Annual Budget Meeting
 Sunday, December 6, 2020 – 12:00–1:00 p.m.  Via Zoom
(Link will be sent to your email address on Saturday, December 5)

All members and friends of First Unitarian Church are invited to attend the Annual Budget Meeting. The Board of Trustees will present the proposed 2021 church budget and answer questions. We welcome your input and participation in our annual budget process!

RUaUU? Orientation Toward Membership at First Unitarian Church
Sunday, December 6, 2:00-4:30 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 an afternoon 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. The session will be held if a minimum of 6 people are registered by Friday, December 4. RSVP to Constance.L.Grant@gmail.com to receive a Zoom link and a packet of materials for the session.

Participatory Pageant Returns by Video!
Have you always wanted to be a star? or a friendly beast, a shepherd, an angel, or a wise person? This is your chance! Sign up here by December 6 for the part of your choice: (https://forms.gle/FxDP8fQZ3ibdrb89A.)

This year, our Christmas pageant will be a video with music, created from your submitted still photos and video recordings. There are many speaking parts and an unlimited number of non-speaking parts, all suitable for children, youth, and adults! For speaking parts, you’ll be given a line to read. For all parts, you can devise a costume, as simple or as elaborate as you choose. Your submission will be needed by December 10, and the resulting video will be featured in our 10:30 am worship service on Sunday, December 20.

SIGN UP FORM


 

In 2020, First Unitarian Church’s Alternative Gift Market has a singular focus!
THE KHASI HILLS SCHOOL SPONSORSHIP
In Meghalaya, India

Each year, our First Unitarian Church hosts an “Alternative Gift Market” to support high need international and domestic charities endorsed by Alternative Gifts International. Congregants choose charities and make donations as a “gift of conscience” or as a gift in someone’s honor or memory. In 2020, COVID-19 has eliminated the option for us to host an onsite Alternative Gift Market.

Thankfully we have a beautiful, virtual set of gift options focused on one cherished partnership that First Unitarian Church has sponsored since 2003. For the past few years, we have supported two new high school teachers at the Annie Margaret Barr Higher Secondary School in the Khasi Hills. This year we continue our commitment to funding the annual salaries of these teachers. We need your crucial help because the pandemic has prevented our usual festive fall Khasi Hills campaign. The Virtual Alternative Gift Market, with your help, will fill that gap.

Many of you are familiar with our history of helping our fellow UUs in India. Although we started small, by providing student sponsorships for 5th through 10th-grade students and funds for fences to keep goats out of the school science projects, the work we do is no longer small. The school has expanded to include all of high school (“higher secondary school”). Students can now complete high school locally rather than traveling to the state capital, which has enabled many more students to get their high school degree and continue their education. They have been so grateful for our help.

Here are some donation suggestions… and please be as generous as you can. A little goes so far!

___$500 for one month of a teacher’s salary
___$250 for two weeks of a teacher’s salary
___$125 for one week of a teacher’s salary
___$50 for two days of a teacher’s salary
___$25 for one day of a teacher’s salary
___$10 for one library book

You have two ways to donate:

1) Go to our website (first-unitarian-pgh.org) to make a secure donation. On the Home page, click “GIVE” on the upper right. You will see a menu asking for the amount. Where it says, “Give to Annual Fund,” use the arrow to scroll down and you will see “Khasi Hills Sponsorship Fund.” Make your donation.
2) Send a check made out to First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh, noting “Khasi Hills Gift” in the memo line. Send to: First Unitarian Church Pittsburgh, Attn: Rita Gates, Business Manager, 605 Morewood Ave, Pittsburgh PA 15213.

Gift Cards
You have the option of receiving a note to add to a greeting card. This enclosure will say that “A Gift Has Been Made in Your Honor.” Send an email to Chris Milcarek at milcarek@pitt.edu. Chris will email you Word documents that describe our partnership, and you will have the option to enter the specific gift level (if you like) before you print them.

Ways to Be Together

At our virtual “Coffee Hour” after the service last Sunday, in the few minutes when the larger group was together before and after breakout room discussions, a number of people mentioned birthdays being celebrated by congregants, and some of the various ways they were celebrating. One mentioned a party by Zoom, attended by people from all over the country, who wouldn’t have been able to gather in person even in “normal” times. The topic of the service was “things worth waiting for,” and the suggested discussion question was “what is something you are waiting for or have waited for?” In these times, many of us are eagerly awaiting the time when it will be possible to be together in person with friends and family. And even in these times, there is much to celebrate and many ways to do to it.

Many congregants have said that they find the virtual social time after the Sunday service to be a meaningful way to connect with others. Even though I know that you are “there” in the livestream service, I love seeing your faces at coffee hour! (The Zoom link is sent out by email on Saturday; please email me if you’d like to be on the list to receive the link.)

Looking forward to the time when it will again be possible to hold regular in-person gatherings in the building, a task force is forming to plan for re-opening, including specific criteria and procedures that will need to be in place. Please contact me if you have relevant expertise to offer.

And as always, please be in touch if you’d like to talk with me about anything that has come up for you.

Looking forward,

Connie

Upcoming Worship Services

Dec. 13, 2020

Livestreamed at 10:30 am (prelude begins at 10:25) 

“The Extraordinary in the Ordinary”

Albert Einstein suggested that there are only two ways to live your life: as if nothing is a miracle, or as if everything is. How do you want to live your life? Homily by Rev. Connie Grant; music by Ellen Gozioin, Instrumental Music Director.

Dec 20, 2020

Livestreamed at 10:30 am (prelude begins at 10:25) 

“Participatory Christmas Pageant”

Christmas pageant by video, with a cast of many! Sign up here by December 6for the part of your choice: (https://forms.gle/FxDP8fQZ3ibdrb89A). Have you always wanted to be a star? or a friendly beast, a shepherd, an angel, or a wise person? This is your chance! This year, our Christmas pageant will be a video with music, created from your submitted still photos and video recordings. There are many speaking parts and an unlimited number of non-speaking parts, all suitable for children, youth, and adults! For speaking parts, you’ll be given a line to read. For all parts, you can devise a costume, as simple or as elaborate as you choose. Your submission will be needed by December 10. A multigenerational service led by Rev. Connie Grant and Erica Shadowsong, Director of Lifespan Religious Education; Music by Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music.

Dec 27, 2020

Livestreamed at 10:30 am (prelude begins at 10:25) 

“Darkness into Light”

Darkness can be a place of fear and sadness or a source of comfort and rest. We’ll explore aspects of darkness in our lives. A collaboration of the Worship Team: Bryan Bandli, Alice Carnes, Kathy Fein, Louise Jencik, Ward Kelsey, Stephanie Pawlowski, and Melody Platz. Music by Ellen Gozion, Director of Instrumental Music.

Livestreams at
https://www.facebook.com/SongSpace/live/
https://youtube.com/channel/UCm8Fa3PZUG5XjcreYf7KNaw

The stream will open shortly before 7:30 pm Show at 7:30 pm 
Free admission, tips to the performers strongly encouraged.

Check them out at http://www.buffalorosemusic.com
Hear their music at https://ffm.bio/buffalorose

Last-minute details at uusongspace.com

Introduction to Unitarian Universalism
Fourth Sundays of the Month, 11:30 – 12:15

Find out more about the history, varied theologies, and organization of Unitarian Universalism. Led by church staff and representatives of the Membership Team. Fourth Sundays of the month, January 22, February 26, and March 26. Start out in Zoom social time following the service, and you’ll be directed to a breakout room for “Intro to UU.” RSVP to Constance.L.Grant@gmail.com to receive the 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!