Did You Know ...

Did You Know . . . ?

Leadership Sets the Tone For Chalice Lighters

My congregation, the Fourth Universalist Society of New York, is the Metro NY District Fall 2004 Chalice Lighters congregation. I ask you to support our efforts by creating an atmosphere in which the Chalice Lighter Program is welcomed and encouraged in your congregations. While the Chalice Lighters Coordinators lead the effort, the tone that you set is important. I have always done my best to support visiting calls; I hope you will all do the same.

Thank you,

Beth Putnam

Board President

Your Congregation Could Present a District-Sponsored Workshop at GA!

Want to present a workshop/lecture or event at General Assembly (GA) in Ft. Worth? It's time to get started. Each UU District can sponsor up to two workshops presented by congregations, generally described as "congregational showcase events." The early deadline for submission is December 1, 2004. "Early" means you get the best choice of times and your workshop description will be listed in GA promotional materials. The Metro NY District Board will meet on October 16, 2004, to review proposals and select the programs we will sponsor. We can accept proposals up to November 22nd for an E-vote by the Board.

For more information and to download an application form go to http://www.uua.org/ga/prog.html.

UU Congregation of Monmouth County Active in Election Issues

As the election approaches, the UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) has been active in a number of ways:

Registering people to vote at a mall booth, where young first-time voters are especially receptive, and at a retirement community, where one member registered over 200 people.

Offering registration forms at coffee hour

Sponsoring a series of five Deep Talks about election issues

Sponsoring two movie nights open to the public: 150 people attended the viewing of Outfoxed and Farenheit 911 will be shown soon.

Watching the presidential debates together at the congregation's facilities, with discussion afterward.

UU Church at Washington Crossing Successfully Adds Second Service

The Unitarian Universalist Church at Washington Crossing added a second Sunday morning service of worship on September 12, 2004. This change happened because the congregation reached its capacity in the areas of: parking, adequate room for children in the Sunday morning classes and for people to gather for fellowship after one Sunday Service.

The congregation happily reports smooth sailing with religious education classes and attendance of 75 people at the 9:00 AM service and 118 people at the 11:00 AM service.

Along with the second service, the congregation added a second session of religious education for children. The full time Director of Religious Education, Jean Wiant, is working with the Religious Education Committee to provide quality liberal religious education for the growing number of children from pre-k through the high school years who are attending classes.

Each Sunday, the children join the adult congregation for the first fifteen minutes in the sanctuary and then leave with their teachers for their classes. The two services of worship and the two religious education programs for children begin at 9 AM and 11 AM with a social time between the services. The two services are nearly identical with the choir or other special music at each service.

The congregation made these changes because it wants to provide greater space and additional opportunities for its present members and for the additional people who are attracted to the principles and programs of Unitarian Universalism.

Rev. Charles Stephens, Minister, sees the congregation responding to their vision by reaching out, stretching, and growing to become stronger, more flexible, and ever more vital as a congregation.