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Metro NY Minute -- December 2006

  
 
News from the UU District of Metro NY
 
The District 2007 Annual Meeting will be held 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 begins February 15. A highlight of the meeting will be the presentation of the 2007 Annual Awards Acrobat Reader Required, and you are invited to submit a nomination for one or more of four awards. The nomination deadline is March 1, 2007.
Small Group Ministry: Covenant for the Future Acrobat Reader Required, a workshop sponsored by the District for congregational teams who want to initiate or energize their Small Group Ministry program, will be held February 24, 2007, at the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). The workshop repeats the program held previously in October. The Rev. Calvin Dame and the Rev. Chris Reed will lead the workshop.
  
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
 
Share a Lay Led Service with the UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY). Have you enjoyed a lay led service recently that was a great experience and that had a wide appeal? There has been a high level of interest in assisting the Rock Tavern congregation following the loss of their building to fire in September. Offering to share a lay led service would both be helpful to them and would serve to weave the tapestry of community in the District. Their minister, the Rev. Jim Bridges, is part time, so many of their services are lay led. Services are Sundays at 10:45 a.m. at St. Anne's Episcopal Church, 175 E Main St (Route 94), Washingtonville (NY). Keith Jordan, chair of the Adult Program Planning Committee, would welcome a discussion of connecting congregations in this fashion. You can reach Keith by phone at 845-568-5223 (work), 845-695-6851(home), or 914-978-5620 (cell), or by email -
The Fall 2006 Chalice Lighters Call Acrobat Reader Required will 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. Rather than representatives from the called congregation visiting District congregations, congregation Chalice Lighters Coordinators are asked to speak briefly, based on mailed and online materials, at a Sunday service. The UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) was happy to welcome Bill Slezak, District Chalice Lighters Coordinator, to a service on November 5 to present a symbolic check representing the funds contributed from Spring 2006 Chalice Lighters Call. Bill was able to see the ongoing renovation of both restrooms making them wheelchair-accessible. The Congregation offers grateful thanks to District congregations who made this possible! Read more Acrobat Reader Required.

Delegates to General Assembly 2006 passed a resolution asking congregations to hold at least one program addressing racism and classism and to report on that program at General Assembly 2007. Resources are available at www.uua.org/actions/responsive/06racism. Read more . . . Acrobat Reader Required
The UU Leadership Team Institute Acrobat Reader Required is a new, collaborative training initiative of the Murray Grove Association and the Joseph Priestly, Metro NY, Ohio-Meadville, and St. Lawrence districts. Scheduled for July 28 through August 3, 2007, at Juniata College in Huntingdon PA, lay and professional congregational leaders will strengthen their leadership and team skills in a specific area of focus: governance, small group ministry, growth, social justice, or family ministries. Watch the District website, your email inbox, and the Metro NY Minute for further information.
 The UUA 2005-2006 Annual Report on Giving Acrobat Reader Required is now available. Contact the UUA Stewardship and Development Department at 888-782-5885 or email - with questions or comments.
Looking for that perfect holiday gift? The Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF) offers a variety of UU jewelry, notecards, and more. All proceeds support of the ministries of the CLF. Click here to visit the CLF Gift Shop.
The UU Women's Association (UUWA) Annual Meeting and Luncheon will be held on January 20, 2007, at the Community Church of New York UU in Manhattan, featuring Laurie James speaking on "Women's Themes in Plays Today" and scenes read by UUWA members. For more information, call 212-724-0438. Click here for a flyer Acrobat Reader Required.
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 flyer Acrobat Reader Required.
Jubilee II, an Anti-Racism Workshop, will be held January 5-7, 2007, at the First Unitarian Congregational Society of Brooklyn (NY). Facilitated by UUA anti-racism trainers, the workshop is designed to prepare participants for action against racism and oppression. The workshop open to all; pre-registration is encouraged. Click here for a flyer Acrobat Reader Required.
Central Unitarian Church (Paramus NJ) has reached a milestone in understanding the congregation's present and projecting the future. The congregation has concluded a mission development process and priority action planning that gives confidence and focuses work while the congregation's minister, the Rev. Justin Osterman, begins his 2007 sabbatical. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
Inspired by the Fall 2006 Chalice Lighters Call, the Rev. Hope Johnson, minister of the UU Congregation of Central Nassau (Garden City NY) represented her congregation on a trip to the Gulf Coast, including visits to Gulfport MS and New Orleans. Read more Acrobat Reader Required.
The UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) has begun a year-long series of events marking their 50 years as a congregation: On December 17, the Rev. Dr. John Buehrens will preach and offer an afternoon workshop on the Bible for liberals. On January 7, UU songwriter and environmentalist Jim Scott will offer an afternoon family concert.  All are welcome! Visit uucmc.org for more information. The Congregation is also proud of the installation of solar panels on its roof this year.
Bethlehem Church, one of the predecessor congregations of All Souls Bethlehem Church (Brooklyn NY), is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year!  A concert is being planned for January 14 in Brooklyn to mark the occasion. Check the January issue of the Metro NY Minute or visit www.asbc.org for details closer to the date.
The UU Congregation of Princeton (NJ) plans to create a statewide Legislative Ministry that gives voice to UU Principles in the public arena. Intended as a collaborative undertaking involving every UU congregation in New Jersey, organizers will use the successful design created by UUs in California (see www.uulmca.org/) but with New Jersey characteristics. Read more Acrobat Reader Required. For more information, contact Doug Rhodes.
The UU Fellowship of Sussex County (Newton NJ) has just finished a detailed process of developing job descriptions for its officers and board members as a way of clarifying responsibility for the key areas of the Fellowship's activities. Those interested in obtaining a copy should contact Barbara Kelly, Fellowship President.
This season, the First UU Church of Essex County (Orange NJ) brings a parody of The Twelve Days of Christmas in the Church's first collaboration with a community thespian company, following the example of the Prague UU church. Norbert Capek, inspired by the Church in Orange, founded the Prague UU church in the early 1920s. Read more Acrobat Reader Required
Community Access to Rehabilitation Equipment (C.A.R.E.) Acrobat Reader Required is a program operated by Your ReSource, Inc., making gently used medical equipment available to those in need. The equipment, such as hospital beds, walkers, wheelchairs, crutches, among many other items, is refurbished and made available to anyone, though priority is given to those with limited financial resources.  
 
Milestones and Transitionss
 
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.
 
Nathan Walker will be ordained by the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) on January 14, 2007, at 5:00 p.m.
 
Jill Bowden will be ordained by the Fourth Universalist Society (Manhattan) on March 18, 2007, 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) Con: January 19-21, sponsored by and held at the Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (NY). For information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet UU Women's Association (UUWA) Annual Meeting and Luncheon Acrobat Reader Required, January 20, 2007, at Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For more information, call 212-724-0438.
bullet
UU Ministers Association (UUMA) District Chapter Winter Retreat: January 27-30, 2007, at Murray Grove Retreat and Conference Center, Lanoka Harbor NJ. For information, contact Rev. Carol Huston.
bullet Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) District Chapter Meeting: February 1, 2007, at Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. For information, contact Melanie Mashburn. 
bullet Young Religious UU (YRUU) Con: February 23-25, 2007, sponsored by and held at the Unitarian Society of Ridgewood (NJ). For information, contact Genna Ayres.
bullet
Small Group Ministry: Covenant for the Future Acrobat Reader Required: February 24, 2007, sponsored by the District, at the Unitarian Church in Westport (CT). For more information, contact Calvin Dame.  
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Anti-Racism and Diversity Conclave: March 3, 2007, sponsored by the District, at the Community Church of New York UU, Manhattan. Snow date: March 24, 2007. For information, contact Carl Heath or Rev. Hope Johnson.
bullet
Young Religious UU (YRUU) Bridging Planning Con: March 30-31, 2007, location to be announced. For more 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.