“Holiday Pageant”
Our annual Multigenerational Pageant sharing the Nativity story.
Hosted by Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker and the Families of First Unitarian Church
Livestreamed at 10:30 am (prelude begins at 10:25)
The Dance Choir invites you to the annual Winter Solstice service. Solstice is a time to reflect on our inner light and share it in our community. Join the dance choir in this immersive and contemplative experience including meditation, movement, and videos from past Solstice dances. We suggest that you have a candle and print out the Order of Service. The church Zoom link will be emailed prior to the service. Please contact Mary Pat Mengato mpmengato@gmail.com with any questions.
Christmas Eve
"Oh Christmas Tree!"
December 24
4:30PM
A multigenerational celebration of Christmas and the Christmas Tree with Rev. Dr. Kate R. Walker, Erica Shadowsong, Kris Rust, Amaury Morales and wonderful offerings from singers and musicians.
NEWSLETTER NEWS
UUA Disaster Relief Fund
Beloveds, our hearts are breaking for all those impacted in the midwest by the tornadoes last weekend. If you’re looking for a way to help, I recommend the UUA’s Disaster Relief Fund. They work with local UU congregations and known agencies.
Cheers, Rev. Kate
New Ministry Start-Up Retreat January 8
Please mark your calendar for our New Ministry Start-Up Retreat to be held via zoom on Saturday, January 8, 2022 from 2:00 - 4:00 pm. This afternoon session, led by Reverend Sunshine Wolfe from the UUA, will provide an exciting opportunity for us to plan for how our congregation, leadership, staff, and senior minister will work together to "start well" and assure a successful ministry. Your participation and input is critical as we come together and look to the future. Stay tuned for more information!
SERVE
Pop-up Quilt Sale
Pop-Up Quilt Sale
Saturday, December 18, 2021
10:00 a.m-12:00 noon
This pop-up event is being held in conjunction with the collection of items for Afghan Refugees. Proceeds from the sale of quilt will benefit the refugees through JFCS.
Over 15 quilts and wall hangings of various sizes will be for sale!. Come and find a quilt to warm your heart, and help warm the hearts of those refugees new to our region.
We are also collecting the following items for the refugees:
Liquid Energy-efficient Laundry Soap (no bleach)
Natural Hair Care Shampoo & Conditioner
Dr. Bronner's Soap
Razors - men & women's
Sanitary Pads - full size preferred, please no tampons. Deodorant - rolling is sometimes preferred
Lotion/Moisturizer
Shampoo and Conditioner
Toothbrushes and Toothpaste
Dish Soap - large containers are best
Alternative Gift Market
Select among these featured charities to make a gift as an alternative to a traditional holiday gift! Make your gift online or by check made out to First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh. Be sure to indicate "AGM 2021" on the memo line of your check and clearly indicate which charity(ies) you are supporting and mail to First Unitarian Church, Alternative Gift Market, 605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15213. You will receive email acknowledgment of your transaction. If you’d like an email suitable to print for your gift recipient, email all pertinent gift information after you donate to Karen Burns Rutigliano
Reading Ready Pittsburgh
Reading Ready Pittsburgh is a local champion of Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in the Mon Valley communities of Braddock, Homestead, Rankin, Duquesne, West Mifflin and six other Mon Valley neighborhoods. To help continue this effort, you can you share a love of books with small children in our communities. $25 pays for one child; one book each month for a whole year. $100 pays for 4 children.
Khasi Hills, Kharang, India
Our congregation funding for our Khasi Hills India school has been an emotional support as well as financial, especially during the pandemic. Donations have ranged from $25 to $500, supporting one day or one month of salary of the two teachers we sponsor.
Pennsylvania Interfaith Power & Light (Pittsburgh Chapter)
Many Pittsburgh inner city neighborhoods are afflicted with urban blight that undermines property values and creates a sense of despair. PA IPL is working with the Pittsburgh Blueberry Project to plant 500 high top blueberry bushes that will help create welcoming green spaces. With just a $10 donation, the PBP will buy and plant a blueberry bush that will brighten one more property.
Jewish Family & Community Services
JFCS Refugee & Immigrant Services helps newcomers successfully build their lives in the United States. We work to resettle new refugees, providing for their basic needs and helping them integrate into our community and workforce. We also offer support to all immigrants in the region by connecting them to critical resources to build self-sufficiency. With your support, we can continue to help over 3000 refugees and immigrants make Pittsburgh their home.
PASTORAL CARE
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 Church Office: 412-621-8008
Transcendentalism began in the 1830s as an avowedly Christian movement within the Unitarian Church. After 1860, however, a second generation of Transcendentalists were more radical. In response, the 1865 National Conference of Unitarian Churches adopted a declaration of “discipleship to the Lord Jesus Christ”, whereupon the “New Transcendentalists” left the church, founding the “Free Religious Association”, or “FRA”. However, this organization lacked coherent leadership and declined after 1900.
In the early 20th century a new radical group, the Humanists, arose. Again there was a reaction and again there was the possibility of schism. Did history repeat itself?
At our January meeting we shall answer this question, as we recount the lives and legacies of three important early Unitarian Humanists and what came of their trail blazing efforts.
And here is a link to videos of our previous programs and an introduction to humanism:
The First Unitarian Racial Justice Task Force meets on the third Sunday of every month from 3:00 - 5:00 pm ET via Zoom. If you have any questions about the Task Force or would like to get involved, please email Sonia Wellington at sonia.wellington@gmail.com. And please stay tuned for more information on our upcoming book club, movie nights, and much, much more.
Covenant Groups
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 form or contact Alice Bright: ab03@andrew.cmu.edu.
If you are interested in being part of a book discussion group for the UUA Common Read, please sign up on the adult faith development form.
Virtual Workshop for Parents
Family Circles Will be rescheduled for the New Year! Please sign up if interested in updates.
Based on the practice of restorative circles, religious educator Sheila Schuh passes on how family circles helped her raise her own family and keep communication open in challenging times and schedules. She has taught workshops on family circles in several UU settings and at events such as the Liberal Religious Educators Association fall conference.
Sheila on family circles: "Family circles are one of many kinds of “restorative practices.” Circles of different kinds form a continuum of practices that a community might use in an effort to “restore” or keep the relational connections strong and healthy in a system. These practices may be short or long, simple or complex, and done with few or many, depending on the needs present. Structures for different restorative practices vary and have different levels of circle process and characteristics. When using the term, “restorative justice,” for example, these kinds of practices are used when there has been an offense or action of harm done, and a “restorative circle” or “community conference” is called to promote healing and responsibility."
This workshop is offered as the beginning of a series geared specifically toward parents of children in our congregation. You do not need to be a parent in the religious education program to join, but please just be aware that the intended audience are parents with youth or younger children in the program. There is no cost to attend.
The workshop will be 90 minutes, from 10:00 - 11:30 a.m. with a break via Zoom. You can RSVP to receive the Zoom link on the adult faith development sign up here: https://forms.gle/5dfWnCtK19kRDosb8
Religious Education for Children & Middle School Youth
The “Chalice Weekly Newsletter” is organized around the four areas of our mission, with each of the areas featured on a rotating basis:
Inspire (first week of the month, with the month’s Sunday service topics, minister’s column, and news from the Inspire Council)
Learn (second week of the month, with lifespan religious education news, religious educator’s column, and news from the Learn Council)
Connect (third week of the month, with news about connections-related activities such as Covenant Groups, and other news from the Connections Council)
Serve (fourth week of the month, with news about social justice and service-related activities such as Green Sanctuary and Habitat for Humanity, and other news from the Serve Council)
Information about upcoming events will be included on a timely basis, ideally beginning three weeks or more before the event. If you have questions, please contact Cicely Moultrie, Communications Coordinator, at cmoultrie@first-unitarian-pgh.org.
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
