Please be cautious about emails!
Please continue to be cautious when responding to any email that appears to come from Rev. Connie Grant--or from anyone else. There has recently been another round of phishing emails asking for “assistance” in the form of gift cards.  Some of these use variations on actual addresses, and it appears that some use real addresses.  Rev. Connie's actual address is Constance.L.Grant (at) gmail.com

Dear First Unitarian Church activity leaders
As you know, closure of the church building is being extended at least through December 31, 2020. And as you know, the activities of the church continue! Many of the activities you lead are meeting regularly using Zoom or other technology. It’s important to let the church community – and others who would be interested – know what’s going on! (If you would like to use the church Zoom account for your meeting, please contact me to set this up.)

Please submit information about your meeting times (as well as contact information so congregants can request links) for the church calendar to the Publicize Your Event Form. An updated church calendar will be linked to the website so that this information is available to all.

Also, please keep us all informed about your activity by regularly submitting information for the Weekly Chalice Newsletter. As you are probably aware, the focus of each week’s newsletter cycles through the four mission areas of the church:

First week of the month: INSPIRE [Minister’s column, monthly worship service information, music events, etc.]

Second week of the month: LEARN [Director of Lifespan Religious Education’s column, religious education events, etc.]

Third week of the month: CONNECT [Women’s Alliance, Gathering of Men, Covenant Groups, other small group gatherings, Membership Team events and information, Pastoral Care Team information, etc.]

Fourth week of the month: SERVE [social service and social justice events and information, etc.]
 

And please check the church website to make sure that information about your activity is up-to-date. Please submit updated information to the  Publicize Your Event Form or to cmoultrie@first-unitarian-pgh.org.  

The church building is closed; the church community is open! Let’s all help to make sure this is evident to everyone.

Please be in touch!

Rev. Connie Grant

RUaUU? Orientation Toward Membership at First Unitarian Church
Saturday, July 25, 9:30 am-noon by Zoom

Are you considering becoming a member of the congregation and want to find out more about what that means?
How do people of diverse beliefs become part of one congregation? Enjoy a morning of exploration about your own spiritual and religious orientation and the workings of the church, led by Rev. Connie Grant and representatives of church programs. RSVP to Constance.L.Grant@gmail.com by Wednesday, July 22 to receive a Zoom link.

Sharing the Plate!
Is there an organization you’d like to nominate to be the recipient of our third-Sunday Share the Plate offering? Please send your nomination to Tony Rutigliano (arutigl@comcast.net) on behalf of the Serve Council. Please include the following information:

Name of organization

Website address or other source of information

Is this a 501 (c) (3) organization (required)?

What is your involvement with this organization?

Why do you consider this an appropriate recipient for our Share the Plate offering?

Preferred month (if any)

Helping Each Other
During these trying times, members of the church may occasionally need a helping hand. The Pastoral Care Team asks you to identify ways you may be able to assist. We expect you would be called only a few times during the year. Please contact a member of the team if you are able to help. 

You’ll be asked to indicate which of these you may be able to help with from time to time:

□ Transportation

□ Providing a meal for an individual or family

□ Shopping

In the event of a need in the congregation, you may be contacted to see whether you are available to help at that time. Your help will be appreciated!
 

Opportunities for Involvement
Please contact Rev. Connie Grant at Constance.L.Grant@gmail.com or 847-840-8542 if you would like to learn more about any of these opportunities to help congregation members stay connected with each other and with the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh!

Forming a Racial Equity Task Force
Do you want to be part of the ongoing conversation, study, and action on the topic of race? How can we focus on working for racial justice? It has long been true, today it’s truer than ever: In these times it’s increasingly important to face the reality of where we are as a society and to do something concrete about it. There are many conversations going on, with many questions about what we can do. How can we focus our conversation and our actions in our individual lives and the First Unitarian Church community, and in our larger world?

Engaging the Congregation
Are you interested in being part of an Engagement Team, to help church members and friends connect with each other and with the church? What additional large- or small-group activities would enhance congregational life?

Technical Support for Streaming Services
Our tech crew has been doing an amazing job of producing our streaming worship services, achieving high production values, and maintaining this central experience for the church community. There is a need for at least one more member of the crew. If you are AV-savvy and/or have a technical bent, your assistance would be welcome!