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Metro NY
Minute -- June 2008 |
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News
From the District
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 The
Youth Adult Team travels to the Pacific Northwest! In
August, a team of District youth and adults will attend the
Pacific Northwest District's GoldMine Youth Leadership
School Training of Trainers. The team includes: Marcy
Ayres (Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ)),
Hannah-Ruth Civita (Fourth Unitarian Society of
Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY)), Sean Fischer (First
Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY)), and
Laura Beth Brown (UU Congregation At Shelter Rock
(Manhasset NY)). This impressive team of leaders will return
with new skills and training models to incorporate into the
2009 UU
Leadership Team Institute Youth Ministry Track.
[Pictured are GoldMine 2006 participants.]
Materials from the 2008 District
Annual Meeting are now available online.
Included are materials from seven
workshops, the keynote address, and
annual reports.
Going to General Assembly (June 25-29, Fort
Lauderdale FL)? Be sure to attend these
District-sponsored events: District In-Gathering (#1016,
June 25, 4:45 p.m., Convention Center 220-221); John Murray
Lecture by the Rev. Dr. Bill Schulz (#2041, June 26, 1:45
p.m., Convention Center Floridian ABC); What Every 21st
Century Parent Needs to Know by the Rev. Debra Haffner,
Community Minister at the Unitarian Church in Wesport
(CT) (#3056, June 27, 3:15 p.m., Convention Center Grand
Floridian E).
Do you have a passion for youth ministry? Do you hope to
assure that youth have a spiritual home that supports them
during this important stage in their lives? Do you dream of
vibrant UU youth ministry? If your answer is yes, please
consider applying to serve as the Metro NY District
Youth Ministry Consultant. For information about how to
apply,
click here.
The Saturday morning worship service at the 2008
District Annual Meeting collected $1084 for the
Reverend Marjorie Bowens-Wheatley Fund. The Fund is used
to "support UU congregations and their lay and ordained
leaders who are committed to the transformative work of
creating inclusive multicultural communities of the spirit."
Thanks to the efforts of the Rev. Jim Bridges, the online Times Herald-Record included an article about the
anti-torture resolution passed by delegates to the 2008 District Annual Meeting.
Read the article.
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Worth Repeating
Registration is
open for
UULTI 2008! Last year's acclaimed program
returns for 2008. The UU Leadership Team Institute (UULTI)
is a week-long training opportunity sponsored by the
Metro NY, Joseph Priestly, Ohio-Meadville, and St.
Lawrence districts, July 28-August 3, Juniata
College, Huntingdon PA.
Partners for Sacred Spaces and the District
are teaming up for a workshop and architect's
tour at the Fourth Universalist Society
(Manhattan) on June 21 from 10:00 a.m to 1:00 p.m.
The workshop and tour are designed as an exploratory
session for congregations who may want to
participate in the
New
Dollars/New Partners
training program. To register for the workshop and
tour,
click here. For more information, contact
Andrea Lerner.
Host a Youth Con in
2008-2009! It's time to plan the District Youth
Event Calendar for 2008-2009. In an effort to make
sure the events are scattered over the course of the
year, and geographically around the district, the
District Youth Adult Committee has
responsibility for setting this calendar. Apply
to be a host by June 10. For more information
about hosting a Con and to apply as a host for next
year, click here
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Ministry in the
Borderlands, the theme of
UU University 2008, addresses the challenges
and rewards of working across religious identities.
The keynote speaker, the Rev. Nick Carter, President
of Andover University, is actively engaged in
interfaith and inter-religious cooperation for
action. UU University takes place June 24-25, just
prior to
General Assembly, in Fort Lauderdale FL.
The UUA board
invites all congregational leaders to attend a
General Assembly workshop: Unitarian Universalism:
Making a Meaningful, Relevant Difference on
Thursday, June 26, 3:15 – 6:15 p.m., Convention
Center, Floridian ABC. The board is seeking input as
it develops “ends” statements that identify who
we’re striving to be in the future.
Read more
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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
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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Michelle Edgar, a member of the UU Congregation of
Somerset Hills (North Branch NJ) has accepted the
position of UU Service Committee Regional Coordinator.
Michelle has been active in social justice causes since 1989
and is currently co-chair of her congregation's Social
Action Committee. Latifa Woodhouse of the UU
Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY) also serves
as Regional Coordinator in the District.
Faith and Autism, a new booklet available from the NJ Coalition on Inclusive Ministries, includes information about autism and strategies on how a congregation can welcome families and people with autism. One in every 96 children are now diagnosed with autism. Congregations in New Jersey are offered one free copy of the booklet; other congregations responding by June 15 may also receive a free copy. Contact
Rosemarie
Newberry, chair of the District Committee on Accessibilities
News From the UUA
 If you can't be at the 2008 General Assembly, GA can come to your desktop or laptop, via streaming media. The GA web staff will bring more than 20 hours of the Fort Lauderdale GA (June 25-29) to you. Visit the link below for live streaming video of the events noted. After the events have passed, archived video will be provided as quickly as possible. Click here for all the details, and for links to technical information needed to view GA on the web!
The Commission on Social Witness invites you to collaborate online to organize Actions of Immediate Witness at the 2008 General Assembly. Read more.
The Commission on Appraisal will present a report at the 2008 General Assembly on its progress reviewing the Principles and Purposes for possible revision. The Commission, chaired by the Rev. Orlanda Brugnola, Chaplain of the First Unitarian Congregational Society in Brooklyn (NY), has received comments from 117 congregations and 1,000 individuals. The Commission will make recommendations to the board in January 2009. Read more.
The second Association Sunday is October 12. Based on a survey of UU leaders, half the funds will be used to support lay theological education and half the funds will be used to support excellence in ministry. Read more.
Congregations are invited to fieldtest three more Tapestry of Faith programs for children this fall: Wonderful Welcome, grades K-1; Windows and Mirrors, grades 4-5; and Amazing Grace: Exploring Right and Wrong, grade 6. All programs are 16 sessions. Read more.
The Rev. Erik Wikstrom will join the UUA staff as its very first Director of Worship and Music Resources this fall, supported by the generosity of Richard and Elaine Barrett of Boulder CO, who believe that congregations draw new members through vibrant worship and rousing music. Read more.
UUA Identities Based Ministries would like to hear from youth and young adults of color or Latina/o and Hispanic descent (YaYAOC). The Youth and Young Adult Survey asks about the experiences of YaYAOC in their local youth groups, young adult and campus ministry groups, and at district and continental gatherings. The survey is part of the Mosaic Project.
The Committee on Committees of the UUA Board of Trustees is accepting applications for a vacancy on the Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee to fill out the remainder of a term until December 31, 2009. The deadline for applications is June 17. For more information, including an online application form, click here.
Materials from the 2008 Large Congregations Conference held in March are now available online. More than 300 people from 53 large UU congregations attended the seventh annual conference in Louisville KY.
News From Congregations
The First Unitarian
Universalist Fellowship of Hunterdon County (Baptistown
NJ) joyfully installed the Rev. Bob Janis-Dillon as
their minister on May 18. Over 100 people attended the event
and experienced the beauty of the service and the pleasure
of the celebration, aided by a bluegrass band and the
helpful contribution of a tent from the Unitarian Society of
Ridgewood (NJ).
The UU Congregation of Danbury (CT) voted on May 16
to join the
New Sanctuary Movement. The congregation plans to build
partnerships with Danbury's large immigrant community and to
work with other area faith communities to provide outreach,
support, and hospitality to immigrants and their families
and to put a human face on this issue. "We want to publicize
the current injustices and how they affect families," says
Carl Tichler, board president.
Read more.
The Rev. Forrest Church,
Minister of Public Theology at the Unitarian Church of
All Souls (Manhattan), was featured on a Profile in
Courage segment of the Regional News Network.
Watch the segment on YouTube.
The Rev. Jim Bridges, Minister at the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY) and Consulting Minister at the UU Fellowship of the Poconos (Stroudsburg PA) wrote a letter to the editor of the New York Times, published June 7. Read the letter.
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Milestones and Transitions
The UU Fellowship of
Bellport (NY) celebrated its 50th anniversary in
May.
The Rev. Bob Janis
Dillon was installed as minister at the First
UU Fellowship of Hunterdon County (Baptistown
NJ) on May 18.
The Rev. Wendy
Pantoja was ordained by the First Unitarian
Society of Plainfield (NJ) and the UU
Congregation at Montclair (NJ) on June 1 at the
UU Congregation at Montclair (NJ).
The Rev. Elizabeth
Anne Putnam was ordained by the Fourth
Universalist Society (Manhattan) on June 8.
Aisha Hauser
begins her new position as Children and Families
Program Director for the UUA Lifespan Faith
Development group on June 16. Aisha has served as
Director of Religious Education for the Fourth
Universalist Society (Manhattan).
The Rev. Susan
Spencer begins service as Interim Minister at
the UU Congregation of Danbury (CT) on August
1.
The Rev. Maj-Britt
Johnson has been called by the Community Church
of Chapel Hill, UU in Chapel Hill NC to serve as
minister beginning August 15. Rev. Johnson currently
serves as consulting minister at the UU
Congregation of the Palisades (Englewood NJ).
Rosemarie Newberry
will be ordained by the UU Congregation of
Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) on November 2 at
5:00 p.m. Note this is a change in date from
previous announcements. |
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The North Fork UU Fellowship (Jamesport NY) holds Sunday services in the historic Jamesport Meeting House, a 276-year-old church in need of repair. The Jamesport Meeting House Preservation Trust, which includes the Fellowship, has applied to the National Historic Register to purchase and restore the church. The Fellowship has already contributed $25,000 and plans to raise another $50,000 over the next three years. The Trust will also raise funds from the community. For more information, contact Jonathon Hanson.
The UU Fellowship of the Poconos (Stroudsburg PA) voted on May 18 to become participating members of the National Religious Campaign Against Torture and endorse the statement of conscience, Torture Is A Moral Issue.
The Rev. Tracy Sprowls Jenks, Religious Education Minister at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ), recently attended her first Junior High Con. "I was overwhelmed at the depth of sharing by these middle school kids. I was overjoyed and profoundly grateful that our UU youth had such a place to come together as the Con," said Rev Sprowls Jenks, who strongly encourages volunteer participation in religious education programs. Read more
The UU Society in Stamford (CT) held it first professionally run auction on May 3, and the event was a great success, bringing in just under $11,000 in profit. The event included 37 donations for the silent auction, 5 large-item donations for the live auction, and ads purchased by 63 local merchants. Donated food and wine and entertainment by pianist Rachel Kim rounded out the affair. Every item up for auction was sold, many of them close to their retail value.
Other Noteworthy Items
 Time is of the essence to register for Ways to the Spirit
, a weekend of spiritual renewal and practice for UUs, co-led by the Rev. Craig Hirshberg, a member of the District board, held July 11-13 at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. To register, contact Murray Grove at 609-693-5558 or visit www.murraygrove.org.
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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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Young Adult and Campus
Ministry Training: June 14, UU Church at Washington
Crossing, Titusville NY. For more information and a registration
form,
click here
.
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Ways to the Spirit
:
July 11-13, Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center,
Lanoka Harbor NJ.
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Youth Con: July 11-13,
Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). For more information, contact
Corinne Hallander. |
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