Metro NY Minute -- November 2008|
Worth Repeating!
Are you interested in
presenting a workshop at the 2009 District Annual
Meeting? The Annual Meeting planners would like to hear from
you. The 2009 District Annual Meeting will be held May 1-2,
2008. Workshops should fit the theme "Turn Outward in
Faith," focusing on the fourth system -- the Serving System
-- in the congregational systems model advanced by
Larry Peers. To quote Larry: "Service to others is a powerful
way for an individual to grow spiritually. The congregation is
attentive to providing support and recognition for individuals to grow
through serving others -- and using one’s gifts, talents, or passion
in meaningful and powerful ways. This is tied with your community
presence: What you do within your congregation and how you serve
others in the broader community extends your presence beyond the walls of
your congregation." Click here to enter your workshop proposal.
Presentation of the 2009 District
Awards and
2009 District
Scholarships will be a highlight of
the 2009 District Annual Meeting. You are invited to submit a
nomination for one or more of four awards, and to encourage youth to
apply for a scholarship. The nomination and application deadline is March
1, 2009.
Showcase your congregation at
General
Assembly 2009 in Salt Lake City UT June 24-28, 2009! The
District can sponsor up to two Congregation Showcase events and is now
soliciting proposals. The deadline is January 1. Click here to submit a proposal.
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 congregations
uuworld.org, the UUA online magazine
UU Service
Committee news
Small
Talk newsletter for small UU
congregations |
Calling all young adults! Come to the Young Adults Winter
Retreat and spend Presidents Day Weekend (February 13-16, 2009) in
community with fellow District young adult UUs at Frost Valley YMCA Camp in Claryville
NY! Stay three nights in a beautiful 40-person, environmentally
friendly lodge with a wood-burning fireplace. Meet new friends, re-connect with
old ones, and just relax in the Catskill mountains. Participate in arts and
crafts, hiking, or snow tubing -- to name a few activities -- or take some
time for personal reflection. Nightly worship lead by a District young adult
religious professional and an open-mic night are also in store. Registration
includes all meals and is $175, increasing to $200 on December 1.
UUA President the Rev. Bill Sinkford began a
19-day pilgrimage on November 4 to visit six African
countries: South Africa, Uganda, Kenya, Senegal, Ghana and Nigeria. [Pictured is
a Kenyan Unitarian children's center.] The four goals of
the journey are to meet with UU colleagues; learn from
the leaders in Truth and Reconciliation work in South Africa, including
Archbishop Desmond Tutu; learn from leaders of social justice and human
rights organizations involved in diverse struggles; and visit the UNESCO
World Heritage site and witness to the Atlantic Slave Trade. UUs can
participate in the journey by reading blog posts, news stories, and
reports, viewing pictures, and watching videos of the
journey. Religious education classes can join in one of the live,
interactive Sunday School webcasts November 9, 16, and 23.|
Milestones and
Transitions The Rev. Rosemarie Newberry was ordained by the
UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ)
on November 2.
Jef Gamblee will be ordained by the
Community Unitarian Church at White Plains (NY) on
January 25, 2009, at 4:00 p.m.
The Rev. Susan Karlson will be installed by the
Unitarian Church of Staten Island (NY) on April 26, 2009,
at 5:00
p.m. |
Skylands UU Fellowship (Hackettstown NJ) is holding its
first service at its new location on November 16. Pending final legal
arrangements, the Fellowship will soon purchase the 126-year-old
church, part of the Beattystown NJ Historic District that has both
Federal and state landmark recognition.
The UU Congregation at Rock Tavern (NY), as
reported in the July/August issue of the Metro NY Minute, is a member
National Religious Campaign Against Torture,
and its wayside pulpit is featured in a UUA
home page website story on UU congregations opposing torture. Read
more.
The Morristown (NJ) Unitarian Fellowship hosted a
competition for
The Canadian UU Educators holiday newsletter supplement
includes a variety of holiday ideas, including pageants and
plays, stories, a giving tree, a gift-making workshop, books, and links to
online resources.