Last updated: 05/17/2008

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Metro NY Minute -- September  2005

  
 
Upcoming Workshops and Meetings 
 
Visit the District's Calendar and Events page for these and other events:
 
bullet Junior High Retreat: Sponsored by the District Junior High Steering Committee, September 17-18, Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain, New York. For a registration form, click here; for a flyer, click here. For information, contact Eric Hallander or Peter Green
bullet LREDA Chapter Meeting: September 22, at the Community Church of New York UU. For information, contact Britt Cryer.
bullet Homecoming 2005: Sponsored by Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, September 24, at Murray Grove, Lanoka Harbor NJ.
bullet YRUU Con: Sponsored by the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ), September 30-October 2. For information, contact Genna Ayres. 
bullet President's Roundtable: Sponsored by the District, October 1, at the Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For information, contact Andrea Lerner.
bullet UU Ministers Association District Chapter Annual Fall  Gathering: October 5, at the Community Church of New York  UU, Manhattan. For information, contact Rev. Justin  Osterman.
bullet Working with Junior High Youth: Sponsored by  the District Junior High Steering Committee, October 8, at the  Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. To register, visit the  RE-sources page at the District website.
bullet Senior High Youth Advisor Workshop:  Sponosored by the District, October 8, at the UU Congregation at Shelter  Rock, Manhasset NY. To register, visit the  RE-sources page at the District website.
bullet New York State Convention of Universalists Annual Conference: October 21-22, at the UU Church of Buffalo (NY); Keynote Speaker will be the Rev. Rosemary Bray McNatt, Minister at the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan). For information, visit the NYSCU website or click here for a flyer.
bullet LREDA Fall Conference: October 21-24, at the Doubletree Hotel, Philadelphia PA.
bullet Senior High Youth Advisor  Workshop: Sponsored by the District, October  29, at the First UU Church of Essex County, Orange NY. To register,  visit the  RE-sources page  at the District website.
bullet Colleague Conversations: Sponsored by the District,  November 2, at the Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For Parish  Minister and Religious Educator teams in new relationship. For information,  contact Andrea Lerner or Harry Green.
bullet Young Adult Conference: Sponsored by the District Young  Adult Steering Committee, November 4-6, location tba. For Information,  contact Laura Beth  Brown.
bullet Elementary OWL Training: Sponsored by the District, November 11-13, UU Congregation at Shelter Rock in Manhasset NY. To register, visit the RE-sources page at the District website.
bullet UUWA Fall Renewal Weekend: Sponsored by the  UU Women's Assocation and the Metro NY District Women and Religion Committee,  November 11-13, at St. Josephat's Retreat House in Glen Cove, Long Island, NY.  All UU women in the District are invited. Contact Reena Kondo at 518-226-0438  (212-724-0438 after November 1).
bullet 6th National Conference for Mid-Size  Congregations: Sponsored by the UUA,  March 2-5, 2006, at the Hyatt Regency Phoenix.
 
Did You Know . . . ?
 
. . . You can help victims of Katrina by contributing to the UUA Gulf Coast Relief Fund, to be distributed under the auspices of the Southwest  and Mid-South Districts. How to Make a Donation

. . . 22 District congregations welcome new staff, including ministers, directors of religious education, music directors, administrators, and others.

. . . The Fall 2005 Chalice Lighters Call will help the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester (Mohegan Lake NY) to engage its minister for half-time service. The Society has been lay-led for most of its 48 years, only recently hiring the Rev. Dawn Sangrey on a quarter-time basis.

. . . District congregations pledge support through the Annual Program Fund (APF).. Read a message from Jim Sanders, APF District Chair.

. . . Lynn Dash, District Compensation Consultant, wants to know: Is your congregation among those that might be eligible to celebrate Fair Compensation status?

. . . The Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) is offering its Junior High OWL program to the larger local community, sending invitations to schools, non-UU churches, and like-minded organizations. Laura Beth Brown, Director of Religious Education, has more information.

  
More Good Stuff to Check Out!

RE-Sources for religious education leaders

Job opportunities around the District

SmallTalk for or small congregations

Action Alerts from the UUA Washington Office for Advocacy

InterConnections for lay leaders

UUA Monthly Mailing to all congregations

It Bears Repeating!

The District Board of Trustees has planned a Series of Conversations with  congregational leaders during the year to explore creating and sustaining  healthy congregations. The UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY)  is host to the first Conversation on September  10.

ReBecca Sala will be ordained by the Unitarian Universalist Society in Stamford (CT) at 4:00  p.m. on September 18.
 
. . . The Unitarian Church in Westport has hired David Vita as a part-time Social Justice Director to strengthen the congregation's social action program, including an emphasis on the welfare of children in nearby inner cities. The position will initially be funded by a gift from a church member.
 
. . . Highlighted in the Fall 2005 UU World magazine are the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ) as its minister the Rev. Chris Reed and president Sharon Copeland reflect on the interim ministry of the Rev. Robert Latham [pg 17]. Warren Ross, past District President, contributed an article about the Veatch Program of  the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY), which is also the subject of his new Skinner House book, Funding Justice.
 
. . . UUWorld.org, the UUA's new Web magazine, is now available. Check it out! You can also subscribe to a weekly e-newsletter at the site.
 
. . . Unitarian villages in Transylvania were devestated by flash flooding. Read how you can help in a statement from the UUA and UU Partner Church Council.
 
. . . Professional Organizations of the UUA  provide support for UU religious professionals. Included are the Association of UU Administrators, the Liberal Religious Educators Association, the UU Ministers Association, the UU Musicians Network, and the Society for Community Ministries.
 
. . . The UU Musicians Network liaison to the Metro NY District is now Dr. EdWard Thompson, Minister of Music at the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). The UUMN offers support and resources to UU musicians, both professional and volunteer.
 
. . . Four UU congregations were honored as Breakthrough Congregations at General Assembly 2005.  Each has an interesting story to  tell. Read about them and dream big! Is your congregation the next Breakthrough honoree?
 
. . . UUA President Bill Sinkford was honored by the New Democracy Coalition with the first "Rev. James Reeb New Democracy Service Award" at a ceremony at the Massachusetts State House on August 4.
 
Milestones and Transitions
 
Cheryl M. Walker will be ordained by the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) on October 9 at 4:30 p.m. She is Assitant Minister at the Unitarian Church of All Souls (Manhattan).
 
The Rev. Alison Miller will be installed by the Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship on November 13.
 
The Unitarian Society in East Brunswick (NJ) begins an exciting new era in September with the arrival of their settled minister, the Rev. Susan Veronica Rak.
 
The UU Congregation of Somerset Hills has welcomed and begun working with its new Interim Minister, the Rev. Evan Keely. Rev. Keely attended the UU Fellowship of Huntington as a child and most recently served as interim minister of a UU congregation in Houston, Texas.
 
The Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ) has a new Director of Religious Education as of September 1. The Rev. Tracy Sprowls Jenks, who has most recently served as Associate Minister at Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan), replaces Eileen Jarrett who is moving.
 
The Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock welcomes Carol Schneider as its new Ministerial Intern beginning in September.
 
POSTPONED: The celebration on September 25 in honor of the UU Congregation of the South Fork's new facilility has been postponed. Watch for further announcements.
 

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.