of Tajikistan. “Funding village banks in Tajikistan will help improve the lives of people in one of the poorest places on earth,” said David Vita, Director of Social Justice at the church. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
The Rev. Galen Guengerich, co-minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan) writes about "The Heart of Our Faith," asserting that gratitude should be the center of UU theology, in uuworld.org, the online magazine of the UUA.
 
Milestones and Transitionss
 
Matthew Fox was ordained as a Minister in the United Church of Christ by the All Souls Bethlehem Church (Brooklyn NY) on March 4.
 
Jill Bowden will be ordained by the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) on March 18, at 5:00 p.m.
 
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings
 
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
 
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Bridging Planning Con: March 30-31, lsponsored by and held at the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). For more information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet Junior Youth Con Acrobat Reader Required: April 21-22, sponsored by and held at the Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (NY). For more information, contact Peter Green.
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District 2007 Annual Meeting: April 27-28, at the Stamford Marriott Hotel, Stamford CT. Online registration ends April 20.
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: June 1-3, sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Church of Montclair (NJ). For more information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet UU University: June 19-20, sponsored by the UUA, in Portland OR just prior to General Assembly.
bullet General Assembly 2007: June 20-24, Portland OR.
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UU Mid-Atlantic Community (UUMAC): July 22-28, DeSales University, Center Valley PA. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a registration brochure.
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UU Leadership Team Institute: July 28-August 3, Juniata College, Huntingdon PA. Click here for a poster Acrobat Reader Required.
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Religious Education Week on Star Island: July 14-21, Star Island NH.
 

Guided by our living faith, the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York exists to be a source of connection and transformation for our congregations and our larger world.