February 26, 2023, Livestreamed at 10:30 am (prelude begins at 10:25)

“What can one little person do?” Khasi Hills Partnership Sunday

Celebrate the fascinating story of a Unitarian minister and trailblazer, Annie Margaret Barr, who, motivated by a meeting with Mahatma Gandhi, founded or inspired most schools in the Khasi Hills of India, including the one we’ve been supporting since 2003. We join our Khasi Hills friends in honoring her lasting legacy that is being celebrated this year on the 50th anniversary of her death.

* This Sunday's Coffee Hour will be in held in the Schweitzer room.

*This a reminder that we have a Teachers' Appreciation Brunch this Sunday, after the service, in the Undercroft Gallery! Religious Education volunteers, parents, children, and youth are welcome to meet each other and help us build community among us all!
Anyone attending will need to RSVP, so it is known how much food to provide. Please RSVP if you have not done so!

*FOURTH SUNDAY-INTRODUCTION TO UU Update
Perhaps you are ...a curious visitor wondering what Unitarian Universalism is all about. ...a fairly new member wanting to learn more about First Church. ...a friend of the church seeking membership. If you are searching for a new church home or desire to learn more about our liberal religious faith, we have an information session about Unitarian-Universalism and about steps to becoming a member of First Church this Sunday, in person, following our 10:30 service. Registration Link. Grab something to eat and drink and join us in the Priestly Room for a 45-minute overview of our loving community and welcoming religion.

*General Assembly of the UUA will be held in Pittsburgh at the David Lawrence Convention Center June 21-25, 2023. Thousands of UUs attend. Early registration discount expires Feb 28th. Learn more about GA after this Sunday's service on Feb 26th in the Schweitzer room. If you are interested in providing home hospitality for out-of-town visitors let Chris Milcarek (milcarek@pitt.edu) know as soon as possible. Proceeds from this benefit the church.

*Since this Sunday is the last day of the Phone Photo Exhibit and we would like the photographs to be returned to people who took the photos, We are asking Members, Friends, etc., to pick up their photos this Sunday after Service and Coffee Hour in the Schweitzer room. Please do ask the Committee members for their assistance if you have any questions or concerns.

First UU Share the Plate Charity for February 2023 is our Khasi Hills Partnership School in India
Our congregation has been in partnership with the Unitarian-run Annie Margaret Barr Higher Secondary School in the rural village of Kharang in the Khasi Hills of North East India since 2003.
Our financial support gives emotional support to our faith friends, who also inspire us with their hard work and accomplishments. We make a concrete difference together in children’s lives!

Donate Now

From Your Board of Trustees

Brief Report of Motions Passed at February Board of Trustees Meeting

The Board of Trustees met via Zoom on Wednesday, February 15. Peggy Parsons, Sue Oerkvitz, and Anne Van Cott joined as guests.

The January 21 email vote of the date and time of the annual meeting: May 21, 2023, at 12:45 p.m., and the date of the Board retreat, Sat, Jun 10, was ratified. The motion by Rob Schwartz was seconded by Nick Izzo and was carried unanimously.

The Annual Investment withdrawal, reflecting the total that can be drawn down of 3.5% of the three-year rolling average value of the Endowment of $39,957.19 (split among several categories) was moved by Kyle Gracey, seconded by Heather Masterson, and carried unanimously.

Raeann Olander moved to accept the language proposed for the Bylaws regarding consecutive terms for the Board, which was seconded by Kate Snow. In favor 7, opposed 1, abstain 1. Motion passed.

The motion to call a special congregational meeting to vote on a change to the Bylaws regarding consecutive terms was made by Raeann Olander and seconded by Chris Milcarek. There were seven votes in favor 7 and 2 abstentions. Motion carried.

Vote on draft COSM charter change. The motion to adopt new charter wording was made by Kyle Gracey and seconded by Bob Mitchell. The motion carried unanimously.

NEWSLETTER NEWS

Special Congregational Meeting on Sunday, March 5, 2023
You are invited to attend a Special Congregational to discuss a proposed bylaws amendment that would allow Trustees to serve two consecutive Board terms.
Why: Discuss a proposed Bylaws amendment allowing Trustees to serve two (2) consecutive terms.
When: Sunday, March 5, 2023 – 12:30 pm – 1:30 pm
Where: via Zoom (link will be sent on Saturday, March 4, 2023)

Learn more about the Special Congregational Meeting

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED NOW!
The Membership/Welcome Team is in search of several smiling, welcoming church members to act as ambassadors for First Church and for Unitarian Universalism. It is a joyous chore that requires 30 minutes of your time bi-monthly (if we get enough volunteers). Greet new and returning guests as they enter for Sunday morning service, answer questions, offer name tags and literature, invite folks to join us during social time, AND encourage visitors to register to receive more information about our church and our religion. This is a volunteer committee that helps us introduce UU to our neighbors, friends, and strangers while helping us grow First Church. Contact Joan Harvey (joanhrv@gmail.com), Michael Safran (actormas@gmail.com), or Amy de Chicchis (amydech50@gmail).

Jubilee Three Anti-Racism Training: Learning Together About Systemic Racism March 24-26, 2023 Click here to learn more and register now

First UU Church/ JFCS Refugee Program
We’re excited to continue our Home Set up program and to welcome our second refugee family to Pittsburgh!! We have just been assigned a family who will be arriving in Pittsburgh shortly and will be settled in a permanent home in early March. Working initially with the Women’s Alliance and through the Refugee and Immigration Services of the Jewish Family and Community Services (JFCS), we are now expanding this effort to all of our church members.

HOW CAN YOU HELP?
We will send out a Sign-up Genius link soon. Just follow the instructions to make a donation, either by ordering it for delivery on-line or purchasing it and bringing it to our collection site, just around the corner from church.
Gratefully from the First UU/JFCS Refugee Team members:
Joan Harvey, Louise Jencik, Pat Schuetz, Peggy Bonnell, Linda Fleming, Betty Duquesnoy, Betsy Mullaugh, Mary Redford

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Women’s Alliance LOCALLY SERVED program
Kate Lovelace, founder of LOCALLY SERVED, and MR Kelsey’s daughter-in-law, will present the program at the next WOMEN’S ALLIANCE meeting on Thursday, March 2, on ZOOM. She will be accompanied by Nieshia Duganne, Director of Parent Advocacy at Locally Served.

On Zoom, our business meeting begins at 10:30, and Kate and Nieshia’s program will run from 11 a.m. until noon. Thanks very much to MR for recommending this program. Everyone is welcome. Please contact Denice Galpern (dgalpern47@gmail.com) for the link for this meeting if you are not receiving Women’s Alliance emails already.

You can see Kate in action, helping a man stopped by police in Homewood in this CBS news clip:

Adult Religious Education

“Beyond Welcome: Building Communities of Love” by Linnea Nelson

Book discussion led by Rev. Dr. Kate Walker and Michael Safran
Saturdays, 10:30 a.m.- 12 p.m. March 4 – May 13,
In the Priestly Room At the First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh,

Join us for an engaging reading and discussion about how we go beyond being welcoming to building compassionate, authentic, and equitable communities. Through a series of readings and questions, we’ll explore what barriers are in our lives and our communities and how we build upon our strengths as we create love and liberation for all.
Registration required. Please register here:

Environmental Justice Action Team Meeting
Every other Tuesday, 6:00 - 7:00 pm via Zoom (next one is Tuesday, March 7th, then every other Tuesday from there)
This is the bi-weekly meeting of the Environmental Justice Action Team (EJAT). We work to support, build and promote First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh's commitment to environmental justice through action, partnership, education, and self-reflection. All members and friends of First U are welcome to participate in these meetings. Please email eji@first-unitarian-pgh.org with any questions or to receive the Zoom link for the meeting.

Learn more about the Environmental Team Initiative

Get ready to join the fun and excitement at Peek!
Mark your calendars for March 11th at 6 pm as we bring you a game that's fun for all, from 2 to 102! Peek is a First Unitarian Church favorite, where everyone has loads of fun, makes friends, and goes home with a prize! This event is open to all, so bring your friends!

We are asking everyone to bring a small item from home in an opaque bag. It should be something that you would like to win as a prize and must fit under a chair. Some ideas could be a small toy or game, a favorite nonperishable food item, a book -- whatever you have to pass along that you think someone would enjoy!

We will be serving pizza. Please bring some snacks or a side dish to share. Suggested donation of $5 per person to cover pizza Please RSVP by March 9!
Don't miss out on the fun! We can't wait to see you there!

Join the Humanist Group on Tuesday, March 14, 2023
as church member John Hooper presents an overview of SMART Recovery, an alternative to classic AA or NA programs. The meeting begins at 7:30 in the Schweitzer Room and is in-person only. Learn what John has to share about this program and plans to expand its presence in our community. We also look forward to a robust discussion period to answer your questions and get your take on the problems involved.

“Self-management and Recovery Training” (SMART Recovery) is a fact-based program that takes advantage of these learnings to provide people struggling with addiction with an empowering, non-theistic pathway to recovery. SMART Recovery preserves the compassionate group dynamics so important to recovery while also providing each member with the necessary behavioral tools to overcome and be released from the urges that lead to relapse. It has been documented to be remarkably successful. Come and learn about SMART Recovery and its plans to expand its presence in our community.

Chalice Weekly Newsletter Deadline and Information

The deadline for submissions for the Chalice Weekly Newsletter is Tuesday for the week’s Thursday publication. Please submit your items through the church website at https://www.first-unitarian-pgh.org/blog/submit-an-article/.

Information about upcoming events will be included on a timely basis. If you have questions, please get in touch with 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 at firstuupghombudsman@gmail.com

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605 Morewood Ave. Pittsburgh Pa. 15213

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First Unitarian Church · 605 Morewood Avenue · Pittsburgh, PA 15213 · USA