Congregational Meeting Results
Annual Report Available Online
Thanks to everyone who attended our first virtual Annual Congregational Meeting, which took place via Zoom on Sunday, May 17!
We successfully used an anonymous electronic voting system to elect three new Board of Trustees members, three new Nominating Committee members, and to endorse the search committee that will conduct our search for a new settled minister.
Newly Elected Board of Trustees Members
Kyle Gracey
Heather Masterson
Kate Snow
Newly Elected Nominating Committee Members
Linda Fleming
Christine Milcarek
Martin Schmidt
Ministerial Search Committee Members
Chris Beregi
Mary Denison
David Doorley
Brian Junker
Peggy Parsons
Jim Reitz
Michael Safran
Annual meeting documents, including the Annual Report detailing this year’s programs and activities, are posted on the Congregational Meetings page on the church website.
Read reflections on the events of the past church year from the outgoing Board of Trustees President Martin Schmidt, and from our interim minister Rev. Connie Grant.
May 31 “Flower Celebration”
How is a congregation of people like a bouquet of flowers? We’ll honor the unique beauty that each person brings as we celebrate the traditional Unitarian flower communion.
Since we can’t exchange flowers in person this year, you are invited to share a flower picture! Please send in a photograph of actual flowers or of your artistic representation. Photos will be made into a music video that will be shown during the service and a Flickr album that will be available afterwards. Please send your photo to dre.shadowsong@gmail.com no later than Tuesday, May 26. Please put MY FLOWER/S in the subject line.
General Assembly June 24-28 - Delegates Sought!
General Assembly (GA) is the annual meeting of our Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA). Participants worship, witness, learn, connect, and make policy for the Association through democratic process. Anyone may attend. To represent the congregation as a voting delegate at the GA business meetings requires approval by the church’s Board of Trustees. If you are interested in serving as one of our five delegates, please email Lynne Porterfield at ljporterfield@yahoo.com by June 10 with your full name, email address and phone number, length of membership in the congregation, and a few words about why you wish to be a delegate. The Board will make a decision about delegates at the June 17 meeting.
The UUA Board of Trustees has passed a resolution to make the 2020 General Assembly a 100% virtual event. The cost of virtual GA Registration is $150.
This year’s theme is Rooted, Inspired & Ready! Sessions will include the bases of our theological roots, ideas about how to transform our faith, and inspiration for taking action in the world. A variety of workshops and special events will provide registrants with tools to live into our mission and continue the work of our faith—both within UU congregations and in the greater world. More information about workshops and other special events is here: https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/registrants
All GA registrants have access to the GA Virtual Participation Portal, which combines multiple modes of participant engagement that include chat, Q&A, and polling. Registrants are able to watch and ask questions in live sessions including workshops and business sessions.
Delegates are also be able to propose amendments in the live business sessions, participate in debates, and vote in general sessions. More information about the role of delegates is available here: https://www.uua.org/ga/off-site/registrants/delegates
CONNECT
Covenant group Opportunities
Consider joining or creating a virtual covenant group.
If you are interested in joining or creating a new covenant group, you can complete a Covenant Group interest formor contact Alice Bright : ab03@andrew.cmu.edu
If your group would like to set up meetings using the church account please contact Rev. Connie Grant at Constance.L.Grant@gmail.com.
SERVE
Church Sponsored Activities and Community Events
Khasi Hills Video Greeting Use this link https://youtu.be/3tG52_aIsPw to view the video message that was part of the May 17 church service for the Share the Plate monthly collection. It addresses the "why care about across the world in the midst of our own crisis." The video features remote personal greetings from our India partners, Nangroi Suting and Barri Mukhim. We have quite a bit to go to raise funds for the two teachers at the new Higher Secondary School we helped build, and hope to fund them at $9600 like the last two years, even during these challenging times. Please send your check to First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, 605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15213. Note in the Memo Line: STP-Khasi Hills. You can also donate on-line at First-Unitarian-Church-Pgh.org or via text to 412-435-1050(with amount followed by the word Share). For those who already gave, thank you! If you can give more, it is much needed. A bit from everyone can make a difference. For those of you struggling during this difficult time, our heart goes out to you! Khublei.
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!
Pastoral Care Team Contact Information:
Christine Beregi: cberegi1@verizon.net Phone: 412-992-1888 Jan Carlino: jancarlino807@gmail.com Phone: 412-727-0200 Julie Childers: julie36pa@gmail.com Phone: 412-726-3590 Jim Cunningham: cunni@comcast.net Phone: 412-256-0205 (Co-Chair)
Kathy Miller: kathymillerotter@gmail.com Phone: 412-639-8012 (Co-Chair)
Bob Sullivan: r.sullivan13@verizon.net Phone: 412-952-7772 Rev. Connie Grant: constance.l.grant@gmail.com Phone: 847-840-8542 (Church Office: 412-621-8008)
Face Masks
Many members of our congregation have been sewing reusable and washable face masks to help their family, friends and neighbors do what they can to be safe.
If you need a mask or two, please email Julie Childers of the Pastoral Care team at julie36pa@gmail.com with your request, including your street address, so we can mail or deliver a mask to you.
UUPLAN Update The 2020 Annual Report is available at https://www.uuplan.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/2020-Annual-Report.pdfand documents what has been happening around the state with the Justice Teams. There is a section in the report on “PA UUtheVOTE” that provides an overview of how UUPLAN is supporting both non-partisan and partisan electoral work. Look for these activities to ramp up during the coming summer.
Mail-in ballot applications will be accepted through Tuesday, May 26, 2020. If a voter has already applied for an absentee or mail-in ballot, they do NOT need to reapply.
In Pennsylvania, you now have two options for mail ballots. You may either choose a mail-in ballot or an absentee ballot to request, complete and return to your county election office.
Absentee ballot – If you plan to be out of the municipality on election day or if you have a disability or illness, you should request this ballot type, which still requires you to list a reason for your ballot.
Mail-in ballot – Any qualified voter may apply for a mail-in ballot. You may simply request this ballot without a reason.
In order to request either ballot type, you must be registered to vote. Please visit Check Your Registration Status to review your registration information
Three - Session Virtual Book Discussion on An Indigenous Peoples' History of the United States on Thursdays, May 21 and 28 @ 7pm with Erica Shadowsong. This book is the UUA Common Read (https://www.uua.org/read) ***Registration is required.
A minimum of 6 registrations is required for the class to take place. Please email eshadowsong@first-unitarian-pgh.org if you would like to register. Thank you!
Anti-racism workshops continue
The series of anti-racism workshops offered by the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh and the Pittsburgh Freethought Community will continue as one-hour virtual sessions using Zoom.
The schedule for the next four sessions is below. In order to participate, please register for individual sessions at pghfreethought.org
so we can provide you with registration information.
This Sunday, May 24, 1 to 2 PM. Anti-Racism Workshop - Racial Triggers for White People: whiteness accrues privilege and surrounds itself with protection. To have honest conversations about racism we need to get past these protective barriers. We will refer to Robin DiAngelo's work in White Fragility. There will be a presentation followed by a discussion.
Young Adults Religious Education
Young Adults Small Group Weekly Meetings on Zoom
Please join us for our weekly meeting at 7:00pm on Wednesdays.
We are currently going through a program called Spirit In Practice, which explores spiritual practices for Unitarian Universalists.
Parents' Check In on Thursdays, @ 8:30 pm. ZOOM LINKPassword is required; will be sent out to parent email list. If you are not receiving these emails, you can request to join by emailingeshadowsong@first-unitarian-church.org.
Family Social Hour w/ Joys & Sorrows on Sundays, @ 10:00 a.m. ZOOM LINKPassword is required; will be sent out to parent email list. If you are not receiving these emails, you can request to join by emailingeshadowsong@first-unitarian-church.org.
Some ways to receive a periodic dose of spiritual sustenance:
Braver/Wiser
Life is full of hard edges and complicated choices. Braver/Wiser gives you weekly message of courage and compassion for life as it is. Every Wednesday, an original written reflection by a contemporary religious leader, and brief prayer, grounded in Unitarian Universalism. Subscribe at uua.org/braverwiser.
A Common Meditation for All Souls
A daily meditation from All Souls Unitarian Church in New York City, intended “to help spark our moral imagination and set our moral compass as individuals.” To sign up to receive a daily meditation via email, contact rachel@allsoulsnyc.org.
The Daily Compass
“Inspiration for your spiritual expedition.” The Daily Compass offers words and images to inspire spiritual reflection and encourage the creation of a more loving, inclusive and just world. Produced by The Church of the Larger Fellowship, the Unitarian Universalist Congregation with no geographical boundary. Subscribe at http://www.dailycompass.org/author/admin/.
OMBUDSMAN
Need an answer to a question and don’t know who to ask? Want to pass along some feedback and not sure who to contact? Reach out to your Board Ombudsman Ebe Emmons. Ebe will coordinate with staff, committees, and the board to get an answer or pass along feedback. Ebe can be reached atfirstuupghombudsman@gmail.com
