Worship Service on November 17, 2024,Livestreamed at 10:30 am
A Conversation Between Love and Fear
Rev. Kate and guest Josh Searle-White
Serve Activity Day
During Social Hour this Sunday, Serve Activity Day features many volunteer opportunities to engage in service, advocacy, education, action, and public witness in our larger community and nation.
Introduction to First Unitarian Church
Join us this coming Sunday in the Priestly Room following the service to
learn more about the history, varied theologies, and organization of Unitarian Universalism. Led by Rev. Walker and representatives of the Membership Team, this informal, 45 minute session will give new members, interested friends of the church and recent visitors an opportunity to meet other like-minded folks and to discover what First UU Church offers in addition to Sunday morning services. You may register online.
Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank is November’s Share the Plate charity!
Food is a basic human need, yet thousands of our neighbors struggle to have enough food on their plates every day. At Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, we work to ensure that anyone who needs a healthy meal can get one. The Mission of the Food Bank is to leverage the power of the community to achieve lasting solutions to hunger and its root causes. The Vision of the Food Bank is to see a future with communities where everyone has access to the food and resources they need to thrive. To learn more about the Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank, visit its website at Home Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank (pittsburghfoodbank.org)
The Board of Trustees continues to hold its monthly meetings via Zoom. The next meeting is on Wednesday, November 20, at 7:00 p.m.
Members and friends of the church are welcome to attend.
If you would like to attend a Board meeting as an observer, please contact Board Secretary Nick Izzo (izzonj@gmail.com) who will arrange for you to receive the Zoom link to join the meeting.
If you have an issue that you would like to speak about at a Board meeting, please send your request to the Board Secretary along with a brief explanation of the issue you would like to bring to the Board’s attention.
News and Updates
2025 Stewardship Campaign Update The 2025 Stewardship Campaign is now winding down. Thank you to everyone who has pledged their financial support to our beloved community for the coming year! Letters of confirmation will be sent by email by Monday, November 25.
• If you have not adjusted your pledge for 2025 either online or by submitting a paper pledge form, your “rollover” pledge of 5% more than your 2024 pledge amount will be recorded as your pledge for 2025.
• If you wish to adjust your 2025 pledge amount or make a new pledge, please contact Ward Kelsey at twokelseys@gmail.comas soon as possible.
• Read more about the 2025 Stewardship Campaign here.
As has been our tradition for many years, we will be collecting toys and gifts for the children served by the Mathilda Theiss Health Center in the Hill District. Please look for the tree in the Garden Lobby.
Due to Thanksgiving being late this year, the timeline is very short. Please consider using Mathilda Theiss's wish list to send the gifts directly to the Center. To be delivered on time, all gifts brought to church must be received before December 8.
Rob Schwartz’s collection of his late father’s paintings has something for every taste. Be sure to see for yourself in the Undercroft Gallery during November. Rob is offering his vibrant and expressive collection of acrylic and watercolor paintings at bargain prices, hoping people might take them home to enjoy. If your desired painting is out of your budget, speak to Rob. Julius Schwartz, his father, died in January this year at 98. Since childhood, Julius loved making art of all kinds. His passion and joy are evident in his work. Thank you, Rob, for allowing us to enjoy these colorful landscapes, still-lifes, abstracts, and a self-portrait of your Dad.
Last chance to sign up for the Khasi Hills pilgrimage in March 2025! If you have been considering signing up for the pilgrimage to the Khasi Hills of India in March 2025 (the first to be offered since before the pandemic), it’s not too late, but please act now! Click herefor more information and to register.
A second pilgrimage opportunity will be offered in October 2025. You can click here for details.
Upcoming Meetings and Events
We hope you will attend the Racial Justice Task Force’s next dinner and film onFriday evening, November 22, at 6:15 in the Schweitzer Room.
We will watch The Barber of Little Rock, a 2024 Oscar-nominated short documentary, and then, as usual, we will discuss it. The film will add to your sense of redlining if you happened to hear Randy Weinberg at his recent talk co-sponsored by the Humanist Group and us.
The Barber of Little Rock explores America's widening racial wealth gap through the story of Arlo Washington, a local barber whose visionary approach to a just economy is reflected in the mission of People Trust, the nonprofit community bank he founded.
Dinner is potluck, so please bring something to share. We gather at 6:15, and the film will begin at 6:30.
Come and feel free to bring a friend.
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 at firstuupghombudsman@gmail.com