1. religion and spirituality

THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
November 2014
PITTSBURGH
THE CHALICE
C O N N E C T
+
I N S P I R E
+
S E R V E
FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER
~ The Rev. Dr. David Herndon
When I went to theological school in 1982, the unquestioned assumption was that
theological school was a residential academic program. Those preparing to
serve as ministers would move to the city where the theological school was
located and live there for three or four years while attending classes.
Things have changed! Our two intern ministers, John Ballance and Dave Dunn, as
well as our theological-student-in-residence, Patricia Trudeau, are all students at
Meadville/Lombard Theological School, our Unitarian Universalist seminary in
Chicago. I moved to Chicago when I enrolled at Meadville/Lombard many years
ago. But John, Dave, and Patricia have not moved to Chicago, because
Meadville/Lombard no longer has any residential students! John, Dave, and
Patricia have been able to stay at home while they pursue their theological
studies using carefully crafted distance education procedures. They read books
at home, they write papers at home, and they take part in conference calls at
home. And then they go to Chicago for a couple of very intensive weeks of
classroom participation in January and June. Doing this full-time, one can earn a
Master of Divinity – the standard professional degree for ministers – in three
years. As it happens, many people who become ministers do so a little later in
life, perhaps as a second career, and if these folks have kids in school and a
spouse with a satisfying job, moving to Chicago is just not an option. But nonresidential distance learning is an option. This new way of doing things seems to
be working: Meadville/Lombard welcomed thirty-six new ministry students this
fall!
A recent article by Tom Ehrich about General Theological Seminary in New York
City (http://www.washingtonpost.com/national/religion/the-rise-and-fall-of-theamerican-seminary-commentary/2014/10/07/9c43911c-4e39-11e4-877c335b53ffe736_story.html) suggests that the cultural landscape in the United
States is changing in ways that challenge religious institutions to become more
adept at innovation. Although he is writing about challenges facing theological
schools, he also says: “Many congregations are in the same situation. The needs
they filled 60 years ago – neighborhood churches providing a mobile postwar
world with a place to belong and to ground the family – have largely vanished.
Some congregations welcomed new purposes in a world of new lifestyles, new
expectations, new family structures, new employment patterns and new attitudes
toward Sunday morning, and they are thriving. Most, sad to say, resisted change
and now find that time and tide haven’t waited for them.”
Volume 15, No. 10
Inside this issue:
Worship
4
Music and the
Arts
5
Lifespan Faith
Development
Adult Faith
Development
Forum
Children and
Youth Ministries
7
8
9
Social
Responsibility
11
Caring
Community
15
Stewardship
18
Denominational
Connections
22
November 2014
“Some
congregations
welcomed new
purposes in a
world of new
lifestyles, new
expectations,
new family
structures, new
employment
patterns and
new attitudes
toward Sunday
morning, and
they are
thriving. Most,
sad to say,
resisted change
and now find
that time and
tide haven’t
waited for
them.”
Rev. Dr.
David
Herndon
Senior Minister
Contact at:
412-621-8008
x102
dherndon@firstunitarian-pgh.org
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
FROM OUR SENIOR MINISTER
(continued)
I would say that First Unitarian Church is fortunate to be among the thriving
congregations! In part, this is because we have some fundamental, enduring
strengths as a congregation, and we have continued to build on those strengths.
But, in case you had not noticed, we have also done considerable innovation over
the years! The Folk Orchestra, the Family Choir, the Dance Choir, and the Young
Adult Spoken Word Choir are examples of innovative performing arts groups
that you probably will not find in most churches. The Multicultural Transition Team
is encouraging us to become more multicultural and thus stay ahead of
demographic and cultural changes in the United States. We are solidly connected
with the Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania Legislative Advocacy Network
(UUPLAN), an organization that did not even exist ten years ago. We have one
hundred and fifty church members and friends involved in covenant groups, a way
of bringing people together that was unheard of in Unitarian Universalist
congregations twenty years ago. We are fortunate to have two paid staff
positions – our Young Adult and Campus Ministry Coordinator and our Social
Action Coordinator – which represent considerable innovation in our staffing. We
have installed an elevator. We have installed a flat-screen TV in the Garden
Lobby. We have installed an extensive network of computers for our staff
members. And we have just recently launched a new website. All of these are
examples of ongoing innovation here at First Unitarian Church, and I’m sure you
could provide many more examples.
Cultural and demographic changes will challenge us to become even more adept at
innovation, and we are doing just that. Rev. Zucker and the Adult Faith
Development Committee, for example, are exploring what it would be like to
have adult faith development opportunities off-site in various unusual locations.
Jon Erik Schreiber and Becky Billock are exploring what it would be like to have a
multicultural chamber music concert series. Celeste Taylor and the Social Action
Council are exploring new ways of inviting church members and friends to put our
values into practice in the larger community. Jennifer Halperin and the Religious
Education Committee are exploring an innovative way of working with children
called Workshop Rotation. Jennifer Detchon and the Young Adult Steering
Committee are exploring new ways of bringing young adults and students into
religious community. And Emily Pinkerton and Brian Junker are making plans for a
major upgrade of our sound system, using technology that did not even exist until
recently. Again, I’m sure you could provide many more examples.
Of course, not every innovative idea will work out. And we have some traditions
that we definitely want to keep! But let’s remain open to trying new things!
See you in church!
Rev. David
2
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
ROBIN’S BIRD’S EYE VIEW
~ The Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker
November can be a month for joy, gratitude and bountiful meals. Yet, for some, it is
also a time of complicated family gatherings, reminders of loss and longing for
connection. If the holidays tend to hurt for you (even as a mixture of pain and
happiness), I invite you to come on November 21 and share soup and a circle of
caring hearts with others in our church community. We will eat, reflect, share and
listen. As we enter into the holiday season, let’s be kind to ourselves. The
following poem was read by a member of my covenant group last month and it
really touched me. I offer it here to encourage you to commit yourself to
embracing and accepting yourself (even the gnarly parts) , and as you do, to love
the one who is learning to love.
In faith and affection,
Rev. Robin
Can You Love The One Who...
Leah Pearlman
There’s one in you who’s sweet.
There’s one in you who’s mean.
Can you love them both?
Can you let them both be seen?
Can you love the one who’s chilled?
And whose temper’s hot?
Can you love the weakling?
The one who’s sometimes sick?
Can you love the one who tries?
And love her when she fails?
Can you love the one who lies?
And love the one who wails?
Can you love the warrior?
Who fights through thin and thick?
Can you love your tears?
Can you love your worry?
Can you love your darkest fears?
Can you love your fury?
Can you love your crazy?
Can you love your sane?
Can you love your foolish heart?
Love your scattered brain?
Can you love indifference?
Love the one who clings?
Can you love the vibrant one?
Love the one who sings?
There’s one in you who’s bored.
And one who’s often stressed
Can you love them both at once?
And she who tries her best?
Can you love your addict?
Can you love your thief?
Can you love your vanity?
Can you love your grief?
If the answer’s “no.”
To some of the above
Then can you love the one in you
Who’s learning how to love?
Can you love your inner child?
And your body as you age?
Can you love your wild side?
Release her from her cage?
Can you love the one fulfilled?
And the one who’s not?
It’s not enough to
be busy; so are
the ants. The
question is: what
are we busy
about?
~ Henry David Thoreau
Rev. Robin
Landerman
Zucker
Assistant Minister
Contact at:
412-621-8008 x110
412-727-6870
(home study)
flowingforce@
verizon.net
Office hours by
arrangement.
3
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
WORSHIP
Spiritual
Theme
for November:
FINITUDE
Finitude, Transience,
and Mortality are three
challenging existential
realities we all face as
human beings. We will
explore the spiritual
theme of Finitude by
asking questions such
as these: How might
we come to terms with
the reality that our
knowledge is
incomplete, that our
influence is limited, that
our years of living
come to an end? What
saves us from despair
or deep dismay about
our finitude? Can we
participate
wholeheartedly in
struggles for justice
even though those
struggles may be
incomplete in our own
lifetime?
SUNDAY
CELEBRATIONS
COMMITTEE
Allison Haley
Louise Jencik (chair)
Ward Kelsey
Marty Lieb
Bruce McConachie
Stephanie Pawlowsky
Jean Peterson
Melody Platz
Shawntaye Scott
Scott Smith
A M O N T H O F S U N DAY S :
Wo r s h i p S e r v i c e s i n N o v e m b e r
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 2, 2014
All Souls Sunday
The Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker,
Assistant Minister. “Taking it One
World At a Time”
When asked what he thought the
afterlife would be like, the sage of
Walden Pond, Henry David Thoreau
answered, “I’m taking it one world at
a time.” As we explore finitude this
month as our worship theme, we’ll
consider how to live deliberately in a
somewhat random world without over
-attachment to the past or a sense of
anxiety or over-expectation about
the future. Isn’t living deliberately in
the one tangible world we have
challenging enough? The young adult
spoken choir will chime in with a
compelling mash-up of Thoreau and
others, encouraging us to “let the
forest find us.”
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 9, 2014
Veterans Sunday
The Rev. Dr. David Herndon, Senior
Minister.
From Tuesday, October 21, to
Sunday, October 26, I had a
remarkable opportunity to travel to
the United States-Mexico border in
Southern Arizona to learn about the
ongoing struggle for immigration
justice. This morning, I will be
reporting what I learned there and
offering some reflections on how our
Unitarian Universalist values call us to
respond to this situation.
4
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 16, 2014
The Rev. Mark Kiyimba. “Unity and
Diversity in the 21st Century”
Reverend Mark Kiyimba is the
founder and senior minister of the
Unitarian Universalist Church of
Uganda, which preaches acceptance
of all people, including LGBT people.
Their small church also runs a school
for 650 children who have lost
parents to HIV/AIDS, as well as an
orphanage for 22 children infected
with the virus. Rev. Kiyimba has been
major a leader for LGBT rights in
Uganda and will be sharing his stories
of those struggles, helping us to
connect with our UU members in
Uganda.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2014
Thanksgiving Sunday
The Rev. Dr. David Herndon, Senior
Minister.
Our annual Thanksgiving service is a
feast of music and words exploring
themes of gratitude, service, justice,
and stewardship. We will have the
joy of welcoming our new members
who have joined First Unitarian Church
in the last six months.
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 30, 2014
Dave Dunn, Ministerial Intern.
“Reflections of a Hospice Chaplain ”
Staring into the depths of our
existence with those who face life’s
final moments – why would one
choose this as their life’s work? Where
can meaning be found? What is the
role of the hospice chaplain? From
September through May, Dave served
as a chaplain intern at Family
Hospice.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
November 2014
PITTSBURGH
MUSIC AND THE ARTS
SongSpace at First Unitarian
welcomes
with
Antje Duvekot
Special Guest/ Brooke Annibale
Saturday, November 8 at 7:30 pm
(doors open at 7:00 pm)
in the Sanctuary
Blending uncommonly beautiful vocals with sharp poetic
sensibilities, singer-songwriter Antje Duvekot believes in the
redemptive power of the shared secret, utterly unafraid to
mine the darkest corners of her life for songs that turn fear
into resilience and isolation into community. “Antje is the
rare artist who can write about the social and the personal
in the same breath,” says folk icon Ellis Paul. “Her voice has
a sound of innocence and naiveté which makes razor-sharp insights into the human
condition.” Antje’s path has taken many twists and turns, from her native Germany
to her current residence in Boston. She holds three top songwriting awards including
the Kerrville New Folk Competition's Best New Folk Award, Boston Music Award for
Outstanding Folk Act, and grand prize in the John Lennon Songwriting Contest.
www.antjeduvekot.com
Pittsburgh native and singer-songwriter Brooke Annibale
combines earthy vocals, insightful lyrics and acoustic pop folk
sounds to create dynamic and engaging performances. Her lyrics
bleed with an uncommon wisdom for a 26-year-old, as her tales
about love, loss and faith are simultaneously deeply personal
and wholly universal in their application. www.brookeannibale.com
SongSpace
at
First Unitarian
SongSpace at First
Unitarian is a celebration
of folk, old-time,
bluegrass, singersongwriter and world
music, featuring local,
regional and national
artists. We are dedicated
to establishing a joyful and
meaningful space both for
making and listening to
quality music.
Don’t miss this upcoming
show:
November 8
Antje Duvekot with
Brooke Annibale
$15 general admission/$10 students. Email us at songspace.firstuu@yahoo.com for advance ticket
options; tickets will also be available at the door the night of the show.
FAMILY CHOIR
The Family Choir provides an
opportunity for families to sing
together and to create a friendly,
informal, supportive community. From
September through May, with a break
in January, rehearsals take place on
most Tuesday evenings, 6:30 to 7:15
p.m. preceded by a simple meal
served from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. Family
Choir provides music for the 9:30 and
11:00 a.m. services about once each
month and for the Family Christmas Eve
Service.
All kinds of families are invited to be
part of the Family Choir! New families
are welcome at any time. You can find
the current Family Choir rehearsal and
performance schedule as well as the
Family Choir registration form on the
church website, www.first-unitarianpgh.org. Just follow the “Getting
Involved” link and the “Music and
Performing Arts” link.
5
Visit us at
www.uusongspace.com,
like us at facebook.com/
songspace, and follow us
on Twitter!
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
MUSIC AND THE ARTS
(continued)
I n
t h e
U n d e r c r o f t G a l l e r y
November 2014
The Magic of Every Day
Join Dance
Choir with
Movements for
“For the Beauty
of the Earth”
Thanksgiving
Sunday,
November 23
Everyone
is encouraged to
join in with some
simple gestures on
Thanksgiving
Sunday when we
sing “For the
Beauty of the
Earth.”
Dance Choir would
love it you can help
lead the
congregation in
these brief, simple
gestures. 15-minute
learning sessions
will be held on
Sunday, November
16 at 10:30 a.m. in
the Semple Room
and 12:30 p.m. in
the Priestly
Room. Questions,
call Karen
Litzinger, 412-2427045.
Mary Hamilton
Mary Hamilton is a Pittsburgh artist who is well known for her charming and
colorful linoleum block prints. Her prints show us rich interactions between people,
and between people and animals – especially those engaging dogs. She is
“exploring the unity of All,” and certainly the universal appeal of these limited
edition prints makes this a show you won’t want to miss.
Please stop in to view Mary’s work in the Undercroft Gallery of
First Unitarian Church throughout November.
6
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
LIFESPAN FAITH DEVELOPMENT
ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT
Welcome to Adult Faith Development at First Unitarian Church! Our offerings are
open to all members and friends, new and longstanding. We invite and
encourage you to explore a rich variety of courses, presentations, and events this
fall that reflect our mission to “Connect, Inspire, and Serve.”
Each offering connects to some element at the core of Unitarian Universalist
identity – our principles and our sources. The goal is to provide a framework for
you to grow (personally, intellectually, spiritually, and ethically) as an individual,
as a member of the community, and as a Unitarian Universalist.
On all of our paths from Membership to Spiritual Growth to Social Responsibility
to Leadership, there is something for everyone this season – spiritual and creative
practices and inquiry, social justice films, courses, and discussions about racial,
reproductive, and environmental justice, soup, bread and comfort, and a reprise
of the popular “Spirited Conversations” gathering. Come and join us for any or
all of these offerings as we go deeper and broader together. Childcare is
available by prior arrangement. Please inquire.
DO YOU HAVE AN IDEA FOR AN ADULT FAITH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM? To
make a suggestion or to submit your own course proposal form, please contact
committee chair, Julie Childers ( julie36pa@gmail.com ) 412-726-3590.
PATH TO MEMBERSHIP AND UNITARIAN
UNIVERSALIST IDENTITY:

Membership Orientation
Three Sundays: Nov 2, 9 and 16.
12:30 - 2:15 p.m.
Leaders: Rev. David Herndon and
the Membership Committee.
PATH TO SPRIITUAL GROWTH:
 Chalice
PATH TO SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY:
 Common
Read: Reclaiming
Prophetic Witness, by Paul Rasor.
Congregations will read this book in
the Fall with a cluster-wide forum
planned for January or February
2015.
 The
Color of Fear (film and
discussion). Sunday, Nov 16, 1:00 3:30 p.m. Leader: Vespera Barrow
and the Multicultural Transition
Team
Cafe (brown bag lunch and
discussion of monthly themes)
Tuesdays, Noon - 1:30 p.m.
- Nov 18: Finitude
- Dec 16: Grace
PATH TO LEADERSHIP:
Leader: Rev. Robin Zucker.
Financial Integrity - Transforming
 When the Holidays Hurt (Soup
Your Relationship with Money. Three
and Sharing Circle).
Sundays in 2015: Jan 4, 11, and 18,
Friday, Nov 21, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
1:00 - 4:00 p.m. Leader: Trina Brown.
Leader: Rev. Robin Zucker.
 Spirited
Conversations (a happy
hour with soul) - “What Does ‘Joy
to the World’ Mean These Days?” .
Thursday, Dec 11, 6:00 - 8:00 p.m.
Off-site location TBA.
Leader: Rev. Robin Zucker
7
Registration
for Adult Faith
Development
Classes
Please register in
advance for courses and
programs so we can
prepare for the proper
number. If you decide
not attend, please cancel
your registration
promptly.
ONLINE
REGISTRATION
PROCESS
You can find course
details and Register on
our newly-designed
website: www.firstunitarian-pgh.org.
Click "Our Shared
Ministry" then "Lifespan
Faith Development,"
then "Adult Faith
Development. "
Program Guide link:
www.first-unitarianpgh.org/
adultfaithdevelopment/
fallcatalog.pdf
Registration
link: http://
fs18.formsite.com/
FirstUnitarianChurch/
AdultFaith/index.html
Adult Faith
Development
Committee Members
Julie Childers, chair
Marie Baird
Linda Fleming
Mary Schinhofen
Bob Sullivan
Rev. Robin L. Zucker
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
LIFESPAN FAITH DEVELOPMENT
(continued)
FORUM
Sundays at 9:30 a.m. in the Sc hweitzer Room
HOW TO
SUBMIT
ARTICLES
TO THE
CHALICE
The Chalice is
published monthly
(except August) by
the First Unitarian
Church of
Pittsburgh. Our
editor for The
Chalice is Jennifer
Parsons.
Newsletter
Deadline:
Submissions to
The Chalice are
due by the 15th
of the prior
month. Submit
your articles via
email to the editor
at
jennifer.parsons@
outlook.com.
Forum is the weekly discussion/lecture that considers the broad weft and warp of
topics that engage our heads and our hearts. Our speakers are often from local
universities, organizations, church members, or government institutions. The format
is usually a short presentation (20 to 40 minutes) followed by a half hour of
vigorous discussion.
NOVEMBER 2, 2014
NOVEMBER 23, 2014
NOVEMBER 9, 2014
NOVEMBER 30, 2014
Clot: How Platelets Work and Keep us
The Moral Polygraph: How to Tell
When the Writer is Lying-Meretricious Alive. Sebastian Vogel, MD. A Five
Senses Forum-Germany.
Writing. Peter Trachtenberg, PhD.
The Genomics of Personality Traits.
Geoffrey Murdoch, MD.
NOVEMBER 16, 2014
Camels with Hammers: A Search for
an Atheist Manifesto. Daniel Fincke,
PhD.
The very best way
to contact our
newsletter editor,
Jennifer Parsons,
is through email:
jennifer.parsons@
outlook.com.
8
No Forum. Thanksgiving Sunday.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
November 2014
PITTSBURGH
lopment
Lifetime Faith Deve
REflections
s News
ie
r
t
is
in
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t
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d
Children an
First Unitarian Church of
Pittsburgh-Children and
Youth Ministries
We must regularly take into ourselves grains, fruits, meats—portions of the larger world.
Think about the reasons why you eat—to replenish yourself, to strengthen your body, or to
celebrate. Then add one more to the list—to reconnect. ~ Brian Nelson Greetings!
Calendar of Events
November 2
9:30a.m. Workshop
Rotation
11:00a.m. Regular
Classes
November 9
9:30a.m. Workshop
Rotation
11:00a.m. Regular
Classes
Coming of Age
November 16
Children’s Chapel
November 23
Regular Classes
Thanksgiving
Sunday
November 30
11:00a.m. classes
only.
Holiday Craft Fair
I recently returned from Decatur, Georgia where I was at the Liberal Religious
Educators Association’s (LREDA) annual Fall Conference. There were religious
educators from the entire continent, from the largest congregations to those
with just a few children, and the theme this year was Best Practices in Shared
Ministry. We were grateful to have Rev. Linda Olsen Peebles, President of the
UU Ministers Association, Rev. Sarah Lammert, Director of the UUA
Department of Ministry and Faith Development and many UUA staff with us.
Fall Conference is an opportunity to learn, to teach, to share, to worship, to be
inspired and to deepen one’s UU faith, and, paradoxically for me, to be both recharged and exhausted by the packed schedule. The best part, of course, is that
I bring it all back to First Unitarian Pittsburgh, and know that the ripple effect
of inspiration, learning and deepening of faith will find its way to and through
our congregation.
I know this is true, and with permission granted from all people involved I tell
you this story:
During the conference a colleague came up to me, looked at my nametag and
said, “you’re Jennifer from First Unitarian Pittsburgh?” “Yes”, I said. “Oh”, she
said, “I met one of your former youth, in fact, he shares a flat with my son Nick
in college. On the day he moved in, Alex was outside, already moved in, and
saw the UU bumper sticker on my car. He said, Are you UU? I am!” We said
yes we were, and Alex then ran up to the room and came back out to our car,
opening up his grey hymnal that was full of post-it notes marking his favorite
hymns and readings. She talked about how friendly and welcoming Alex was,
and how that was the beginning of a successful year of being roommates. She
said, “what a wonderful testimonial it was to his faith and your faith
community.”
Our faith community is fueled by inspiration, dedication and inclusive
hospitality. How wonderful to know that Alex Habermann’s faith sustains him
as he makes his way as a young adult. Shared Ministry at its best!
In good and growing faith,
Jennifer Halperin
Director of Children and Youth Ministries
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
Children and Youth Ministries
Pleasestayafterchurchforourannualall‐agesholiday
craft‐makingfair.Theeventwilltakeplaceafterchurch
Sunday,November30th,aftertheservicefrom12:00‐
1:30pm.Youandthechildrenwillhavealow‐key,fun
opportunitytomakeavarietyofcraftsforwonderful
holidaygiftsanddecorations.Soupandbreadwillbeprovided.
Afeeof$5/personor$15/familycoverscostofcraft
supplies.Allagesarewelcomeandprojectswillappealtoa
varietyofskilllevels.
Volunteerswillbeneededtohelprunthecrafttables.Pleasecontact
MollyMorrillmolly irstuu@gmail.comifyouwouldliketohelpout.
A Thanksgiving Blessing
by Rev. Naomi King
Let us join and hands and hearts in gratitude on this
wondrous day where we have the abundance of our lives
before us. We remember this day of bounty all of those who do
not have enough, who are afraid, who are lonely, and who
suffer. We wish for the abundance of this world to be shared,
for fear to become love, for the lonely to feel welcomed, and
YOUTH NUUS
OMD Junior High Con: Nov.
14—16. First Unitarian Church
of Pittsburgh. First Unitarian
Church of Pittsburgh. WE HOST!
Please contact Jen H at
jbhalperin@yahoo.com if you
would like to help with food!
Especially on Saturday … there
are shifts open for all meals!
Men’s Shelter: The Youth Group
will be cooking for the Men’s
Shelter on November 2nd. Meet
at the church at 4:30pm.
7-12 Mixer: Youth in grades 7-12
are invited to a mixer on Sunday,
November 23rd from 5:307:30pm.
for the suffering to know rest and joy. For the labors, the love,
the care that gave us the delights of this and every day, we say
“thanks!” For the nourishment of our spirit, the challenges that
strengthen us, and the friends we have on the journey, we sing
“"thanks!” For all that is our lives, for these good gifts, we
whisper, “thanks!” Overflowing with gratitude, let us shout,
"thanks!" Amen.
THE THEME
FOR
NOVEMBER
IS FINITUDE
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
Unitarian Universalist
Partner Church
Council
announces a
Pilgrimage to NE India
& Khasi Hills
March 8 - 18, 2015.
10 days/9 nights- from
$1,489/person
VOTING ON THE SIDE OF LOVE
~ a m e s s a g e f r o m C e l e s t e Ta y l o r, S o c i a l
Justice Coordinator
Voting on the Side of Love Campaign:
100 Volunteers needed for nonpartisan Election Protection/Poll
Monitoring Pittsburgh Program on
Election Day, Tuesday, November 4th.
Training provided. Contact: Celeste
Taylor, Social Action Coordinator at
uusjcpittsburgh@gmail.com, 412-4301006. Ongoing Voter registration,
Voter verification, Get Out The Vote
and Election Protection volunteer signup
available at the Social Action Council
table during the social hour after
Sunday services. Questions about
voting before or on election day?
Contact the Election Protection Hotline
at 1-866-OUR-VOTE (1-866-6878683).
The vote is the most powerful instrument ever
devised by man for breaking down injustice and destroying
the terrible walls which imprison men because
they are different from other men.
~ Lyndon B. Johnson
11
Experience first-hand this
unique outpost of
Unitarianism and enjoy
the gracious hospitality of
the Khasi people. Visit the
Annie Margaret Barr
Children's Village, the
Secondary School in
Kharang we have been
supporting for many years,
several Unitarian churches
and general sightseeing
features. Optional “Golden
Triangle” Extension to
Delhi, Agra, Jaipur
March 2 - 8, 2015
7 days/6 nights-from
$1,495/person. Old Delhi,
New Delhi, the Taj Mahal,
Red Fort, Qutub Minar,
Jama Masjid, Raj Ghat
(Gandhi's cremation site),
Agra Fort, Fatehpur Sikri
(the Sandstone City).
6 day tour of Northern
India. Guided trip with
fellow UU's. for more
information go to
uupcc.org
Celeste Taylor
Social Action
Coordinator
Contact at:
412.621.8008 x104
uusjcpittsburgh@
gmail.com
Office Hours:
Wednesdays,
Noon-3:00 p.m.
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
(continued)
GET
CONNECTED
Sign up for our
Email
Distribution List!
We use our all-church
email distribution list
to send out our
monthly newsletter as
well as our weekly
email update. You
may add your email
address to this
distribution list by
visiting our church
website, www.firstunitarian-pgh.org,
and following the
“Subscribe to our
email list” link.
“Like” us on
Facebook!
Like our official
Facebook page to stay
up to date with
various
developments,
opportunities, and
conversations taking
place within our
religious community.
First Unitarian
Church on Facebook
may be found at
UUJME COURSE: ZIONISM UNSETTLED: A
CONGREGATIONAL STUDY GUIDE
Four Sundays, 12:45-2:30 p.m.
November 9, 16, 23 and December 7
Events this past summer have surely
reminded us of the tragic and
intractable nature of the conflict
between Israelis and Palestinians.
Israel was established as an answer to
the decades of hatred directed at Jews
and culminating in the calamity of the
Holocaust in Europe during World War
II. Sadly, the ideal realized in the
founding of a safe homeland for Jews
– a Jewish state – resulted in great
injustice to the people already living in
Palestine, with dispossession of
property, loss of self-determination,
and threats to life itself.
better basis for effecting justice,
security, human rights, and peace for
Israelis and Palestinians.
Please come and be part of this
conversation, meeting four Sundays
from 12:45 until 2:30 p.m.
Nov. 9: Toward a New Framework &
Political Zionism
Nov. 16: The Concept and Practice of a
Jewish State & Christian Views
of Jews & Judaism
Nov. 23: A Jewish Theology of
Liberation & Mainline Liberal
Protestants & Israel
Dec. 7: Evangelicals and Christian
Zionism Unsettled is a course prepared
Zionism & A Palestinian Muslim
by the Israel/Palestine Mission Network
Experience with Zionism & A
of the Presbyterian Church. With use of
Palestinian Christian
a booklet and DVD, the course aims to
Perspective
open up conversation about the ideal
of Zionism: to understand what it hoped This course is co-sponsored by UUs for
to accomplish vs. what has been the
Justice in the Middle East and the
reality; to examine the meanings and
Social Action Council of First Unitarian
myths that have become attached to it; Church. Leaders: Kathy Parker and Eric
and to consider whether there is a
Anderson.
www.facebook.com/
firstunitarianpittsburgh
12
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
(continued)
SOCIAL ACTION COUNCIL
Committees Leaders and
Representatives:
- Alternative Gift Market Committee
(AGM), Cindy Kirsch
- Congregational Study/Action Issue
(CSAI) Reproductive Justice
Committee, Pat Ulbrich
- East End Cooperative Ministry
(EECM): Kim Lincoln, general; Keith
Bryner, Men’s Shelter Meals
- Green Sanctuary Committee, Peg
Schmidt
- Matters of Racial Equality (MORE)
Our work is guided by the seven
Committee, Kay Gordon
principles which Unitarian Universalist
- Multicultural Transition Team,
congregations affirm and promote: 1 ~
Vespera Barrow and Tara Tappen
Each person is important. 2 ~ Be kind in
- Pennsylvania Interfaith Impact
all you do. 3 ~ We're free to learn
Network (PIIN) Core Team: vacancy,
together. 4 ~We search for what is
general; Education Committee, Irene
true. 5 ~ All people need a voice. 6 ~
Haberman
Build a fair and peaceful world. 7 ~
- Share the Plate Committee, Laura
We care for the Earth.
Conkle
Activities: Long-term Strategizing,
- Social Justice Endowment
Sponsoring Justice Actions, Supporting
Committee, Maureen Porter
Social Action Groups
- Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania
Legislative Advocacy Network
Meetings: First Wednesdays, 7:00 (UUPLAN): Reproductive Justice, Liz
8:30 p.m., Undercroft Gallery
Perkins; LGBTQ, David Green;
Staff Coordinator: Celeste Taylor,
Economic Justice (vacancy),
(uusjcpittsburgh@gmail.com) or
Immigration Reform (vacancy)
412.621.8008 ext.104. Regular office - Unitarian Universalist Service
and phone conference hours on
Committee (UUSC), Ebe Emmons-Apt
- Unitarian Universalists for Justice in
Wednesday (Noon-3pm).
the Middle East (UUJME), Kathy
Parker
Purpose:
 To coordinate our social justice
actions over the year throughout the
church.
 To share learnings and expertise.
 To strategize so that our social action
and justice efforts align with the
mission of First Unitarian Church of
Pittsburgh.
 To raise visibility of our
congregation's commitment to social
action.
SOCIAL JUSTICE CALENDAR
Men’s Shelter Meal Preparation: First
Sunday each month.
Green Sanctuary meetings: First
Sunday each month.
Share the Plate: Third Sunday each
month.
Social Action Council meetings: First
Wednesday each month.

EECM
FOOD PANTRY
COLLECTION
You are invited to
bring contributions
for the East End
Cooperative Ministry
Food Pantry to the
9:30 or 11:00 worship
service on the first
Sunday of each
month. All nonperishable food items
are welcome.
Following is a
suggested schedule of
items:
January
peanut butter
February
tuna or vegetarian
alternative
March
canned soup
April
canned meat or
vegetarian alternative
May
jelly, jam, or
preserves
June
boxed meals
July
pancake mix
August
chili
September
pasta
October
spaghetti sauce
Matters of Racial Equality (MORE)
meetings: Fourth Sunday each month.
The PIIN Core Team meetings: Third
Monday each month.
Collection for EECM Food Pantry: Any
Sunday
Multicultural Transition Team
meetings: First Thursday each month.

13
November
canned fruit
December
beef stew or
vegetarian alternative
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY
(continued)
First Unitarian Church’s Annual
UUPLAN
Annual
Meeting
Alternative Gift Market
2014
November 15
Unitarian Church
of Harrisburg
This is our most
important time each
year for networking and
strategizing! You'll meet
UUs from all across PA
and hear about
UUPLAN's
accomplishments and
goals. Workshops and
lunch are also part of
this day.
Our UU values and
principles are
threatened by laws,
regulations, and bills
from Harrisburg that
attack the poor, women,
people of color, and our
environment. At the
same time, there are
great opportunities for
positive reforms to take
place in Pennsylvania,
and our UU voices and
actions are already
contributing to advances
in human rights and
fairness.
Join us in Harrisburg
on November 15 to
renew your spirits, build
relationships, and hone
your advocacy skills.
Sundays, December 7, 14 and 21
in the Gallery
10:30 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Gifts of hunger relief, shelter, medical assistance, development,
livestock, environmental protection, emergency disaster relief, and
gender equality, for people in crisis around the world and at home,
will be available to build peace in our global village while honoring
your family and friends.
Enjoy a bowl of homemade soup while shopping!
Checks and cash only
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
What is an alternative gift? A nontraditional way of giving. Instead of giving a
“traditional” gift, a life-sustaining gift to help abolish global poverty or to renew our
planet's environment is presented. Our AGM will display a number of causes, and will
provide information and inserts on these causes.
Where do we get the causes? Alternative Gifts International www.alternativegifts.org
How can I be sure my gift is used as I have ordered? The projects Alternative Gifts
International lists are administered by nonprofit agencies that have made a contractual
agreement with AGI to spend 100 percent of the grant made to them on the project
alone. Also, they agree not to use any of the funding on their at-home administration.
How does AGI select projects? AGI has long-standing relationships with a number of
large, globally respected aid agencies. Agencies are invited each year to send a detailed
project proposal for the coming year. All agencies must submit proof of their non-profit
status, financial documents, a proposed project, and evidence of effectiveness and
sustainability.
14
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
CARING COMMUNITY
TRANSITIONS GATHER-IN
Second Mondays, 10:00 a.m. - noon
“Transitions Gather-In”, a group of
folks talking about life transitions, the
challenges we face as we get older, as
we want to down-size, as we find living
in our homes harder, as we just want to
make our lives simpler, meets once a
month on the second Mondays of the
month.
Please come if you would like to talk
about these life issues with us.
W O M A N S P I R I T ~ S e c o n d We d n e s d a y s
Womanspirit is the evening women’s
group at First Unitarian Church. We
meet on the second Wednesday of
every month for a pot-luck dinner in a
member’s home. Dinner is usually
followed by a group discussion focused
on what we value in our lives, or how
we can improve our own lives or our
communities. We welcome new
members and friends of First Unitarian.
A Womanspirit dinner is an
entertaining and low-impact way to
meet other women of a broad range of
ages and interests.
To receive regular notice of our
monthly dinners, contact Pat Schuetz at
pschuetz@ix.netcom.com or 412-7311429.
WOMEN’S ALLIANCE
Founded in Pittsburgh in 1891
Preser ve the legac y!
Join us on the first and third Thursdays of each month,10:00 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. in
the Schweitzer Room (coffee at 10:00 a.m., meeting at 10:30 a.m., program at
11:00 a.m., lunch at noon).
Good company, good programs, good conversation, good cookies.
Bring your lunch.
Questions about Women's Alliance? Contact Ellen Parkes Collie, Co-Chair, 412-435-8646,
collieparkes@gmail.com or Betty Duquesnoy, Co-Chair, 412-682-6161,
betty.duquesnoy@comcast.net.
Nov 6. Lloyd Welling will discuss his
book Eternity’s Sunrise: William Blake’s
Vision of Christ.
Nov 20. NO MEETING.
Dec 4. Christmas Luncheon by Becki
Pesyna.
Jan 1. NO MEETING.
15
Men’s Group
November 12
The November meeting
of the Men's Group will
be from 7:30 - 9:00
p.m., on Wednesday,
November 12 in the
Schweitzer Room. Jim
Reitz will show a short
film (45 minutes)
entitled “The Secret
History of Sex, Choice
and Catholics.” We will
have ample time after
the film for discussion.
This film was shown
after church a couple of
months ago. Direct
questions to: - Jim
Reitz, J5650R@comcast.
net.
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
CARING COMMUNITY
(continued)
OUR
MISSION
The mission of the First
Unitarian Church of
Pittsburgh is to . . .
Connect deeply in
community
Inspire reverence and
spiritual growth
Serve each other and
the world
We connect deeply in
community by . . .
gathering together in
fellowship in a safe
space
listening with
empathy and
without judgment
warmly welcoming
everyone who enters
our doors
We inspire reverence
and spiritual growth
by . . .
celebrating and
exploring the
moments of awe we
experience in life
encouraging each
other along our
journeys toward truth
and meaning
fostering humility in
the pursuit of wisdom
and understanding
We serve each other
and the world by . . .
providing support to
those experiencing
hardship or distress
working for social
justice by standing
on the side of Love
being active stewards
of our environment
OUR CARING CONNECTIONS
Pastoral care is available to all
members and friends, new and
longstanding. Our Caring Connections
program is coordinated by the Rev.
Robin Zucker. If you would like to join
the Caring Connections team, please
contact the Rev. Zucker at 412-7276870 or flowingforce@verizon.net.
Threshold Choir Founded in 2007, the
Pittsburgh Threshold Choir honors an
ancient tradition of women singing
a cappella at the bedsides of people
who are dying, ill, or experiencing a
difficult life transition. They share the
healing gift of voices in private
homes, hospitals, hospice facilities, or
anywhere and any time when support
Helping Hands provides concrete
through song is appropriate. To request
assistance (such as rides and meal
a visit by the choir (or inquire about
coordination) to church members and
joining the group) , please contact Rev.
provides opportunities for congregation
Robin or Choir Director Cindy Harris
members to reach out to others. To
(412-447-1812; cah329a@gmail.com.
express a need or volunteer, please
contact the Rev. Robin at 412-727Marion's Purse has practical resources
6870 or flowingforce@verizon.net.
to share. We have bus tickets, Giant
Eagle cards, and cash reserves in our
Kindred Spirits: The ministers are
fund to help with financial and life
assisted by a Lay Pastoral Care Team,
needs. Please contact Rev. Robin in
who companion church members in
confidence.
need of spiritual and emotional support
during life challenges; they offer a
We have created a Medical
presence for elders, caregivers, and
Equipment Loan Program. If you have
families in crisis. Please contact
items to loan or need to borrow
coordinator MR Kelsey at 412- 362something, please contact Jim Reitz at
1514 or maryruthkelsey@gmail.com.
j5650r@comcast.net
Homemade Cook It Forward meals are
available in our church freezer. Please
let Mary Ruth (MR) Kelsey,
maryruthkelsey@gmail.com (412-3621514) or Rev. Robin know you'd like to
put together a meal for one of our
congregants.
Comfort Quilts Two beautiful comfort
quilts have been created by First U
quilters. These washable quilts can be
loaned to members and friends who
seek comfort as they cope with illness,
loss or other difficult life events. Please
contact Rev. Robin or Mary Ruth
Kelsey.
16
Contact the ministers, the church office,
the Director of Religious Education, a
musical group, or your covenant group,
when you or someone you know is in
need of support or care. Please contact
the ministers with pastoral life issues, to
be included in the pastoral prayer on
Sunday morning, or about memorial
services.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
CARING COMMUNITY
(continued)
First Unitarian Church
Thanksgiving Dinner
LET US
GIVE
Two Seatings:
10:45 am
12:30 pm
TOGETHER
THANKS
November 23, 2014
Tickets on sale in the undercroft gallery starting November 3.
Seating is limited ~ $9 per person or $25 per family
Includes food, drinks, fun & fellowship
17
Piglet noticed
that even
though he had
a Very Small
Heart, it could
hold a rather
large amount
of Gratitude.
~ AA Milne,
Winnie the Pooh
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
STEWARDSHIP
C H U RC H G RO U P L E A D E R S
Committees, covenant groups, performing arts groups, social action groups, and
affinity groups are opportunities for you to become involved in the life of First
Unitarian Church. Some of these groups provide opportunities for you to be of
service to our church, some provide opportunities for you to explore your own
personal spiritual journey, some provide opportunities for artistic expression, and
some provide opportunities for you to help make the world a better place. And
all of these groups offer opportunities for you to build a sense of community with
others here at our church.
Board
Members
2014/2015
Brady Hunsaker,
President (2016)
Amy DeChicchis,
Vice President (2015)
Vespera Barrow
(2015)
Marty Lieb (2017)
Brian Rohleder
(2015)
Bari Roman (2017)
Corey Layman
(2016)
Kathy Parker (2016)
Tara Tappan (2017)
Board of Trustees – Brady Hunsaker
- Building Expansion Committee – Corey
Layman
- Organ Renovation Committee – Roy Matway
Nominating Committee – Irma Tani
Stewardship Council
- Annual Budget Drive Committee - Raeann
Olander-Murray and Alison Schwartz
- Building Committee – Ray Schinhofen
- Fantasy Auction Committee – David Doorley
and Patricia Goettel
- Garden and Grounds Committee – Suzanne
Powell
- Investment Committee – Claus Makowka
- Marketing and Communications Committee
- Rob Schwartz
- Memorial Garden Committee – Linda
Kauffman
- Operations Administrative Team – Rita
Gates
- Planned Giving Committee – [TBD]
- Program Administrative Team – Rev. David
Herndon
- Right Relations Team – Holly McCullough
- Safe Congregations Team – Jennifer Halperin
- Shared Ministry Committee – Jim Bain
Worship Council
- Sunday Celebrations Committee – Louise
Jencik
- Ushers and Greeters Committee – Rev. David
Herndon
18
Music and the Arts Council – Brian Junker
- Art Committee – Ali Masalehdan
- Dance Choir – Mary Pat Mengato
- Family Choir – Rev. David Herndon
- Folk Orchestra – Emily Pinkerton
- Music Endowment Committee – Shelagh
Collins
- Recorder Ensemble – Mary Denison
- Sanctuary Choir – Jon Erik Schreiber
- SongSpace – Linda and Mark Holsing
- Young Adult Spoken Word Choir – Rev.
David Herndon
Lifespan Faith Development Council
- Adult Faith Development Committee – Julie
Childers
- Bookstore Committee – Cathy Kerr and Mary
Schinhofen
- Campus Ministry Endowment Committee –
Jennifer Detchon
- Endowment for Ministry with Children and
Youth – Jennifer Halperin
- Library Committee – Mary Schinhofen
- Religious Education Committee – Cathy
Rohrer
- Sunday Morning Forum Steering Committee
– Michael Lotze
- Young Adult and Campus Ministry
Community – Jennifer Detchon
- Young Adult Steering Committee – Taylor
Paglisotti
(continued)
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
STEWARDSHIP
(continued)
C H U RC H G RO U P L E A D E R S
(continued)
Social Action Council – Celeste Taylor
Gift Market Committee – Cindy
Kirsch
- East End Cooperative Ministry (EECM) –
Keith Bryner and Kim Lincoln
- Green Sanctuary Committee – Peg Schmidt
- Inter-Arts Social Justice Committee – Dave
Green and Bruce McConachie
- Khasi Hills Partnership Committee – Ebe
Emmons-Apt
- Matters of Racial Equality (MORE) – Kay
Gordon
- Multicultural Transition Team – Vespera
Barrow and Tara Tappen
- Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN)
Core Team – Irene Habermann
- Reproductive Justice Committee – Pat
Ulbrich
- Social Justice Endowment Committee –
Maureen Porter
- Share the Plate Committee – Laura Conkle
- Unitarian Universalist Pennsylvania
- Alternative
Legislative Advocacy Network (UUPLAN) –
David Green and Liz Perkins
- Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the
Middle East (UUJME) – Kathy Parker
- Unitarian Universalist Service Committee
(UUSC) – Ebe Emmons-Apt
Caring Community Council
Ministry Discussion Group – Jim
Pashek and Annie Stunden
- Covenant Group Advisory Committee – TBD
- Gathering of Men – Jim Reitz
- Helping Hands – Rev. Robin Zucker
- Humanist Group – Roy Frye
- Kindred Spirits - Rev. Robin Zucker
- Membership Committee – Lynne Porterfield
- Quilters – Annie Stunden
- Social Events Committee – Eileen Hastings
- Transitions – Mary Schinhofen
- Womanspirit – Pat Schuetz
- Women’s Alliance – Betty Duquesnoy and
Kathie Brodie
- Addictions
Giving of any kind... taking an action... begins the process of
change, and moves us to remember that we are part of a
much greater universe.
~ Mbali Creazzo
BOOKSTORE OPEN
F O R H O L I D AY S H O P P I N G !
The First Unitarian Church Bookstore
will be OPEN the following three
Sundays after both services: November
9, November 23 and December 14.
We will be offering reduced prices on
many of our current books in order to
make room for exciting new titles so
please join us. Browse! Buy!
Chat! We'd love to see you!
19
BUY
BEACON
BOOKS
When you are
considering gifts for
those near and dear
to you (for holidays,
for birthdays, for
anniversaries, and so
on), please consider
buying books from
Beacon Press.
Founded in 1854,
Beacon Press is the
publishing house
owned by the
Unitarian
Universalist
Association. Beacon
Press publishes
books that reflect our
progressive,
humanitarian values.
You can visit the
Beacon Press web
site by visiting the
UUA Bookstore at
www.uuabookstore.
org or by going
directly to
www.beacon.org/
index.html. Our very
own First Unitarian
Church Bookstore
stocks many books
from Beacon Press.
You can also order
Beacon Press books
by calling the
Unitarian
Universalist
Association
Bookstore at
800/215-9076.
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
STEWARDSHIP
(continued)
While skies glint bright
with bluest light
Through clouds that
race o'er fields and
town,
And leaves go dancing
left and right,
And orchard apples
tumble down;
While school-girls
sweet, in lane or street,
Lean 'gainst the wind
and feel and hear
Its glad heart like a
lover's beat,-So reigns the rapture of
the year.
The ho! and hey! and
whop-hooray!
Though winter clouds
be looming,
Remember a November
day
Is merrier than mildest
May
With all her blossoms
blooming.
While birds in scattered
flight are blown
Aloft and lost in dusky
mist,
And truant boys scud
home alone
'Neath skies of gold and
amethyst;
While twilight falls,
and Echo calls
Across the haunted
atmosphere,
With low, sweet laughs
at intervals,-So reigns the rapture of
the year.
The ho! and hey! and
whop-hooray!
Though winter clouds
be looming,
Remember a November
day
Is merrier than mildest
May
With all her blossoms
blooming.
~James Whitcomb Riley
TO THE POINT: Unitarian Universalist
“Eleva tor Speeches”
Quick! What is Unitarian Universalism?
If you’ve been tongue-tied about how
to answer this question, you are not
alone. The UUA has produced a
brochure of brief responses - short
enough for an elevator ride, cashier
line, or sidewalk (or soccer sideline)
chat. We will include one each month
in the Chalice. Feel free to use them as
is, or let them inspire your own
responses. Do you have an elevator
speech about UUism? Send it to Rev.
Robin at flowingforce@comcast.net
UU Elevator Speech #8
“Unitarian Universalism is a covenantal, not creedal faith.
That means that, although we may believe differently, we
come together to search, grow, serve, and minister.
Francis David said it best, ‘We need not think alike to love
alike.’ Both Unitarianism and Universalism sprang from
liberal Christianity. Unitarianism speaks to the nature of God
as One: Holy, Transcendent, Immanent, Whole, Mystery.
Universalism speaks to the nature of our relationships - with
the Divine, with ourselves, with each other, and with the
planet which we call home.”
~ Michelle Buhite
GIANT EAGLE GIFT CARDS
You can provide muchneeded financial support
for First Unitarian Church by
purchasing Giant Eagle gift
cards, which are available
at our table in the Gallery
after church on Sundays. Giant Eagle
gift cards can be used just like cash,
and they can be used to purchase
anything in the store - including gift
20
cards for other businesses!
First Unitarian Church
receives five percent (5%)
of all Giant Eagle gift cards
purchased at our church. Of
course, you do not have to
use gift cards as gifts; you can use
them for your own personal shopping.
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
November 2014
STEWARDSHIP
(continued)
PUBLICIZING YOUR EVENT
Do you have a church event that you would like your fellow church members and
friends to know about? Here are nine ways that you could publicize your event.
1. Newsletter. The Chalice, our church
newsletter, is published at the
beginning of each month. You may
submit items to Communications
Coordinator Jennifer Parsons at
jennifer.parsons@outlook.com. The
deadline is the fifteenth day of the
preceding month. For example, the
deadline for the November
newsletter would be October 15.
2. Order of Service. You may submit
items for the weekly order of
service to Communications
Coordinator Jennifer Parsons at
jennifer.parsons@outlook.com. The
deadline is noon on Wednesday
for the following Sunday.
3. Weekly All-Church Email. If you
would like to have your event in the
weekly all church email, please
email Program Assistant Marlee
Keffer at mkeffer@first-unitarianpgh.org. Events listed in the weekly
email should be relevant to all
church members and friends.
4. Facebook Page. You could post an
announcement on our Facebook
page, www.facebook.com/
firstunitarianpittsburgh. Sayf Sharif
or Christine Milcarek could help you
with this.
5. Program Guide. The
church publishes a
comprehensive
Program Guide for
the Fall, the Winter/
Spring, and the
Summer. You may
be able to publicize
your event in this
way. Please check
with Communications Coordinator
Jennifer Parsons at
jennifer.parsons@outlook.com
about deadlines.
6. Bulletin Boards. You may post
flyers about your event on bulletin
boards around the church. Some
bulletin boards have restrictions.
For example, the music bulletin
board is reserved for music-related
notices.
7. Undercroft Gallery Table. You
may set up a table in the
Undercroft Gallery so that you can
share information about your event
with church members and friends
during the social hour after our
Sunday morning worship services.
8. The Church Website. We have an
on-line calendar embedded in the
church website. Program Assistant
Marlee Keffer maintains this
calendar. If you have reserved
space at the church for your event,
Marlee will most likely include your
event in the on-line calendar. But
you could check with her if you do
not see your event listed.
9. Announcements during Worship
Services. In rare circumstances,
events can be
mentioned by a worship
leader during our
Sunday morning worship
services. Events
publicized in this way
should be relevant to
the entire congregation!
21
CONTRIBUTE
VIA ELECTRONIC
FUNDS
TRANSFER
Please consider
contributing to First
Unitarian Church by
setting up a regular
electronic funds
transfer. This will move
money from your
checking or savings
account directly to First
Unitarian Church. You
can choose to make
your contribution
quarterly, monthly, bimonthly, or weekly.
This option will save
you the trouble of
writing checks and it
will help ensure a level
flow of contributions to
the church throughout
the year.
Please fill out
the Vanco form online
by clicking the
DONATE NOW
button in the left
sidebar at www.firstunitarian-pgh-org.
You can also make your
2015 pledge online by
clicking the PLEDGE
NOW button in the left
sidebar at www.firstunitarian-pgh-org.
November 2014
THE NEWSLETTER
OF
FIRST UNITARIAN CHURCH
OF
PITTSBURGH
DENOMINATIONAL CONNECTIONS
Did You
Know?
Commissioned
Lay Leader
Program
The Commissioned
Lay Leader (CLL)
Program provides
an opportunity for
committed
Unitarian
Universalist leaders
to deepen their faith
while serving their
congregations in
more significant
ways. Since the
1970’s this program
has commissioned
dozens of lay
leaders,
strengthening
congregations in
the process.
Individuals who
satisfactorily
complete the
requirements and
are approved by the
Ohio Meadville
District Board of
Trustees will have
legal recognition as
a "Commissioned
Lay Leader" (CLL)
for a term of three
years. Learn more
about the program
at
www.ohiomeadville
.org/cllprogram
UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST ASSOCIATION:
OHIO-MEADVILLE DISTRICT
G R E AT E R P I T T S B U RG H A R E A C L U S T E R O F
C H U RC H E S A S S E M B LY
November 1, 2014
First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
Better Together
SCHEDULE
WORKSHOPS
8:25-9:20
Cluster Choir Practice
9:00
Registration
9:30-10:15 Worship led by Cluster
Ministers; Music led by
Jon-Erik Schreiber
 Youth
Mental Health First Aid for
Adults: Led by Jennifer Halperin.
 The
Shared Pulpit: Led by Rev. Robin
Zucker.
 UUPLAN
Panel: Led by Anita
Mentzer
10:15-10:45 Keynote Speaker: Anita
Mentzer, UUPLAN
Director
 Communication
10:45-11:00 BREAK
 Stewardship
11:00-12:15 Workshops
12:15-1:00 LUNCH (children eat
free)
1:00-1:45
Business Meeting
1:45-2:15
Closing Ceremony
If interested in participating in
MarketPlace, please contact Jennifer
Halperin at jbhalperin@yahoo.com.
& Social Media: Led
by Amy Walters and Celeste Taylor.
Panel: Led by Randy
Weinberg (First Unitarian); Carol
Ballance (North Hills); Michelina
Olmstead (Indiana)
 Music:
Led by Jesse Landis-Eigsti
(Allegheny)
Child care and children’s programs
available upon request, children must
be pre-registered. Please indicate your
needs on the registration form.
If I could give you one thought, it would be to lift someone up.
Lift a stranger up--lift her up. I would ask you, mother and
father, brother and sister, lovers, mother and daughter, father
and son, lift someone. The very idea of lifting
someone up will lift you, as well.
~ Maya Angelou
22
First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh
A Member of the Unitarian Universalist Association
605 Morewood Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2999
Non-Profit Org
U.S. Postage Paid
PAID
Permit No. 2259
Pittsburgh PA
Address Service Requested
The Reverend Dr. David Herndon
Senior Minister
Rita Gates
Business Manager
The Reverend Robin Landerman Zucker
Assistant Minister
Brady Hunsaker
President
Jennifer Halperin
Director of Ministry with Children and Youth
The Chalice
Connect + Inspire + Serve
Newsletter of the First Unitarian Church of
Pittsburgh
Volume 15 Number 10
November 2014
Church Office Hours:
Tuesday - Friday: 9:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Sunday: 9:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Telephone: (412) 621-8008
FAX: (412) 621-9011
www.first-unitarian-pgh.org