Last updated: 05/17/2008

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Metro NY Minute -- September 2006

  
 
News from the UU District of Metro NY
 

Save the date! The Metro NY District 2007 Annual Meeting will be held April 27-28 at the Marriott Hotel in Stamford CT.

Twenty-two District congregations welcome new staff this year. Acrobat Reader Required A total of 27 new ministerial, religious education, music, and administrative professionals begin service. Congratulations!

The UUA Health Insurance Plan deadline for enrollment is October 15. For the plan to take effective on January 1, 2007, 500 people must be enrolled by the deadline. Mailings have been sent to each congregation. Complete information -- including benefits offered, a premium calculator, and an application -- also is available at www.uua.org/leaders/insurance. District Compensation Consultant Lynn Dash is available to answer questions, or contact Jim Sargent, UUA Health Plan Communications Coordinator.

  
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

Save Darfur Now, a rally to stop the genocide in Darfur, will take place September 17 at 2:00 p.m. in New York City. Prior to the rally, a Gathering for UUs -- sponsored by the UUA, the UU Service Committee, and the UU United Nations Office -- will take place at 11:45 at the Unitarian Church of All Souls.

The Spring 2006 Chalice Lighters Call Acrobat Reader Required is now complete, raising just under $25,000 to benefit the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) in efforts to make the congregation's building handicapped accessible. The Fall 2006 Call will benefit the Gulf Coast UU Church (Gulfport MS) and other UU congregations in the Gulf Coast area; the Spring 2007 Call will benefit the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ). An update from Bill and Rickey Slezak, Acrobat Reader Required District Chalice Lighters Coordinators.

The Pension Protection Act of 2006 Acrobat Reader Required signed into law on August 17 has important provisions for charitable organizations: IRA assets up to $100,000 now can be donated directly and excluded from gross income on tax returns, but all monetary gifts -- no matter how small -- require receipts, and gifts of goods must be in good used condition or better.

The UUA Committee on Socially Responsible Investing is offering five free one-hour learning teleconference sessions Acrobat Reader Required teaching key strategies of socially responsible investing, Saturdays October 7-November 4.

Have you heard about the UU Radio Project? This weekly forum is available in either streaming audio or by podcast at www.uuradio.org. The mission of the Project is to increase public understanding of UU principles and values as well as to serve the public interest by featuring guests representing other community organizations.

District Annual Program Fund (APF) chair Jim Sanders reminds congregations to send in pledges for this year's Full Share. Forms have been sent to each congregation. Questions? Contact Jim Sanders. Watch for the new APF page at the District website, coming soon!

Weekend Renewal Acrobat Reader Required, sponsored by the UU Women's Assocation and the District Women and Religion Committee, November 10-12 at St. Josephat's Retreat House, Glen Cove, Long Island, will feature the theme of eco-feminism with the Rev. Katherine Jesch, Director of Environmental Ministry for the UU Ministry for Earth and coordinator of the Green Sanctuary Program.

A day-long leadership development program sponsored by the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock (Manhasset NY) will be held September 30 for all congregational leaders. The Resilient Congregation -- Constructing Bold Practices for a New Day will feature the Rev. Larry Peers followed by an afternoon of informative, inspiring workshops led by fellow lay leaders and clergy.

Homecoming 2006, sponsored by Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center on September 30, will include singer/songwriter Jim Scott, Rev. Vanessa Southern, Rev. Forrest Gilmore, Nate Walker, and others, each "focusing on one way (out of many) that UUs can create personal pilgrimages to transform, up-lift, enlighten and expand our hearts in compassion." 

The Unitarian Church of Staten Island is holding a Tribute to the Rev. Benjamin D. Bortin on October 8 in honor of Rev. Bortin's many years of service to the congregation. All are invited to participate.

The Social Justice Committee of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield (NJ) is sponsoring a series of free public lectures on urgent global issues to be addressed locally. Each evening will begin with a potluck supper at 6 p.m. Child care will be provided. For more information, call 908-754-9111.

Elizabeth Cady Stanton will be touring District congregations in March, Woman's History Month, in the form of a solo drama written and performed by UU author/actress Laurie James. The drama, titled "Winter Wheat, The Betrayal of Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Her Woman's Bible," was launched to a standing ovation at General Assembly 2005. Inquire at goldenheritage@nyc.rr.com (include the words Winter Wheat in the subject line).

Rev. Robert Latham, previously Interim Minister at the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ), is author of the newly published Moving on From Church Folly Lane. Says Rev. Latham, "If your congregation is stuck in transition, this book can help you move forward and deal with the changes more effectively."
 
Milestones and Transitionss
 
Having served in an interim capacity, Janice Marie Johnson is now Director of Religious Education at the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan).
 
The Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) will install Tuli Patel as Director of Children's Religious Education on September 15 at 6 p.m.
 
Emilie Boggis will be ordained by the Unitarian Church in Summit (NJ) on November 5 at 4:30 p.m.
 
Kelly Murphy Mason will be ordinained by the Community Church of New York UU (Manhattan) on September 17 at 4:30 p.m.
 
The Rev. Margaret Haynes Allen will be installed by the Unitarian Church at Westport (CT) on October 29 at 4:00 p.m.
 
The Rev. Hope Johnson will be installed by the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) on December 10 at 4:30 p.m.
 
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 Youth Steering Committee, September 16-17, at Harriman State Park, Bear Mountain NY. For information, contact Peter Green.
bullet Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) District Chapter Meeting: September 21, at Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For information, contact Melaney Mashburn.
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) CONausarus Rex: September 29 - October 1, sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Church of All Souls, Manhattan. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for flyer and registration information.
bullet Murray Grove 2006 Homecoming Acrobat Reader Required: September 30, at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor, NJ.
bullet The Resilient Congregation -- Constructing Bold Practices for a New Day: September 30, sponsored by and held at the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY.  
bullet Administration of a Religious Education Program -- Rennaissance Module: October 3-5, sponsored by the District, at the Xavier Center, Convent Station NJ. Click here Acrobat Reader Required for flyer and registration information. 
bullet Legislative Advocacy and Election Day Acrobat Reader Required: October 6, a Pre-NYSCU Conference event, Albany NY.
bullet
New York State Convention of Universalists (NYSCU) Conference: October 6-7, at the First UU Society of Albany (NY). Click here Acrobat Reader Required for a registration brochure. For information, contact Joyce Gilbert.
bullet Young Adult/Campus Ministry Conference: October 13-14, sponsored by the District, at the UU Congregation at Shelter Rock, Manhasset NY. For information, contact Andrea Lerner or visit http://www.connectuu.com/.
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Chaplain Training: October 13-15, sponsored by and held at the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield, Plainfield NJ. For information, contact Genna Ayres. 
bullet Small Group Ministry: Covenant for the Future: October 28, sponsored by the District, at the UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ). For information, contact Calvin Dame.
bullet UU Women's Association (UUWA)/District Women and Religion Committee Weekend Renewal Acrobat Reader Required: November 10-12, at St. Josephat's Retreat House, Glen Cove, Long Island NY.
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: November 17-19, sponsored by and held at the Fourth Unitarian Society of Westchester, Mohegan Lake NY. For information, contact Genna Ayres.
 
 

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.