You can watch live-streaming of the video, without registration, by visiting www.uua.org/ga at the time of sermon. For more information, click here.

This year, videos will play on mobile devices, including iPhones, iPads, and Android devices. If the video won’t play, please reload or refresh the page. Video will be posted at least 15 minutes, and sometimes as much as several hours, after each live-streamed event (as quickly as we can process them). You can watch these any time. Closed captions and transcripts will be available in mid-July.Watching GA Video

• Live-streaming video on a computer is best viewed with high-speed Internet. We recommend 1.5Mbps or greater download speed.
• Speakers or headphones are required for audio. Live-streaming video is not captioned. Captions and transcripts are added about two weeks after GA is over.
• Clicking on the screen of a live-streaming event can cause the video player to pause and not re-start. Reload the page to re-start the live stream.

Please come out to celebrate World Refugee Day. A night filled with people, music, and culture to honor the courage, strength, and determination of women, men and children who are forced to flee their homeland under threat of persecution, conflict and violence.

Help Refugees Rebuild Their Lives

Featuring:

Alison Millan, Resettlement Director at the International Rescue Committee in Elizabeth New Jersey
- Honoring a Refugee Family

Musical Entertainment by Kamate Traders
- African Drummer & Dancer

Deckillah Omukoba – Swahili Poem Reading

Bill Westerman, PhD ­- Will share his experience of working with refugees abroad specifically Bangladesh.

Thursday, June 20, 2013
6:30-9:00 pm
Christ Church
561 Springfield Avenue
Summit, NJ, 07901
Suggested Donation $25.00

All proceeds to go to IRATE & First Friends immigrant detainee support programs

New Jersey is the odd one out, and not because we have the most reality shows. It’s because Rhode Island, Delaware and Minnesota have signed marriage equality into law, while same-sex couples in New Jersey are still waiting for their legislators to recognize their freedom to marry.

Bring the freedom to marry to New Jersey – get trained to lobby for marriage equality.

Learn how to convince your legislator to override the governor’s veto of the 2012 marriage equality bill. Rally together to push for an override, starting this month in Summit. Can we count on you to attend?

The ACLU-NJ’s Issue Forum and Lobby Training – in Summit

Wednesday, June 26, from 7 – 9 p.m.

Unitarian Church in Summit

4 Waldron Avenue, Summit, NJ 07901

Get active in the marriage equality movement with the ACLU-NJ today. Call Eliza at the ACLU-NJ at 973-854-1729 or email her estraim@aclu-nj.org  if you have any questions.

To view the complete strategic plan that led to the formation of this mission statement, please follow this link.

I’m Mark Steinwinter, Director of Information Technology at the UUA in Boston.

I noticed that your congregation did not use all of your eligible delegate slots at the last General Assembly. If cost or the difficulty of travel was a barrier, I have good news for you.

Your congregation’s delegates can participate in the business of GA without having to be physically present in Louisville. Using online technology, a registered delegate can watch the proceedings, vote, and participate in debate right from their home, office, or congregation. Registration is less costly, too – only $150 instead of as much as $380 for an adult.

Make sure your congregation’s voice is heard at GA this year. Please pass this information along to those in your congregation who may be interested in helping to shape our denomination’s future.

To learn more, visit the UUA’s website at http://www.uua.org/ga/virtual/175228.shtml.

(IMPORTANT: All delegates who are not present at GA and who wish to vote for elected officers such as Moderator must do so using the absentee ballot process, also described at http://www.uua.org/ga/virtual/175228.shtml. The online voting process does not include a way to cast a vote for those elected positions. Absentee ballots must be received by June 12.)

Questions? Contact generalassembly@uua.org.

In Faith,
Mark Steinwinter
Director, Information Technology Services
UUA

Please contact Norm Miller at nrmiller99@gmail.com or telephone 908-273-4802 if you are interested.

• Talk and Tour is a led by a lay-member and includes a tour around our building and grounds, offering a sweeping overview of our church and what it offers. Talk and Tours are generally offered twice a month.
• Fresh and Direct, the first of two Path to Membership conversations, and a great way to learn about Unitarian Universalist history and theologies, will be held on July 14th from 11:15 a.m.—1:15 p.m. upstairs in the Library. This time is also a great way to connect with a minister and meet other newcomers to UCS. Pizza and Childcare will be provided.  All are welcome!
• Join and Grow is a two-hour exploration of our personal religious histories, theologies and who we hope to be as members of The Unitarian Church in Summit (UCS) community. You may sign the Membership Book at the conclusion of the Join and Grow class if you wish to become a member of the UCS community.

To learn more about membership or find out the dates of upcoming classes, please contact Rev. Kim, Assistant Minister for Congregational Life at 908.273.3245, Ext. 129 or via email at kim@ucsummit.org or contact the church office at Ext. 102 or susan@ucsummit.org.

We have, with the help of our many volunteer supporters, seen the children’s Religious Education program through another great year. Thank you all!

We have over 200 kids in the program and have run sexuality education classes at 3 levels. We have also held a 5th grade rite of passage, and holiday craft Sundays in the month of December. This year we were especially excited by our additional multi-generational events – Diwali as well as Passover. Our kids have shown their compassion and dedication in the book drive they held for Chancellor Avenue school in the month of January – were were able to buy over 150 books for the library! What a lot we have to celebrate!

The children’s RE council meets regularly to discuss and plan for the future. A big shout out to them all!

As we look back at our year of RE and celebrate its volunteers, children, and families (see box below), I am excited to hear and know about your personal celebrations. Perhaps you take an annual summer vacation to the shore? Is there an annual outing to the shore planned? And for those who have nothing planned, how does the ordinary meal, the everyday walk to work feel like a celebration? Can it even ever have that flavor?

As always, I have more questions than answers, and look forward to hearing from you.

Namaste,

Tuli

The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey (UULMNJ) would like to better understand how much Unitarian Universalists (UUs) in New Jersey are aware of its mission and involved in its activities. They have developed a brief survey to look at these issues and would like all UUs in New Jersey to complete the survey.  This survey is intended for everyone regardless of knowledge or involvement with UULMNJ.

Please use this link to access the survey - https://app.icontact.com/icp/sub/survey/start?sid=1355&cid=795971.  Your response is greatly appreciated and will help UULMNJ to improve its effectiveness!  The survey will take approximately 5-10 minutes or less to complete.

Thank you,

Your UULMNJ liaison

Consequently, I have always kept scrapbooks. I love the process of designing a page, of shaping photos and mementos, cartoons and postcards to tell a story of some moment of life. During our dating, my husband became trained in keeping movie ticket stubs, maps, and napkins from music locales where we “talked” during shows (old school version of texting). All of it went into story-telling on an open page.

Just after my second child was born, however, I stopped scrapbooking altogether. It was a time when I wanted to remember the stories of my children. I should be telling their stories, but I found that I just couldn’t. A high dose of hormones mixed with a good look into the meaning of my mere existence, the finality of my mortality, and the story of stuff made me quit. I kept wondering: What stories are worth telling? Does every moment need to be captured? What will happen to these books when I die? Will these books of story and memory be a treasure or a burden for my children and grandchildren? Is remembering enough? How can I remember without the scrapbooks?

I found myself standing at a crossroads. I couldn’t reconcile the two. How do we share the stories of our lives without burdening us with more stuff? How do I sustainably practice my love of storytelling through worn photos, funny quotations, and love-note napkins? I haven’t yet found the answers.

It’s been four years this June since I stopped scrapbooking. Sometimes you just have to sit with things until something shifts (I just keep hoping that too many memories won’t be lost). So here it is June. June marks the end of another church year, the close of another school year and the beginning of a season that’s just perfect for scrapbooking, storytelling, meaning-making, remembering and celebrating another year of life. And I am craving an open page.

So my project for the summer is to lean into (probably not so) new technology. To experiment. To try new ways of sharing stories. So that the moments that made life full and hard, ecstatic and mundane are available for those who treasure and need them. It feels like a beginning.

So one of my first orders of business in preparing for GA 2013 is to get a copy of Robert’s Rules. This is not just a personal thing. To be a parliamentarian at the UUA General Assembly is to come face to face with thousands of Unitarian Universalists, many of whom have their own, thumb-worn copies of Robert’s Rules.

I envy the UUs who have thumb-worn copies. Because I don’t. Never do. The copy I bring to GA is always fresh off the presses with that new-book smell. When I return from GA, I put my copy on a bookshelf where I’m sure I’ll find it next year. During the course of the year, my family and I without fail decide to rearrange the many books we have in the house, and end up casually moving it to a spot where it is easily forgotten. As a small, slim book, it may fall behind the other books, or end up on the floor under the bookshelf. Or perhaps the Robert’s-Rules-Eating-Mice make meals of it.

Truth to tell, I don’t know what the hell happens to it. My best working theory is that the old Robert’s Rules find fellowship with lost unmatched socks. I picture them relaxing comfortably somewhere in a place accessible through a worm hole behind the clothes dryer, making sock-related decisions in a most democratic fashion.

This year, I’m going digital, with an electronic Kindle-compatible copy. It will live in a “Cloud” somewhere, theoretically immune to the vagaries of the space-time continuum. This may be a good test to see if the Cloud really and truly keeps everything. Because if anything can figure out how to get lost, it’s a copy of Robert’s Rules owned by yours truly.

Looking over my Annual Report from last year, my church year seemed to be all about putting systems into place:  a Path to Membership for our new folks; a Pastoral Care Team that had their fingers on the pulse of the congregation in a new way; a Small Group Ministry that was theme-based and connected the congregation around spiritual practices.  Each of these efforts were notable especially in relation to the earthquake that happened on my third day of ministry with UCS, saying nothing of the newness and shine that came with a first year together.

This past year, though, feels a bit different.  Maybe it’s what comes with another year of making a home with you all, but I don’t believe it is that alone.  We’ve mourned together a lot this year.  And beautifully, we’ve celebrated with equal fervor.
Here are just a few of the things we did together as The Unitarian Church in Summit this church year:

As always we began our year by offering the waters of our summer at our annual Water Communion.  Each drop given by a member of our community was mixed to create the water we bless our children with in the coming year; most of whom had yet to be born.  Not long after Strategic Planning was on its way; the Board met for a day-long retreat on Stewardship; our Partner Church minister, Alpar, preached at UCS; we said goodbye to Carolyn after twenty-five years and greeted Dee with excitement for our future.

We celebrated the 250th anniversary of John Murray’s preaching of Universalism in America; we had a Presidential Election; experienced Hurricane Sandy and its aftermath without power or heat in our homes or congregation – and we reached almost all 520 members in just three days with one another’s combined efforts.

We celebrated National Coming Out Day and an Interfaith Thanksgiving dinner put on by the Summit area youth.  Vanessa left for her five month sabbatical.  We hung our Marriage Equality banner; beloved members, Hank Dearborn and Marie Welsh, passed away.  I wouldn’t forget mentioning our Services Auction, Hanging of the Greens – did I forget to name Strategic Planning?  We grieved the Newtown shootings; we gathered for Christmas Eve and thought about the unexpected messengers in our lives.  The Leadership and Expansion ministries began.  Martin Luther King Jr was honored at UCS and at Kent Place and the Interfaith service at Fountain Baptist by congregants and staff.  We said goodbye to our Sexton, Petros, and welcomed Carl.

The Annual Giving Team held two “Meet the Neighbors” evenings where we toured the funeral home and we heard many comments on the wallpaper, but interestingly not as many about dying or death.  You helped celebrate mine and Tara’s and Mitchell and Lee’s weddings with a dessert party where we danced and sang and ate many sweets.  There was of course Spirit in Practice all year and have I mentioned Strategic Planning?

And amidst all of this, we welcomed twenty-nine new members to this congregation; Vanessa returned rejuvenated; and now, our Flower Communion looks back to our Water Communion, seeing all that has bloomed from the waters we offered.  Another year, another blessed and full year, comes, if not to a close, than a least to a brief lull as the roots grow deeper and the colors get brighter.

This past year feels different.  We’ve mourned together a lot this year.  And we’ve celebrated with equal fervor.  It is the beauty of being with one another, with one another in this faith, and with one another in this season.

With Gratitude for all that we have planted and all that we have seen grow,

Kim

On Sunday, May 19, UCS members contributed more than $1,052.25 to help fund a new UU congregation in Brooklyn, called Original Blessing, that is the first congregation launched in our metro NY district in more than 20 years. It’s an exciting endeavor for our movement! If you weren’t at church that day, please consider sending a contribution to the UCS office.

This collection is part of the district’s Chalice Lighter program: Once or twice each church year, a district committee selects a UU congregation or program that needs our financial help to grow into its potential.

Original Blessing, started last year, is aiming to serve the burgeoning neighborhoods of Williamsburg, Greenpoint and Bushwick, as well as western Queens. As of now, there are monthly worship services, small group ministry, service projects, social events and a book club that is currently reading, appropriately, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn.” They are averaging about 40 people for worship and hope to triple that by the fall. You can look up Original Blessing on Facebook to learn more.

The lead minister, Rev. Ian White Maher, is a lifelong UU and formerly the minister of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Queens.   He is assisted by community minister Rev. Amy Strano, who recently wrote about Original Blessing:

“Our mission is to be a spiritually ambitious movement seeking God through creative worship,
social justice and compassionate community. Our intention is to be evangelical in nature with the
hope of transforming the culture of our city by creating a greater appreciation for the sacredness of life.”

Rev. Strano also wrote about planting a new congregation: “This is work.  And this is fun. This is living Unitarian Universalism.”

I hope you will give generously. If you are writing a check, you can make it make it out to UCS, putting “Chalice Lighter” on the memo line.

Regular orders will continue to be provided throughout the summer. If you would like to place an order, e-mail your order directly to the store BEFORE 5 PM ON MONDAY for pick-up the following Sunday. (Orders that are sent after this deadline will be processed with the following week’s orders.)

Please email the following information to info@fairtradecoffee.org:

¨ Your Name & Phone Number & that you are from the Summit Church
¨ The NAME & QUANTITY of the coffee you want
¨ How you want it … Whole Bean or Ground for Espresso, Melitta, Auto Drip, French Press or Perk
¨ Payment with a credit card

Don’t forget to pick up your coffee in the main lobby of the church! Your coffee will be marked with your name.

The Unitarian Church in Summit is proud to recognize the graduating high school seniors in the congregation who will be recognized at our Flower Communion service on June 9 at 9:30 am. The Youth Group celebrated and honored their senior members of their group on Sunday, May 5^th.
Our graduates are: Dylan Blanchard, Claire Boylan, Skyler Browning-Doorn, Ian Cauley, Kate Chin, Michael Glendinning, Vinesh Gujral, Tremearne Hotz, Jesse Klein, Billy Morris, Jack Mustard, Christopher Paolini, Kelsey Podraza, Mac Russell, Ann Sexton, Ben Stein, Andrew Szarek, Peter Szarek, Jennifer Vorel, Emma Wagner, Sarah Weinbrom, and Emma Williams.

If we missed your graduate, please let us know. We want to celebrate them! Email emilie@ucsummit.org

I had a colleague, my best friend actually, who went on sabbatical to Greece, worked on a dig that she could swim out to every day, adopted a stray dog, and basked in village life on the blue-green waters of the Aegean. It was all idyllic until the dog got into a fight with another village dog and her leg found its way in the middle of the altercation. Then it was the slippery slope of a puncture wound that didn’t heal, and the trip to Athens to be in hospital and on IV antibiotics so as to avoid septicemia. It ended with her returning to church only to get a crushing case of pneumonia. She reminds me of this when I say, “How could a sabbatical be anything less than great?!”

So, with a nod toward my friend, I recognize that even the best-laid plans and most generous gifts can go awry, but suffice it to say mine went off as hoped. Sabbatical was restful and renewing. I spent time doing things I said for years I would do when I had the time. I faced a few challenges that stretched me and in the end (like all good pilgrims) I found my way back to a place, inside and out, that I once knew as home, and had strayed from a bit.

The challenge, of course, is what to bring back from our journeys. It is not as important what we find but how we make them more than a spectacle. How we anchor them in our lives.

Does something about time with family pull you to a better place? Does something in a faraway city or an arresting book or the roar of the ocean transport you where you needed to go but so often cannot get to? Then, how do you bring these places and people and feelings home for keeps? How do you make life more whole?

It is a great question to sit with at the end of sabbatical, and no small feat to re-engineer our lives in even small-ish ways.  However, I long ago learned the lesson of the true traveler. The “tourist” just looks and passes through. The traveler, the pilgrim, allows the journey to change him or her. They bring the journey home.

As we head into our summer pilgrimages of all kinds – journeys of mind, heart and body – I invite us to pay attention to what we may want to bring home. In invites us to let the journeys change us. And I look forward all the pilgrimages we will go on together. It is good to be home.

Thank you all for the incredibly generous gift of sabbatical.

With love and gratitude,

Vanessa

We would like to say a sincerely felt thank you to everyone who got their pledge in and persevered with us through this process.  Giving of your time, talent and, in this case, treasure is how we act as Stewards, or caretakers, of this community and its values.  Your generous investment in our congregation expands our ability to make room for the many voices that make up The Unitarian Church in Summit, and allows us to achieve our mission of a radically inclusive religious community that feeds the human spirit and heals the world.  So thank you again, as we now go forward with making plans for our future, using our Strategic Plan as our roadmap. 

will be held on
Sunday, June 9, 2013 at 11:30 a.m.

The Annual Meeting will include the following major agenda items.
A full agenda will be available before the meeting.

• Report of the Nominating Committee
  • Elections for Board of Trustees
  • Elections for Nominating Committee
• Report of the Finance Committee
  • Presentation of the 2013-2014 Operating Fund
  • Capital Fund
  • Long-Term Major Expense Budgets and Votes to Approve
• Report of the Strategic Planning Team
  • Presentation of the Strategic Plan and Vote to Approve
• Committee Reports
• Membership Update
• Approval of Minutes of the 2012 Annual Meeting

*************************************************************

 
Election to Board of Trustees

The Nominating Committee submits the following slate of nominees for the Board of Trustees
to serve a term of 3 years:

Chris Grazioso and his wife Colleen have been members of the Church since 2010.  They first met in New York City while working at JPMorgan as trainees and have been married for 17 years.  They lived in London for two years, then Boston for four years, and now live in a house in Millburn they bought nine years ago from former UCS members Ted Young and Candice Litsey.  They have two daughters, Molly (12) and Maura (7), both of whom actively participate in the RE program at UCS.

Chris has been a member of the Finance Committee since he joined UCS and has chaired it for the past two years.  He has also chaired the Budget Committee for the past two years and co-led the effort to bring bookkeeping services in-house, engage a payroll processing company and hire a new CPA firm to improve financial controls.  Outside of UCS, Chris leads the Global Vendor Management function at MSCI Inc. in New York City, managing teams in Budapest, Hungary and Monterrey, Mexico.  Colleen is a member of the Children’s Religious Education Committee at UCS and is actively involved in the South Mountain Elementary School PTO, just finishing her two year term as Treasurer and about to be sworn in as Co-President for the upcoming school year.

Christopher Burtt was born in Alabama and raised in Virginia Beach, but his parents are originally from Long Branch, New Jersey.  Christopher moved back to New Jersey for high school, then returned to Virginia to attend the College of William and Mary, where he earned a Philosophy degree, with a Computer Science minor. In the mid-1990s, he was living in Ann Arbor and decided to try the Unitarian Universalist church, despite being very skeptical of most churches.  The church there had the UU principles listed on a wall by the entrance.  Christopher read them, expecting to find the usual dogma, and a reason to turn and walk out.  Instead he found a reason to stay. Christopher was married at The Unitarian Church in Summit in 1996 and moved back to the area in 2000, after earning an MBA from Columbia.

Christopher works at Sharp Electronics in Mahwah, NJ as the digital signage product manager. He previously worked at Thomson Reuters for ten years, where in addition to digital signage, he also served as co-chair of the LGBTF group.  After coming out in 2008, he moved to his current home in South Orange.  Christopher is currently single and has two children, Benjamin and Meredith. He has taught Religious Education classes, is an usher, and serves on the communications committee.  He also designed the “Say Yes to Marriage Equality” banner now hanging in front of the church.

*************************************************************

Re-election to Board of Trustees
 
The Nominating Committee submits the following slate of current Board members
to serve an additional term of 3 years:

Roger Anderson and his wife Linda have been members of the Church since 2000, shortly after they moved to South Orange. Roger has been on the Board since 2010 and was a member of the Finance and Endowment Committees before that. He also taught several classes in RE and served on the Budget Committee. Linda is Chair of the Nominating Committee and a member of the choir, has served on the Children’s Religious Education Committee and has worked on the Garage Sale.

Their children, Claire and Lee, just finished their junior and freshman years, respectively, at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. They are both products of the RE program, and they performed Abbott & Costello’s Who’s on First at the Church’s talent show a few years ago. Outside church, Roger has been the Chief Financial Officer and Chief Operating Officer of Centenary College in Hackettstown since 2010.

Gary Buscemi has been a member of the UCS Board of Trustees since February, 2010.  He worked on the purchase and leasing of the former Dangler property and is currently a member of the Facilities Expansion Team which is coordinating the future design and development of that property.  He is also a member of the Partner Church Committee.  For the past 18 years, he has been an Executive Vice President in a national real estate development and management company based in New York City.  Previous to that, he was an attorney and partner in major New York law firms for 15 years. He is married to Jane Buscemi and they have a daughter, Ellie, age 13. They have been attending UCS since 2004. Gary was born and raised in New York City and currently lives in Short Hills.

*************************************************************

 
Election to Nominating Committee
 
The Nominating Committee submits the following nominee for the Nominating Committee:
 

Becky Sinden Chin attended UCS as a child and rejoined the congregation in 2009.  She has taught RE classes and served on the Strategic Planning Team.  Becky and her husband, Sung, live in Westfield and have three children:  Andrew, 26 (who lives in Washington, DC); Kate, 18; and Sarah, 16.  Becky has been with AT&T for 30 years and currently is a Director in the Finance Department.

Carol Stiller, president of the NJ Million Mom March Chapters of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence, will discuss discuss state and federal legislation as well as interfaith efforts to prevent gun violence and promote the sensible storage and use of guns. The empty shoes will lead from the lobby down the stairs into the hall and will be on view during the church’s two morning services at 9:30 and 11:15 a.m.

A question and answer session will follow Stiller’s presentation.

Stiller, a resident of Ewing, has been actively working to prevent gun violence since 2000, when she joined 850,000 others on a bus trip to Washington, DC, calling for Sensible Gun Laws/Safe Kids. Since then, she helped build the Mercer County Million Mom March Chapter and has appeared around the state at rallies and film screenings to raise awareness about gun violence.

The display of 85 pairs of empty shoes represents the 85-plus victims of gun violence in New Jersey since the Newtown killings December 14. It is sponsored by Silent March: Americans Against Gun Violence, organized in 1994 to remember the many victims of gun-related homicides, suicides and accidental shootings.

Rev. Kim Tomaszewski on 05/26/13

We encourage family and friends to consider traveling by carpool or mass transit. Parking is available in the Bradley Funeral Home parking lot next door to the church on Springfield Avenue, at nearby municipal parking lots, at the Calvary Episcopal Church at 31 Woodland Avenue and on-street parking is available on Waldron and Springfield Avenues. We ask that you not block the driveways of our neighbors and thank you in advance for your courtesy.

New York City!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern on 05/19/13

We gather each Sunday morning during the regular church year, at 9:30 am and 11:15 am. The regular church year runs from the first Sunday after Labor Day in September to the second Sunday in June. During the summer we have one service at 10:00 am. Religious Education programs for children in grades Pre-K through 7 take place at the same time as worship.

It is natural to have questions about our church or Unitarian Universalism. You will likely find answers about our diverse body of believers. A good starting point to learn more about Unitarians is on the UUA website by clicking here.  Please feel free to call or email us or stop by the church at 4 Waldron Avenue (corner of Springfield Avenue), Summit, New Jersey.

Thank you for visiting The Unitarian Church in Summit online.

 The UU Legislative Ministry of NJ hosted its 2013 UULMNJ Plenary at the Washington Crossing Congregation.  Approximately 65 participants from around the state came to hear guest speaker Rev. Robert Moore of the Coalition for Peace Action.  Gun violence wasn’t the only issue of the day.  Many issues are developing as we head into the last six months of this legislative session.  Here are just a few of the recent activities

• Marriage Equality Lobbying Training will be held on May 28 at the Princeton Congregation, offered by Garden State Equality and ACLU, 7-9 PM.  Other trainings are schedule for Summit (May 21) and Cape May, (May 18).
• The campaign to overturn the Governor’s veto on the Fracking Waste Ban is underway. The NJ Assembly will probably hold its vote on June 20.
• UU’s and the interfaith community came out for the Marriage Equality Rally held May 3 on the Morristown Green.  It can be seen by going to the following link http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NTktrLtFL1Y
• The NJ Senate passed several gun violence prevention bills and expects to pass the remainder on May 30.  None of the Senate bills, however, included limiting the size of the magazine.  Six congregations in addition to UULMNJ came out to testify.
• Princeton hosted a very educational and informative forum on the proposed immigration reform legislation.  You can watch it at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpAj1iK5z08&feature=youtu.be
• Thanks to the hard work of our coalition partners Fair Share Housing, the courts decided that the state couldn’t appropriate COAH funds, at least for now.

For more information about any of these topics, go to http://www.uulmnj.org

UULMNJ would like to express a special thanks to four board members who have served UULMNJ since its founding: Rohn Hein, Rev. Charles B. Ortman, Lynne Quinto and Elaine Nigam.  Their service has been invaluable to the organization.  We will miss their state leadership but are heartened to know that they will continue to be involved with UULMNJ.

We are happy to announce that on April 23, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to bring the plan to the congregation. The Strategic Plan slides 2-4, included in this newsletter, will be the document presented to the congregation for vote at the Annual Meeting on June 9th.  There will also be a restyled Vision statement presented for vote. Specific Action recommendations from the Strategic Planning team are included in the slide materials, but will not be voted on.

Please take some time to read through the slides.  I hope you’ll find the content inspiring, and that you’ll reflect on where your talents fit into our mission-driven initiatives.  A full report will be released prior to the Meeting as well.

Here are some additional considerations as you review it:
 
¨ This process has been extraordinarily inclusive. The Plan was literally built through canvassing and assimilating the input of hundreds of people.
 
¨ The conversation is more important than the final product. On-going dialogue about the strategic direction of our congregation is healthy and often evokes more questions, than answers.
 
¨ This Plan is a living document. It is a framework or flexible guide for focusing our energies and resources. The Plan will evolve and grow as we change as an institution, and new and unexpected circumstances arise. It is thus a work-in-progress.

The Strategic Planning team has put together a document that reflects your hopes and dreams for our community.  If you have questions, please contact any member of the team.  We look forward to continuing the conversation about our future, and witnessing all of the exciting ways our mission comes alive in the forth coming years.

Gratefully,

The Strategic Planning Team

Roger Anderson
Ellen Boylan
Laura Buoncuore
Susan Kuney
Becky Sinden
Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern
Rev. Kim Tomaszewski
David Wagner

The Board of Trustees

Click here to access view the full plan.

Canoe Trip down the Delaware River

New Jersey Shore!

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern on 05/12/13

Click the link to access the PDF with details of an event at Shelter Rock! Shelter Rock 5.18.13

Preacher: Rev. Vanessa Southern, Tuli Patel, Mitchell Vines and Children

We thank everyone who has gotten their pledge in.  The Budget Committee is currently creating the 2013/2014 budget, so it’s important for them to have the most accurate numbers they can for this process. If you haven’t had a chance to get your pledge in, we ask you to please take a minute this week to do so.

To make your pledge, you can:

1.  Drop the pledge card in the box in the front lobby

2.  Mail the card in

3.  Email your pledge to Susan Webster, at offasst@ucsummit.org.  You will receive a call to confirm the pledge and your thank you letter will be the documentation of your pledge.

Paying your pledge:  Now that many people have pledged for 2013/2014, some people have started paying their pledge for the new year ahead of time.  Technically these pledges are for the fiscal year starting July 2013, but if you’re new or want to prepay, you can of course  start paying now.  The church office asks that if you’re paying for the new fiscal year, please indicate this in the memo line of your check (2013/2014).

Thank you.

As you may recall, you passed a resolution in Jan.  to become one of four Congregations sponsoring a resolution at the District meeting in support of putting the District on the record as urging change in state and federal law.  That resolution, sponsored by our Congregation along with Plainfield, Morristown, and Princeton, passed unanimously.

More important (in my mind) was that the resolution provided a platform for us to issue a press release and organize a rally — and successfully get some press.  Special thanks go to Jean Crichton for her efforts in improving and getting the press release out there.  Thanks also go to Keith Nier and Gary Nissenbaum for fixing my grammar in the resolution.

Links to press and publicity related to this activity are below.

Leadership in Action: Marriage Equality

Marty Rothfelder
Social Action Committee

cc:  Staff
District meeting attendees
Jean Crichton (SUPER press person)

http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2013/04/unitarians_will_lead_marriage.html

http://www.nj.com/morris/index.ssf/2013/05/reverend_clergy_should_embrace.html

http://morristowngreen.com/2013/05/02/marriage-equality-rally-set-for-morristown-green-may-3/

http://summit.patch.com/announcements/unitarians-to-lead-marriage-equality-march-may-3-in-morristown

http://www.outinjersey.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=2075:marriage-equality-march-on-friday-in-morristown&catid=1:latest-news&Itemid=50

http://purpleunions.com/blog/2013/04/new-jersey-usa-morristown-marriage-equality-march-planned-for-april-3.html

We are happy to announce that on April 23, the Board of Trustees voted unanimously to bring THE PLAN  to the congregation.  The Strategic Plan slides 2-4, included in this newsletter, will be the document presented to the congregation for vote at the Annual Meeting on June 9th.  There will also be a restyled Vision statement presented for vote. Specific Action recommendations from the Strategic Planning team are included in the slide materials, but will not be voted on.

Please take some time to read through the slides.  We hope you’ll find the content inspiring, and that you’ll reflect on where your talents fit into our mission-driven initiatives.  A full report will be released prior to the Meeting as well.

Here are some additional considerations as you review it:

• This process has been extraordinarily inclusive. The Plan was literally built through canvassing and assimilating the input of hundreds of people.

• The conversation is more important than the final product. On-going dialogue about the strategic direction of our congregation is healthy and often evokes more questions, than answers.

• This Plan is a living document. It is a framework or flexible guide for focusing our energies and resources. The Plan will evolve and grow as we change as an institution, and new and unexpected circumstances arise. It is thus a work-in-progress.

The Strategic Planning team has put together a document that reflects your hopes and dreams for our community.  If you have questions, please contact any member of the team.  We look forward to continuing the conversation about our future, and witnessing all of the exciting ways our mission comes alive in the forth coming years.

Gratefully,

The Strategic Planning Team

Roger Anderson

Ellen Boylan

Laura Buoncuore

Susan Kuney

Becky Sinden

Rev. Vanessa Rush Southern (on Sabbatical)

Rev. Kim Tomaszewski

David Wagner

The Board of Trustees

As we look ahead to the month of May with our theme of connection/relationship, renew yours to spiritual practices.

Friday, May 3: Dances of Universal Peace

Saturday, May 11: Shamanism with John Foord from 9-4 pm

Saturday, May 18th: Tai Chi with Gary Niseenbaum from 2-4 pm

Have you Lost Something Recently?

Our lost and found is located in the sunroom on the bottom shelf of the bookcase in a large basket. Please be sure to check this area for items you may have lost and drop off found items to the basket or main office. Also, if you have any ideas about where the following items may have gone missing to, please reach out to a member of the church staff:

• hand-held microphone used in the sanctuary
• pair of custom-tailored curtains matching the side panels hanging in the sanctuary

All are welcome.

Star Island is located ten miles off the coast of New Hampshire. It is the second largest of the nine islands that make up the Isles of Shoals and its historic Oceanic House and adjacent buildings become the village home for thousands of visitors each summer. The nonprofit Star Island Corporation has owned and operated Star Island since 1916, providing affordable individual and family retreats. From June to September guests come for a day, an overnight visit or to attend one of the many conferences presented each summer on a range of subjects such as natural history, writing, photography, music, painting, ecology, matters of the spirit, yoga and more. And because Star Island has historic connections to Unitarian Universalism and the United Church of Christ, it has a liberal spiritual quality that is renewing and uplifting.

Check out the 2013 conference list. And explore the 2013 discounts.

Star Island, one of the Isles of Shoals, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places, a federally recognized list of cultural resources worthy of preservation. Star Island’s designation as a National Historic Place reflects its cultural and architectural significance in American history.

See a map of Star Island.

Tuesday, May 7, 2013 from 6-8 p.m.
Whitman Conference Room
2nd Floor, City Hall
512 Springfield Avenue

SCOPE OF PROJECT
1. Waldron Avenue System
The drainage system within Waldron Avenue consists of several undersized pipes with inadequate slopes.
During significant rain events, surcharging of the storm sewer floods the street and then overtops the
sidewalk and floods several private structures and properties near 12-14 Waldron Avenue and across the
street.
The hydraulic restriction that existed within the storm sewer at Springfield Avenue was removed which
nearly doubled the capacity of the existing storm sewer. To further reduce runoff directed to this drainage
system, the City is working with the County to implement a drainage project that will extend a storm sewer
on Summit Avenue. This project complements two projects previously completed. The Whittredge
Avenue Drainage Project (2007) and the Hobart Avenue Project (2009). Cumulatively, these projects will
reduce the drainage area to Waldron Avenue by approximately 16 acres. The existing drainage within
Waldron Avenue was approved in the 2012 Capital Plan.

The current schedule for Waldron Avenue is as follows:

• Design and construct the proposed storm sewer on Summit Avenue to further reduce runoff contributing to the Waldron Avenue system. (Winter 2012-2013)
• Reconstruct the intersection of Whittredge Road and Fernwood Road, install curbing and drainage within Waldron Avenue, and paving of Whittredge Road and Waldron Avenue. (Summer 2013)
• Complete Drainage construction along Summit Avenue to further reduce runoff quantity in the Waldron Avenue System. (Summer 2013 as part of the Waldron Avenue Project.

The City anticipates bidding this project in late May and beginning construction in July. Construction will take approximately eight (8) weeks.

Please note that the meeting will be held on Friday, April 26th, on the 8th fl of the Church Center, from 11am-1pm.

Dear Friend, 

On Friday, April 26th, Assistant Secretary General for Human Rights, Dr. Ivan Simonovic, and members of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights, will meet with NGOs in the Church Center, Boss Room, 8th floor, from 11am-1pm. This meeting will be similar to the productive and informative exchanges we have had with both the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Navi Pillay, and with Dr. Simonovic.

In addition to the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) has launched the planning process for the development of its first 4 year OHCHR Management Plan (2014-2017). At a time of financial challenges and constraints, this process offers an opportunity for OHCHR to prioritize and improve its efficiency and effectiveness in implementing its mandate. In defining its priorities for the next four years, the ASG invites NGOs to share their views on the following two areas:

1. Where has OHCHR made a difference in the lives of people through advancement  of human rights? What has been the critical role played by OHCHR in the promotion and protection of human rights?

2. What is changing in the international context? What threats and/or opportunities do these changes pose to human rights and/or to OHCHR’s role? 

Please indicate if there are any specific concerns and/or questions that should be addressed during this meeting and send to bobbinassar@yahoo.com by April 24th.

All are invited and welcome!

Would they be granted the US visas? No one knew for sure. After all, a few years ago, the US Consul refused a visa for a young Unitarian seminarian whom we had invited here.

But this time, the outcome was different. Two adults and nine youth were approved for the visas for the Aug. 1-14 trip. Yippee! (Four other adults and two youth did not need visas, since they will be traveling on Hungarian passports.)

The group arrived in the Romanian capital at 6:30 a.m. after a bus trip that began five hours earlier at the Unitarian Church in Barót. After the long drive through a cold, blustery night, “our bus driver missed the Embassy in spite of having a GPS,” recalled Rev. Alpár Kiss, Barót’s Unitarian minister who went along as an official translator (though Alpár will not be coming to Summit). “We arrived in time for the 8 a.m. appointment, but more than 100 people were already in the queue, and we had to wait outside in the wind and chill until about 9.”

Finally, the group was admitted to the Consulate building, and all the applicants got their individual numbers, had their passports checked and were fingerprinted. Then it was time for the individual interviews with officials who sat inside 15 glass-enclosed booths. Everyone 18 and younger had to have at least one parent present.

The Barót group was assigned to windows #2 and 3, and “everybody was nervous,” Alpar said. Youth Group Leader Arpi Egyed, who is fluent in English, had carefully filled out visa applications for each person, but no one knew what questions might be asked–or in what language. Our Barót partners speak Hungarian as their first language, but they also learn Romanian and English in school.

One youth was surprised by a question about the importance of the Unitarian religion in the United States. “It’s a very important religion,” she replied.

Another girl was asked if Rev. Kiss would be traveling with the group. Her mother broke in anxiously: “Yes, he is.” “No, mom, he isn’t,” the girl countered, trying to use her best English. But the American official insisted on conversing in his newly learned Hungarian. Seeing the confusion, Alpár stepped up to help–in Hungarian: “It was amusing. This was his chance to use Hungarian, and he was so happy that he could understand what I said.”

Soon after the interviews, the Barót group was told that all of them had been granted visas. To celebrate on the way home, the bus stopped at a McDonald’s for a burger and WiFi, and everybody was soon on the cell phone. The bus arrived back in Barót around 4 p.m. safe and sound–and the group was counting the days (115) until their upcoming trip to Summit.

– by Jean Crichton

We thank everyone who has gotten their pledge in.  The Budget Committee is currently creating the 2013/2014 budget and, as I’m sure you can guess, it’s so important for them to have the most accurate numbers they can for this process.

So if you haven’t had a chance to get your pledge in, we ask you to please take a minute this week to do so.  All of the many people involved in working with these financial projections really need your help and appreciate everyone’s being considerate of the amount of work that goes into creating the church budget.

To make your pledge, you can:

1.  Drop the pledge card in the box in the front lobby

2.  Mail the card in

3.  Email your pledge to Susan Webster, at offasst@ucsummit.org.  You will receive a call to confirm the pledge and your thank you letter will be the documentation of your pledge.

Paying your pledge:  Now that many people have pledged for 2013/2014, some people have started paying their pledge for the new year ahead of time.  Technically these pledges are for the fiscal year starting July 2013, but if you’re new or want to prepay, you can of course  start paying now.  The church office asks that if you’re paying for the new fiscal year, please indicate this in the memo line of your check (2013/2014).

Thank you.

 “Building Opportunity

Through Affordable Housing for All”

 ** A CALL TO ACTION  **

 
For millions of Americans, safe and decent housing is unaffordable and unavailable.

The faith community cannot stand idly by as too many of our neighbors are forced to
make impossible choices among necessities such as food, rent, and medicine.

We recognize the importance of decent shelter as a core necessity to overcoming poverty
and will educate our communities about this issue and work to increase the supply of
and expand access to housing for low income families and individuals.

We can make a difference by speaking out collectively as representatives of New Jersey’s
Multifaith Community.

We take up the call of our religious traditions to bring focus and attention to the need for
housing that is affordable in our communities.

Thursday, April 25, 2013   |    7:30 p.m. – 9:30 p.m.

Bergen County Administration Building

1 Bergen County Plaza, Freeholder Public Hearing Room 520

Hackensack, NJ

Conveners

NJ State Association of Jewish Federations

NJ Catholic Conference

Lutheran Office of Governmental Ministry NJ

Northern New Jersey Co-Sponsors

Alive in Christ Lutheran Church American Baptist Churches of New Jersey Arya Samaj of New Jersey, Hindu Community Capital District of the Greater New Jersey Conference of the United Methodist Church Catholic Charities Diocese of Metuchen Catholic Charities Diocese of Paterson Catholic Charities Diocese of Trenton Communication Workers of America, AFL-CIO Local 1081 County of Bergen Housing, Health and Human Services Center Elijah’s Promise Fair Share Housing Center Family Promise of Bergen County General Baptist Convention of the State of New Jersey Hindu American Seva Communities Housing and Community Development Network of NJ Housing Authority of Bergen County Interfaith Brotherhood/Sisterhood Committee of Bergen County Islamic Society of Basking Ridge Jewish Family Service of MetroWest Jewish Community Relations Council of Jewish Federation of Northern NJ Jewish Renaissance Foundation The Justice Board of the Episcopal Diocese of Newark Lutheran Social Ministries, NJ Monarch Housing Associates NJ Anti-Hunger Coalition NJ Anti-Poverty Network NJ Association of Jewish Family Service Agencies NJ Council of Churches NJ Foundation for Aging NJ SHARES Peace Islands Institute Union for Reform Judaism – Reform Jewish Voice of NJ                                                     Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of NJ  United Way of Bergen County United Way of Northern NJ

The challenges of restoring right relationship with Earth can be so daunting that they shut us down. What can encourage us to persist?

Helen Kaar on 04/21/13

Why are we sending another reminder about the District Annual Meeting?

Well, historically, about 100 additional UUs register in the two weeks prior.   So, there’s still time for YOU to register!

For complete information about the Annual Meeting, visit http://uumetrony.org/am13/. Online meeting registration ends April 26.

Due to a report that some were having difficulty making hotel reservations, we requested an extension.

Deadline extended to April 22 - to make Hyatt Morristown hotel reservations at the discount rate for the 2013 Metro NY District Annual Meeting!

Visit https://resweb.passkey.com/go/UnitarianUniversalist, or call 1-800-233-1234 and say that you are making a reservation for the Hyatt Morristown to attend the Unitarian Universalist meeting.

As you know, the Metro NY District 2013 Annual Meeting is being held May 3-4 at the Hyatt Morristown in Morristown NJ.

We’d like you all to be aware that the Unite Here union has called for a national boycott of Hyatt Hotels.  The UUA will observe this boycott at General Assembly in Louisville.  Our Metro NY contract was signed prior to our learning about the boycott and the UUA decision.

Here’s what we know:

• There is no current job action/strike at the Morristown Hyatt. Their staff members do not belong to a union.
• Agreements have been reached in several markets where there have been disputes

o   http://www.bizjournals.com/sanfrancisco/news/2013/03/11/hyatt-reaches-deal-with-labor-unions.html?ana=e_vert&u=sHaD+6qNK4SAscBOZ66o6NmtXse

o   http://www.bostonglobe.com/business/2013/04/01/six-more-hotels-agree-union-contract/MWC6oUptYgg3IkMSmxOrXJ/story.html

• I met with Cory Baum, Director of Sales, and other staff at the hotel to discuss our concerns.  They invite you to view their website about this matter:

o    http://www.hyattworkplace.com/

• Here is the Unite Here Hotel Workers Rising website

o   http://www.hotelworkersrising.org/

Here’s how we intend to respond:

• Working with the UUA and a union representative, we have developed language we can use in future contracts so that we have the ability to cancel contracts without penalty where there is any job action, not just a strike, which is featured in our contract.
• We will provide materials about hotel workers’ concerns to our registrants.
• We will provide the opportunity for registrants to sign a petition during our meeting to let the Hyatt management know that our membership supports our intention to not sign future contracts with Hyatt until they have reached agreement with the hotel workers union and/or the boycott is rescinded.

“from where will my help come?”

The poet declares, “that I may not close the door of my heart

To the knocking hand, the tender cry, the anxious reach,”

He lifts up his eyes.

Spirit of life, of hope and trial,

On days such as this, let us be gentle and forgiving

Of the struggle it will be to lift up our eyes.

For even the priests and the poets

Prayed quietly alone on the mountaintop,

Escaped to the forest and waters,

Hid anonymous in the city

From time

To time.

On this day, when fire and fear have

Reminded us of the rhythm and stampede of our heartbeats

Let us take respite in the wet earth,

The incessant growth of newly bloomed and majestic color,

And the promise of small and unnoticed normalcy that will come.

Let us not be afraid to be fearful

Nor too proud to hold tightly

For this is the mark of our humanness;

The very thing thought to be threatened,

The very thing that will not be lost.

On this day, and on days such as this,

Let us choose love.

Let us preach and know and feel the sturdy presence of persistent hope.

Let us lift up our eyes, however and whenever we can,

And find in the light of a new day or by the moon at night,

One another.

While the situation unfolds in Boston and Texas, we are holding the people of those places of suffering in our thoughts and prayers. Even as we witness the suffering, we continue to seek and see the hope and love that is everywhere.

Help Build Our Beloved Multicultural Community

Click here for flyer

In times like these, we need to remember how to care for ourselves and one another. As we learned last Fall between Hurricane Sandy and Newtown, traumatic and tragic events affect our minds, our hearts and our bodies in very real ways. It’s important that we pay attention to these effects in ourselves and in others. Instead of discounting them, it’s important that we listen well and act with care. This is a time where our spiritual practices and our community matter.

The UCS ministers and pastoral care team want to share some resources with you for coping with tragic events.

The UU Trauma Response Team has an excellent video where they share very practical ways to cope with tragedy, both individually and for families. The video was filmed locally at Murray Grove Retreat Center and sponsored by the Church of the Larger Fellowship (CLF).

The UUA provides a page of resources, including how to talk with children about these events.

There is also a report/story about how tragedy reminds us of the fragility of life.

The American Psychological Association shares ways to manage traumatic stress and when to seek professional help.

Remember also that you can reach out to our ministers or pastoral care team.

The Junior Youth have voted to have proceeds go to Cure Childhood Cancer, a non-profit cancer research foundation.

Dances of Universal Peace on May 3rd at 7:30

Shamanism Saturday May 11: with John Foord from 9-4 pm

Preacher: Rev. Vanessa Southern and UCS program staff

On Sunday, April 14th,  Rev. Bob Morris spoke about his experience awakening to the Earth. What are the cultural and religious barriers that prevent us from experiencing ourselves as inextricably a part of Earth? How do we awaken to that truth, that felt experience?

If you missed the service or would like to dive deeper, we encourage you to attend our Spirit in Practice classes with Rev. Bob Morris on Tuesday, April 16th at 7:30 pm or Sunday, April 21st at 6:30 pm. They are two offerings of the same class so you only attend one!

Another way to awaken to Earth is to attend Green Vespers, a monthly service on our relationship with Earth led by Helen Kaar, a member of this congregation, on Saturday, April 20th at 6:15 pm. The following morning, Sunday, April 21st, Helen will lead both of our services at 9:30 am and 11:15 am. She will be accompanied by our “house” band, The Universals.

How are you awakening to Earth?

Rev. Bob Corrin Morris on 04/14/13.

Rev. Bob Corrin Morris recently retired as director of Interweave in Summit. Rev. Morris is an Episcopalian priest.

Hear about Business-as-Usual & Butterflies. Then we’ll enjoy a potluck dinner and clean up together.

As always, we encourage you to keep it simple, stay low on the food chain and as organic and local as possible.

BYOB (bring your own beverage)

Let us know you’re coming, and we’ll set a place for you.

Contact Helen Kaar halfmoonhouse@mac.com or 973-377-5757

Incentive drawing: We held our drawing for Michael Kors items on Sunday after services. The items were given away and the office has the names of the winners.

Going Forward: If you haven’t got your pledge card in, someone from the Annual Giving Committee will be contacting you in the next six weeks about your pledge for 2013/2014. Please support them in this effort by deciding soon what your pledge will be for the coming year.

In case you’ve lost your card, there are more available at the church at the Annual Giving table. To easily set up an ongoing pledge, click here to go directly to our page for online giving, or click the Online Giving tab on the website front page.

To make your pledge, you can:
1. Drop the pledge card in the box in the front lobby
2. Mail the card in
3. Email your pledge to Susan Webster at susan@ucsummit.org. You will receive a call to confirm the pledge and your thank you letter will be the documentation of your pledge.

Thank you so much for all your help during this campaign. As the stewards of our congregation, we all have dreams for our congregation that we want to invest in this year. Your pledge helps us fulfill those dreams.

Do you know what a Rock-A-Thon is?

Members of our Youth Group rock. In Rocking Chairs. For 24 hours.

To support our congregation’s Capital Campaign efforts, our Youth Group pledged $5,000 over five years. They are excited about the expansion of our space and want to invest in the congregation’s future “the way the congregation invests in us.” They also agreed that they would seek funding sources outside of the congregation to fulfill their pledge (as they appreciate that most of our members are personally pledging toward the Capital Campaign).

The Rock-A-Thon has two goals. They want to raise $1,000 toward their Capital Campaign pledge. Our rockers will seek non-parent family and friends to sponsor each hour that they rock. Any money over their $1,000 Capital Campaign contribution will fund the Barót-to-Summit visit this summer, in which seventeen youth and adults from our Partner Church in Transylvania (Romania) will visit us. Any sponsorship from UCS church members and friends will go toward our partner’s trip.

What we could use:

• ROCKING CHAIRS! along with drop-off and pick-up to our event
• Any of John Hughes’ movies from the 1980s. Or Ken Burns’ documentaries.
• Would you like to be a rocker?

Please let Emilie Boggis know if you can help out.

Let’s get rocking!

COA Class Gets Ready For Karma Kitchen

Karma Kitchen is a monthly lunch served at 12:30 pm (after the 11:15 am worship service) to the congregation. It is a great way to reconnect with long-time friends, new faces, and discuss the sermon. One lunch-goer recently said, “This is the best kept secret!” The next Karma Kitchen is Sunday, April 14th at 12:30 pm.

Karma Kitchen is more than connecting with one another. It’s a place where we practice generosity. Imagine a restaurant where there are no prices on the menu and where the check reads $0.00 with only this footnote: “Your meal was a gift from someone who came before you. To keep the chain of gifts alive, we invite you to pay it forward for those dine after you.” That’s Karma Kitchen, a volunteer-driven experiment in generosity.

This often confuses people. “Well, what amount would you suggest?” We don’t. Some guests write a check for a large sum. Some give what they would pay for lunch. Some give what they can. Some choose to pay it forward in other ways. Remember! It’s not paying for your meal. It’s paying for those who will come after you!

Karma Kitchen is led by the Coming of Age (9th grade) class, which  is considering the questions that religions pose: How was the Universe created? What is the source of the Universe, of life? Is there a divine presence? What is the nature of humanity? Are we physical beings, spiritual beings, or something altogether different? Are we inherently good or bad? What happens in death? What happens after we die? How do we grieve well?

Karma Kitchen is our experiment that considers what happens when you count on people to be generous (rather than selfish). In the last two months, we’ve learned that people are far more generous than they are selfish. At least when they are given the choice. And not just with their money. Last month, one guest was enjoying the community and conversation so much that he stayed to run our dishwasher.

Speaking of that, if you would like to join our Karma Kitchen volunteer crew, contact Emilie Boggis, our Assistant Minister for Youth. She will connect you with our volunteer leader, Neal Eisenstein.

Mark your calendars: April 14th is Karma Kitchen!

Colin Goddard was shot four times. Out of the 17 students in his French class, which he was attending that morning, only seven students survived. Consequently, Virginia Tech and other universities and colleges have had to make significant changes to their policies and procedures to insure the safety of their students. In fact, there will soon be an index (called The 32 Index) which will rate universities and colleges on their safety procedures.  In all 32 people died at Virginia Tech. In America, 32 people die every day due to gun-related homicides. The homicide rate in the U.S. is 6.9 times higher than 22 other high-income, high population countries, combined.  It doesn’t count accidental or suicide deaths related to guns.

Colin Goddard added: “Yet, there’s no change on federal gun legislation. Why?” Goddard advocated for universal background checks as a responsible change that greatly reduces the number of deaths of each year. He also stated that there is increasing public and bipartisan support, as well as a growing number of NRA members who are in favor of universal background checks because they believe in responsible gun ownership.

Colin Goddard now works with the Brady Campaign to advocate for federal action. He stated that April is a critical month for gun violence prevention and asked everyone to do one thing per week to help end gun violence. Today the Brady Campaign is sponsoring an Interfaith Call-In Day to prevent gun violence. They are asking people of faith to call their senators to advocate for universal background checks, an important component of current legislation being debated on the floor. We urge our members and friends to call their senators today. Regardless of where your senator is on the issue, it’s important to let them know where you stand on gun violence.

If the bill passes the Senate, it will encounter a tough debate in the House of Representatives. Goddard stated that we should call our representatives and advocate that they simply allow the vote to occur. By voting, each representative must take a stand – something they too often avoid by not allowing a vote to occur.

On Saturday I learned about other organizations that are doing compelling work on changing our country’s culture around violence. The Center to Prevent Youth Violence has an ASK (Asking Saves Kids) program that teaches parents how to ask whether or not there is a gun where their child is playing. Ceasefire Chicago (now Cure Violence) treats gun violence as a public health problem. They detect and interrupt potentially violent events; determine who are most likely to cause another violent event which would increase violence; and change the underlying social and behavioral norms, or environmental conditions that directly relate to violence.

These are great organizations doing compelling work. Nonetheless when I think about how many different organizations must be created and how much energy must go into combating this problem instead of enacting responsible federal and local legislation, it seems like we have our priorities backwards. It’s time for all of us to make gun violence prevention a priority. For the 32 who died at Virginia Tech. For the victims and members of the shooting at the Tennessee Valley UU Church. For the families from Newtown, CT who head to DC today to share their grief. And for all of us, to insure that gun violence doesn’t visit our doorstep.

Touring caves in Transylvania, Summer 2012

At 1 am on Monday morning, 4/8, a group of teenagers and adults from our partner church departed from Barót, Transylvania (Romania) for Bucharest. They traveled to the Embassy to get their visas approved for their trip to Summit, NJ this summer (August 1 – 14). While we were very hopeful that they would be successful, we also realized that there could be complications. You can imagine, therefore, our sighs of relief and cheers of excitement when we received Facebook posts from the group saying: “We’ve all got the visas! happy and eating at McDonalds.” It seems that their American experience has begun!

Now the work of  planning their trip can truly begin! We want you to join us in welcoming the group!

FAQs on Barót-to-Summit Visit

When will the partner group be here? August 1-14, 2013

Who is coming from Barót? Eleven youth and six adults who we met last summer in Barót.

Where are they staying? Each of our partners is staying with members of the congregation who will host them. We recruited hosts in advance in order to complete the visa process.

Who is leading the Planning Team?

In Summit, Jesse Klein and Hayley Lugg, both youth, are our leaders supported by Marion Ceruzzi (parent), Jean Crichton (chair of the Partner Church Committee), and Rev. Emilie Boggis (youth minister). They are chairing a larger group of leaders who are helping us.

In Barót, Arpi Egyed and their minister, Rev. Alpar Kiss, are planning the visit.

What is the group doing during their visit?

The trip is broken up into several day segments. They will spend time both locally and traveling to popular sites. The group will attend services at UCS, tour Summit and the Mayor’s office, travel to local venues, New York City and the NJ Shore, and attend a NJ youth conference. Two weeks goes fast!

How Can I Help Welcome Our Partner Church to Summit?

We want our entire congregation to welcome our partners from Barót! There are many ways, big and small, that you can get involved.

Volunteer

We need your help! We need people to drive, to provide meals, to lead day trips, to organize evening plans. We need people to communicate our plans to the congregation, get people involved, coordinate volunteers, and work with our registry. We need people to show up and smile and not be afraid to speak Hungarian!

Support Our Registry!

We are putting the finishing touches on a “registry” that is very similar to gift registry for a wedding or shower. Simply click on the link (that we will provide soon) to see a list filled with volunteer and sponsorship opportunities. Put your name beside the item that you will provide and follow the instructions.

Here are some of examples from our registry:

• Provide access to backyard or community pool
• Provide lunch for the group on Friday at UCS
• Transportation to/from NYC – auto, gas & parking costs
• Trip Coupon: $100/day
• One Ticket to Movie Theatre

Recently one of our members mentioned that his office building has a beautiful view of Manhattan. Would we like to bring the Barót group to the view when they visit NYC, he offered. Yes! If you have resources and connections, especially with sight-seeing adventures locally in NJ, NJ Shore, or NYC, please let us know. We need your help!

Contact Emilie Boggis: Emilie@ucsummit.org and she will forward your information onto our planning team.

Time. One of the realities of life on Earth is the passage of time. We note the changing of the seasons, the shifting alignment of stars and planets, the aging of our physical bodies, and the tick-tock of clocks that artificially measure something. But what is time? and what is its meaning for human beings here on Earth?

Rev. Jennifer Brooks  on 04/07/13

We are also pleased to have Lucy Seligson, UCS member, as our featured vocalist. Originally from Lexington, KY, church member Lucy Seligson earned a degree in vocal performance at NYU. She had a 10-year career in musical theatre and played leading roles in National Touring and Broadway productions of shows such as “Les Miserables” and “Miss Saigon”.  She is now a clinical social worker for The Actors Fund, a charity which provides health and social services to entertainment and performing arts professionals.

Our Fair Trade is supplied by Ahrre’s Coffee Roastery, owned and operated by UCS member, Arpie Maros. Arpie has opened a new location at Mondo in Summit on Springfield Avenue. Enjoy a great cup of coffee at the Promenade!

Kathryn Kosmider, former co-leader of our Youth Group and summer Religious Education coordinator, is working for Teach for America in Phoeniz, AZ. She is now a member and a youth group advisor at the UU Congregation in Phoenix (http://www.phoenixuu.org/). Kathryn writes, “This summer I will be teaching English at an afternoon school for children in Flora Tristan, Peru, which is located in southern Peru. I applied through an organization called Helping Overcome Obstacles Peru (HOOP). I will be working as a teaching assistant. The school offers English classes, homework help, and recreation activities like sports and crafts. I have created a webpage where I can accept donations for my trip.” If you’d like to learn more, visit: http://www.gofundme.com/kathryn. Kathryn is the daughter of Suzanne Patnaude.

Sasha Lubell, former youth Coming of Age teacher, recently returned to Japan where after many interviews, he got a job teaching English as a Second Language. Sasha is the son of Danny and Eugenia Lubell.

If you’d like to send a note or goodie bag to any of our college UUs, contact Emilie Boggis.

Advance registration at Stephanie.Howland@UnitedWayNNJ.org is strongly encouraged.

Hope to see you there,

Jack Scharf

PDF available by clicking the following link: Affordable Care Act Forum 02 27 13

• UUs from all over New Jersey will be gathering to discuss past and future actions on key issues.
• Delegates from Affiliated Congregations will be voting on the new budget and members of the Board of Trustees.
• A great opportunity to meet in person with justice leaders from other congregations.

Register today at https://www.formdesk.com/uuforms/UULMNJ.

For updates and more information about UULMNJ,
please visit www.uulmnj.org.
Thank you for all that you do, and we look forward to seeing you on April 20.

In faith,
Rev. Craig Hirshberg
Executive Director

We are delighted to inform you that two of our compelling panel discussions, which are a part of our 2013 Spring Seminar, titled Sex, Love and Violence: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity in a Globalized World, will be available to view online!

Being LGBTQ and Religious: Interfaith Perspectives, will be available both on-demand and live on UN Web TV at webtv.un.org. This will be live from 3pm-4:30pm EST on Thursday, April 4th.

Speakers:

Imam Daayiee Abdullah, Director, LGBT Outreach Muslims for Progressive Values and Light of Reform Mosque.

Dr. Manoj Pardasani, Faculty Research Scholar at the Ravazzin Center for Social Work Reserach in Aging and Associate Professor at the Fordham University.

Rev. Dr. Monica Cummings, Director, Ministry to Youth and Young Adults of Color, Unitarian Universalist Association.

Rev. Canon Albert J. Ogle, President, St. Paul’s Foundation for International Reconciliation.

Moderated by:

Mordechai Levovitz, SOGI Intern at the UU-UNO and Co-Executive Director of Jewish Queer Youth (JQY).

Who’s Telling Your Story? LGBTQ Representation in Culture and Media, will be available live here, from 9:00am-10:15am EST on Friday, April 5th.

Speakers:

Ross Murray, Director of Religion, Faith and Values, GLAAD.

Yetta Kurland, Civil Rights Attorney: Educator; Radio Host; Small Business Owner and Community Activist.

Hudson Taylor, Founding Executive Director, Athlete Ally; Wrestling Coach at Columbia University

Moderated by:

Bruce Knotts, Director of the Unitarian Universalist United Nations Office

Please Donate to the UU-UNO today! 

Goddard is protagonist of the 40-minute film about the campus incident in which 32 students were killed. He will speak and partic

ipate in a Q&A session following the screening. Our UCS Social Action Committee is sponsoring the event along with the Social Justice Council of the Morristown Unitarian Fellowship. The public is welcome.

This important book describes how over past 30 years, the U.S. drug war has ensnared millions of African-American men in a system of mass incarceration that rivals the racist effects of Jim Crow segregation. Mia Morse and Jean Crichton will be leading.

This book, selected by the UUA as this year’s Common Read, is available at our bookstore. Rev. Kim Tomaszewski has selected it as her topic for her July seminar series.

Even if you haven’t read the chapters, come this Sunday and find out what it’s all about.

Our Annual Giving campaign concludes on Sunday, April 7!  As the stewards of our congregation, we all have dreams for our congregation that we want to invest in this year. Your pledge helps us fulfill those dreams.

If you haven’t got your pledge card in, please have a conversation with members of your family about your level of support this year and turn your pledge in.  This is so important for the church budget committee, which needs to know what resources they have available before they can begin to allocate them.  We want to wind up this portion of the campaign by Sunday, April 7th, so please try to get your pledge in by then.

Drawing!  As an extra incentive, all pledges received by April 7 will be entered into a drawing for items from Michael Kors .   So get that pledge in!

Come Celebrate! To conclude the Annual Giving campaign, we invite you to our Meet the Neighbors party.  On Saturday, April 6th, we are having an open house, starting in Fellowship Hall, running from 5:00pm – 7:30pm.  No speeches, no program this time – just a celebration!  Whether you’ve received the Evite or not, if you would like to attend please RSVP to the church office (dee@ucsummit.org).  We will still have tours of the property next door, so if you haven’t had a chance to take a peek, it’s worth stopping by to meet our new neighbors and hear Scott Bradley’s presentation on the building and his business.

When you walk in to the church lobby, you will be directed to the Annual Giving Table.  There, if you’d like to go on the tour, we will give you a ticket with the starting time of your tour (they’ll run about every 20 minutes, starting around 5:30.  And (of course!) we will be checking in with you about your pledge status and asking that, if you haven’t already, you make your annual commitment to the congregation by the end of the evening.  Downstairs in Fellowship Hall, when you’re not touring, there will be lots of great food, drink, conversation, and people from the Expansion, Annual Giving, and Strategic Planning teams to answer any questions.

Make your pledge to UCS by April 7th!  Here’s how:   

1.  Drop the pledge card in the box in the front lobby

2.  Mail the card in

3.  Email your pledge to Susan Webster, at offasst@ucsummit.org.  You will receive a call to confirm the pledge and your thank you letter will be the documentation of your pledge.

In case you’ve lost your card, there are more available at the church at the Annual Giving table. To easily set up an ongoing pledge, click here to go directly to our page for online giving, or click the Online Giving tab on the website front page.

We shared with Congressman Lance how we as clergy are seeing a dramatic shift on the issue of guns in our houses of worship from all political sides.

Congressman Lance did not take a stand on gun control or background checks. Not yet. He heard our concerns. He shared with us that he is awaiting a bill from the Senate. Once a bill is before Congress, Lance will weigh in. He welcomed our group to return then.

Nevertheless, it was clear to me how important our meeting was.

Political leaders have shared that they hear from the extremes sides of issues all of the time. However, they rarely hear from the center where most of our country is. Certainly they can gather facts from polls. But who is calling their office? Who is voting? Often the extremes. Our UU Legislative Ministry NJ office has shared that our political leaders would often love to take a stand on issues that matter to Unitarian Universalists and others, but they don’t hear from the people in the center. They don’t hear from the average citizen.

In the last six months, I have also heard how important it is for citizens to establish a relationship with their government leaders. This is a great privilege that we are granted as citizens that we too often do not utilize. And relationships matter. When an important issue or concern arises, your relationship with your representative or congressional leader carries weight. You are no longer a faceless voice (perhaps ranting) or a signature on a letter (took you two seconds). While signatures and phone calls are very important, relationships matter. Taking the time to build the relationship matters. It shows that you really care about the issue and the person who will stand up to political fury to carry it forward.

Our meeting with Congressman Lance was supposed to last twenty minutes. We spent an hour and a half with him. We talked about gun control, Hurricane Sandy, the economy and the deficit, how unemployment is affecting our communities, and the sad state of political discourse. It was an important meeting in sharing our concerns and hearing his concerns. It was an important meeting in building a relationship.

No matter how old or what stage I was in my formation, the UUA headquarters was always a coming home and a reminder that there was something bigger than I knew in my small lay led fellowship; something with a legacy that I inherited and a promise that I did and could fulfill.  Past President of the UUA, Bill Sinkford has said of the site, “It’s as close to a mecca as we’re going to have.”

For many Unitarian Universalists 25 Beacon Street has been a point of deep contention in recent months, if not decades.  The most recent UU World magazine explains in full the struggle that currently divides much of our denominations leadership:  to stay in the historic building without much hope for updates or good use of resources, or to sell and begin again in a much more modern and updated building that can only tell the stories of our histories.  On March 14^th our denomination reached a new stage in its history and put an end to the debate:  the UUA Board of Trustees voted unanimously to purchase 24 Farnsworth Street in Boston for its new headquarters and to sell 25 Beacon.

Now, whether you agree with those that 25 Beacon Street had become the “golden calf” of the faith (current President Peter Morales), or others who said that “in the absence of a common theology, it’s all the more important that we have a common history,” (past President, Rev. John Buehrens), I find it interesting that much of what this conversation has asked is, How are we being stewards of our tradition, of our finances, and of our future?

Stewardship is most commonly thought of from the Greek word epitropos found frequently throughout the Old and New Testaments, meaning “one to whose care or honor something has been instructed; a curator or guardian; an overseer or manager”.  To be a steward is to participate in the shared responsibility of caregiving.  As the Annual Giving season comes to a close you have heard us speak about this some; as we consider our Capital Campaign, our new building’s ecological footprint, the debt that our budget avoids or pays down, or in April’s theme of Earth, you will hear this word even more.

The reality of 25 Beacon is that without the $6 – $10 million renovation, the building, while a beautiful landmark and physical symbol of our legacy, will continue to deplete our ecological, and, not without mention, therefore our financial resources.  If our faith is one that speaks of the interdependent web, to the good of all creation, to the Earth as our home to be cared for and not abused, holding the UUA’s headquarters in a building that calls on the earth for more than we can give back to is a difficult fight.

And not just because it sounds or looks bad.  It’s a hard fight because we, (humans, North Americans, North American Unitarian Universalists), are not very good at Stewardship.  I don’t mean this to be insulting; we are a stubbornly individualistic people despite, I believe, our want and need to be otherwise.  It is also what makes us bold and forward thinking.  But stewardship asks us to trump our individual wants, sentiments, and comfort for the good of the whole.  And in a tradition where our dogma is to be without a set dogma; where we uphold and affirm individual beliefs and creeds; where places of purpose are different for each person; we hit up against some real challenges when it comes to making hard choices like 25 Beacon and its usefulness, its timeliness, and its responsible ownership for the generations of UUs who will inhabit this planet in the hopeful centuries to come.

As our Association moves into a new place and time in its history, I wonder how we may learn to be stewards, how we may answer the hardest charges, in caring for one another, for our faith tradition, and this one miraculous Earth whose resources are limited.  In saying goodbye to that beloved space, I have had to learn that stewardship is a lovely sentiment and a heavy charge.   I could use your help in answering to the call.

The UU World article discussing the divide can be found here: http://www.uuworld.org/ideas/articles/284039.shtml

And the decision can be found here:  http://www.uuworld.org/news/articles/284714.shtml

Blessings,

Kim

If you haven’t got your pledge card in, please have a conversation with members of your family about your level of support this year.  There are many ways to get that pledge in, including:

1. Fill out the card and drop it in the box in the front lobby
2. Mail the card in
3. Email your pledge to Susan Webster, at offasst@ucsummit.org.  You will receive a call to confirm the pledge and your thank you letter will be the documentation of your pledge.

In case you’ve lost your card, there are more available at the church at the Annual Giving table. To easily set up an ongoing pledge, click here to go directly to our page for online giving, or click the Online Giving tab on the website front page.

We expect that everyone received, in the mail, a brochure about the campaign.  It did include a pledge card, as it was a ‘one size fits all’ brochure – we hope all of you who have already pledged understand.  Some congregation members needed an extra card sent home.

As you’ve probably heard, there’s a little extra incentive this year – all pledges in by Sunday, April 7th qualify for a drawing for a Michael Kors handbag.  So get that pledge in!

Campaign Celebration/Meet The Neighbors:  Very shortly, if you haven’t already, you should receive an Evite to our second Annual Giving event.  On Saturday, April 6th, we are having an open house, starting in Fellowship Hall, running from 5:00pm – 7:30pm.  Whether you’ve received the Evite or not, if you would like to attend please RSVP to the church office (dee@ucsummit.org).  We will still have tours of the property next door, so if you haven’t had a chance to take a peek, it’s worth stopping by to meet our new neighbors and hear Scott Bradley’s presentation on the building and his business.

When you walk in to the church lobby, you will be directed to the Annual Giving Table.  There, if you’d like to go on the tour, we will give you a ticket with the starting time of your tour (they’ll run about every 20 minutes, starting around 5:30.  And (of course!) we will be checking in with you about your pledge status and asking that, if you haven’t already, you make your annual commitment to the congregation by the end of the evening.  Downstairs in Fellowship Hall, when you’re not touring, there will be lots of great food, drink, conversation, and people from the Expansion, Annual Giving, and Strategic Planning teams to answer any questions.

That’s all for now.  Looking forward to updating the numbers next week, and having both the number of pledges and the dollars be higher, so get those pledge cards in!

This is an important job that involves a limited, clearly defined time commitment. It also provides lots of insights into activities at UCS and a front-row seat todecision-making by congregational leaders at a very exciting point in our story.

The recording secretary takes notes at the monthly board meetings (generally the 3^rd Monday of each month at 7:30 pm) and distributes the draft minutes for the board to approve at the next meeting.

He/she could also write up a short summary of the meeting for the UCS website/newsletter, but that isn’t required (and has been done in the past by the board member elected as the corporate secretary).

For more information or to express interest, contact Karen Damato, vice president, at damatok@comcast.net or cell 908-209-1807.

In case you’ve lost your card, there are more available at the church at the Annual Giving table. To easily set up an ongoing pledge, click here to go directly to our page for online giving, or click the Online Giving tab on the website front page.

Updates to come:  This week you should receive in the mail a brightly colored brochure with lots of good information about church pledging, our congregation, and our movement.  Attached (how could we not!) is an extra pledge card.  This provides a little reminder about the importance of living our values and supporting our congregation.

Ongoing information:  In case you hadn’t noticed, the website has a new, permanent addition:  the Giving tab.  Check it out!  It has lots of great information about why, exactly, it’s important to pledge, suggested giving percentages to aspire to, and the ever popular FAQs (Answers to Frequently Asked Questions).  A place to go any time during the year when you want information about giving to the congregation, as well as what the funds support and the congregation’s operating budget.

Campaign Celebration/Meet The Neighbors:  On Saturday, April 6th, we will have the second of our events celebrating our congregation, reminding us of our past and present joys and accomplishments, as well as looking toward our exciting future.  This time around, we’re planning an open house, starting in Fellowship Hall, running from 5:00pm – 7:30pm.  We will still have tours of the property next door, so if you haven’t had a chance to take a peek, it’s worth stopping by to meet our new neighbors and hear Scott Bradley’s presentation on the building and his business.

We will be handing out tickets upstairs in the lobby for the tour times (groups of about 20, every 20 minutes or so), at the Annual Giving table with the pledge card box.  And so (of course!) we will be asking you about your pledge status and suggesting that if you haven’t already, you make your annual commitment to the congregation by the end of the evening.  Downstairs in Fellowship Hall, when you’re not touring, there will be lots of great food, drink, conversation, and people from the Expansion, Annual Giving, and Strategic Planning teams to answer any questions.  Watch your email for an invitation in the next week.

That’s all for now.  Looking forward to updating the numbers next week, and having both the number of pledges and the dollars be higher, so get those pledge cards in!

As always, your presence is the most welcome contribution of all!

“We are very fortunate to be able to support the important work of these organizations towards relief and restoration of Long Island in the aftermath of Sandy. UUCSR takes pride in acting on the Unitarian Universalist faith through social activism, volunteerism and overall support of the local community. These grants are an example of our commitment to good works”, stated Barbara Grosmark, president of UUCSR.

The following organizations were approved for funding:

• ALIGN for the Alliance for a Just Rebuilding: ($150,000) Funds will be used to support a comprehensive organizing campaign involving NY-based grassroots organizations working in poor neighborhoods adversely affected by Super storm Sandy.

• Health and Welfare Council of Long Island: ($200,000) Monies will fund operations of the Long Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LIVOAD) Long Term Recovery Group. Funds will also be given out as.  The LIVOAD Unmet Needs Roundtable will give out grants.

• Interfaith Nutrition Network (the INN): ($100,000) Funds will be used to purchase bulk perishable and non-perishable food to meet the increased demand for food generated by Super storm Sandy.

• Metro New York District of the UUA: ($100,000) The grant will be used to hire a Coordinator of Disaster Response and Volunteer Services to oversee long-term repair and recovery assistance to UU congregations, members and communities most seriously affected by Super storm Sandy.

• Sustainable Long Island: ($130,000) Monies will support a five-­component collaboration with the City of Long Beach to ensure a robust and equitable economic recovery after Super storm Sandy for all residents of the city.

ABOUT UUCSR

Founded in 1940, UUCSR is affiliated with more than 1,000 UU congregations across the continent. Located in Manhasset, NY, we honor the diversity of beliefs and shared values of our members in serving our religious mission of worship, education for all ages, fellowship and social justice. We as a congregation aspire to be a loving, religious community where members can grow spiritually and build a more just and joyful world.