The First Universalist Church of Rochester is pleased to make its building available to individuals and community organizations for meetings and celebrations. Our historic building is a warm, inviting place to hold meetings, conferences, seminars, banquets, weddings, same-sex commitment ceremonies, wedding vow renewals, memorial services, parties, and other events; and is fully wheelchair accessible. Because the preservation of the facility is costly, the Church has determined that all users of the buildings shall share in some of the costs.

Space at the First Universalist Church of Rochester may be rented by any group or function whose purpose, goals, ideals or philosophy is consistent with the broad ideals of the Church, with the exception of fund raising for a specific candidate or candidates. Renters will specify in their publicity that the event is “held at the First Universalist Church of Rochester” rather than using language which may imply that there is sponsorship by or affiliation with the Church.

Priority for events is determined on a first-come-first-served basis.  To view calendar availability, please go to www.uuroc.org/calendar. Payment in full is required to reserve space.

All rentals and church uses of the building need to be arranged through the Office Administrator, Kris McCarty-White. You can contact her via telephone at 585.546.2826 during office hours (Tuesday- Friday 8:30- 2:30) or via e-mail at office@uuroc.org.

We hope you’ll join us in these newly-listed activities and check previous This Week, This Month announcements for additional upcoming events. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

• Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 — Court Street Crafters. The second meeting of the Court Street Crafters will be held on Dec. 6, from 11:00-1:00 in the Clara Barton Lounge. You don’t need to sign up….just bring your craft and come! We look forward to seeing you there! If you have any questions, email Nancy Gaede.
• Saturday, Dec. 6, 2008 — Bring A Friend Potluck and Karaoke Night hosted by Jen Yates at her home starting at 4:30 p.m. with dinner at 5 p.m. Join us for fun, friends, singing, and fabulous food! Bring a non-UU friend and a dish to pass. Want to come, but don’t know a member of our congregation? Contact Jen, who will find a congregant-friend for you. Please respond to Jen by email before Wednesday, December 3rd.
• Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 — Social Justice Mitten Tree messages during coffee hour. Stop by the Social Justice/R.E. table and write a peace message on a piece of construction paper that will become a colorful part of a paper chain to hang on the Mitten Tree! The chain will be placed on the tree by the children during the Dec 14th service.
• Sunday, Dec. 7, 2008 – 12:15 p.m. — U.N. video: “For Everyone Everywhere” in the sanctuary. The United Nations has produced a short film about the UN Declaration of Human Rights, which was formulated 60 years ago this month. It is about 30 minutes long. Michael Scott will lead a discussion afterward. All are welcome.
• Wednesday, Dec. 31, 2008 – New Year’s Eve celebration. Are you looking to ring in the new year with church family and friends? Would you like to feed your soul spiritually and have a great time doing it? How about some games/activities followed by the fireworks? This will be a fun and food-filled family-friendly event. Since the fireworks display starts at midnight, our party will begin around 9pm. Stay tuned for details as they develop. Please contact Lindsay Morrell if you’d like to help with setup or cleanup.
• starting Saturday, Jan. 3, 2009 – 10 to 11 a.m. — Laughter Yoga at 1st Universalist. Please join us every other Saturday morning for “Laughter for No Reason” led by Linda Lorenzo.

  What is Laughter Yoga?

  You may say, “Well, I’ve heard of Laughter and I’ve heard of Yoga…but what do the two have to do with one another?”

  Laughter Yoga is a revolutionary idea – simple and profound. An exercise routine, it is fast sweeping the world and is a complete wellbeing workout. It is the brainchild of Dr. Madan Kataria, an Indian physician from Mumbai who started the first laughter club in a park on 13th March 1995, with just 5 people. Today, it has become a worldwide phenomenon with more than 6000 social laughter clubs in 60 countries.

  Laughter Yoga combines unconditional laughter with yogic breathing (Pranayama). Anyone can laugh for no reason, without relying on humor, jokes or comedy. Laughter is simulated as a body exercise in a group but with eye contact and childlike playfulness, it soon turns into real and contagious laughter. The concept of Laughter Yoga is based on a scientific fact that the body cannot differentiate between fake and real laughter.One gets the same physiological and psychological benefits.

  If you want to learn more and try out this fun and highly beneficial activity, please consider joining us for the initial session on January 3rd. At this time we will be viewing a short documentary on the origins and practice of Laughter Yoga and will hold our first Laughter Yoga session.

  To sign up, or for more information, please contact Linda Lorenzo or call Kris at the church office at (585)546-2826.

Other announcements: If you want to order a copy of Mark Morrison-Reed’s book In Between: Memoir of an Integration Baby (or other titles), please sign up during coffee hour in the Clara Barton library.

We hope you’ll join us in these newly-listed activities and check previous This Week, This Month announcements for additional upcoming events. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

• Sunday, November 23, 2008 — A Feast of Gratitude. Join us for our Intergenerational Thanksgiving service, and share your thoughts on giving and gratitude. Please bring a fresh fruit or vegetable to fill our cornucopia. Feast on one another’s thoughts, words and offerings! (Intergenerational means all ages; Peggy Meeker, our Director of Religious Education (DRE), will be involving our children and youth in the service. Nursery care will be available.)
• Thursday, November 27, 2008 at 11 AM — 134th Union Interfaith Thanksgiving Service at 1st Unitarian Church with Rabbi Matt Field, Temple Beth El, preaching. Come one, come all to the 134th Annual Thanksgiving Day Interfaith Thanksgiving service, proudly the oldest continuing interfaith service offered in the United States. This service was started by the congregations of First Unitarian Church of Rochester, First Universalist Church of Rochester and Temple B’rith Kodesh more than a century ago, to share together in the universal religious impulse to give thanks! Participating congregations now also include Temple Beth El, Temple Sinai, Islamic Center of Rochester, Baptist Temple Church, First Baptist Church of Rochester, Roman Catholic Diocese of Rochester, and Third Presbyterian Church. A reception will follow the service at 1st Unitarian Church, 220 Winton Road South. Please join us for this beautiful celebration!
• Thursday, November 27, 2008 — Thanksgiving Dinner at 1st Universalist. Dinner is around 4:00, but we’ll need help with preparation and set up. Please sign up if you plan to come, and let us know what you’ll be bringing. We’ll also need donations of turkeys or money towards the purchase of turkeys. Contact Karl. We hope to see you there!
• February 2009 – Service Auction at 1st Universalist. Get out your knitting needles, polish your silver and social skills, inspect that white elephant in the basement or at your office. It’s not too early to start thinking about the church’s annual Auction and what treasure you’ll be contributing for sale. If you have questions, contact Jane Chronis. Volunteers are welcome.

Here are some events and activities you might like to put on your calendar. See our previous Outside 1st Universalist announcements for other upcoming events.

• Thursday November 21, 2008 — Discussion Course at the UU of Canandaigua Church: Healthy Children – Healthy Planet

  The Unitarian Universalist Church of Canandaigua will be offering a new discussion course from the Northwest Earth Institute this fall, starting November 21. Healthy Children – Healthy Planet is a seven-session course addressing how the pervasive effects of advertising, media, and our consumer culture can influence a child’s view of the world. Each session consists of two parts: an opening and a facilitated discussion. Topics covered are: (1) Cultural Pressures; (2) Family Rituals and Celebrations; (3) Advertising; (4) Food and Health; (5) Time and Creativity; (6) Technology and the Media; (7) Exploring Nature. Optional 8th Session: Celebration.

  The discussion course format encourages: trust, respect, and a sense of community among group members; personal clarity over group consensus; the creation of a supportive environment for personal change; and evaluation of personal lifestyle choices and subsequent effects on the natural world. Goals are to understand how the pervasive effects of advertising, media and our consumer culture can influence a child’s view of the world; to discover ways to create meaningful family times and healthful environments for children; and to explore ways to develop a child’s connection to nature, and to foster creativity.

  We would like to start this discussion group Thursday November 21st. The cost per/person is $20, which pays for the study guide books. The study guide, about 100 pages, contains a diverse collection of short essays, articles, and book excerpts organized around weekly themes to create lively discussion. The course is limited to 12 participants/group. If we have more persons interested we will run two groups. Questions: contact Scarlett Miles, DRE via email or phone 315 235-1545.

Greetings from the Ministry of Mirth and Merriment. The surveys are in and tallied. Our thanks to the 41 of you who gave us information. Here are the activities which had the most interest:

• Pot lucks of all kinds dessert/dialog sessions
• movies small group dinners
• going to baseball games game nights
• card parties GEVA
• a New Year’s Eve get-together gourmet dinners
• Thanksgiving dinner at church year-end picnic
• Mardi Gras party open mic coffee house

Most responses indicated that Friday afternoon/evening, Saturday morning/afternoon/evening, and Sunday afternoon/early evening were the best time for events, with some interest expressed in having weekday evening events.

You also gave us an incredible list of other possibilities, from Talent Night to adult (yes, adult) sleep-overs and Laughter Yoga. This list will be posted on the bulletin board in the Clara Barton Lounge in the near future.

So what now? What do we do with all this wonderful information? This list will only be a list, unless people step forward to organize these events. It’s not complicated! Pick an idea ( or bring one of your own.) Pick a date/time. Get your information to Kris at the office…check for room availability and other possible conflicts. Get it on the calendar and write a blurb for the Outlooks and the order of service. Put up a sign up sheet if you need one and… VOILA! Mirth and Merriment!

Please be sure to put these upcoming events on your calendar:

• The Great Cookbook Cookoff (rsvp to the office) on November 14, 2008.
• a soup and salad lunch after church on November 16, 2008 sponsored by the Membership Committee
• Thanksgiving Dinner at First U…the signup sheet is posted in the Clara Barton Lounge. Look for more information about this very soon. Thanks to Karl Abbott for organizing this event.

Our surveys show that there is a real desire for more “community” in our community. Won’t you be the next person to step up and get something started?

We hope you’ll join us in this newly-listed activity and check previous This Week, This Month announcements for additional upcoming November events. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

• Friday, November 21, 2008 – 6:30 p.m. — Friday Night Movies That Inspire and Uplift – “Wide Awake” in our sanctuary, with post-movie discussion and snacks in our Clara Barton Lounge. Join us for this month’s selection, “Wide Awake.” When his beloved grandfather passes away, fifth-grade Catholic schoolboy Joshua (Joseph Cross) has a crisis of faith. He asks both the nuns and his parents (Denis Leary and Dana Delany) difficult questions as he sets out on a mission: to find God and make sure his grandfather is OK. …. There is no charge for movie viewing and discussion time. Anyone wishing to bring a snack to share will be gratefully appreciated.

We hope you’ll join us in these newly-listed activities and check previous This Week, This Month announcements for additional upcoming events. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

• Friday, November 7, 2008 — deadline to RSVP for the Nov. 14 GUUSTO Cook-off and Potluck Supper. See the Nov. 14th entry below for details. Contact Kris McCarty-White by email or phone (585) 546-2826
• Saturday, November 8, 2008 — – 9:30 a.m. to noon — Navigating the Sea of Social Services workshop at 1st Universalist Church, 150 S. Clinton, Rochester, NY. See the info under This Week, This Month – Oct 21, 2008.
• Sunday, November 9, 2008 — SEM Food Ingathering during the service. Donations of non-perishable food items, toiletries, and paper goods will be collected to benefit the Southeast Ecumenical Ministries Food Cupboard. Our congregation contributed a combined 50 bags of supplies for September and October; thank you to all who donated!
• Friday, November 14, 2008 – 6 to 8 p.m. — Celebrate With GUUSTO Cook-off and Potluck Supper at our church in the Clara Barton Lounge. GUUSTO stands for Genesee UU Societies Together. It includes First Universalist of Rochester, First Unitarian of Rochester, Unitarian Universalist of Canandaigua and Pullman Memorial Universalist Church of Albion. Prepare one of your favorite recipes from the First Universalist Centennial cookbook or just bring one of your favorite foods and come join together in a fall feast. We’ll celebrate our Centennial Cookbook editor, Julie Gangai, and sing a few songs of Thanksgiving. Young and old are welcome!

   

  Let us know you’re coming. RSVP by Friday, November 7th to Kris McCarty-White by email or phone (585) 546-2826

• Sunday, November 16, 2008 — A Soup and Salad Luncheon following the morning’s service is sponsored by the Membership Committee. Please plan to join us for some great food and fellowship! If you would like to help with the lunch, either by making soup or by helping with set-up/serving/clean up, please contact Nancy Gaede

Other requests and announcements:

• Our church has a number of outdated, dust-covered A-V equipment, books, and other items that we could sell on E-Bay or Craigslist. If you are willing to take this on as a fundraiser for the church, please contact Connie Valk
• There is now a Lego table in the toy corner of the Clara Barton Lounge. Heads-up for Mommies and Daddies of toddlers: Lego sets have very small pieces.

Here are some events and activities you might like to put on your calendar. See our previous Outside 1st Universalist announcements for other upcoming events.

• Saturday, November 8, 2008 – 9:30 a.m. to noon — Navigating the Sea of Social Services workshop at 1st Universalist Church, 150 S. Clinton, Rochester, NY. See our This Week, This Month – Oct 21, 2008 post for details, including a workshop flier.
• Sunday, Nov. 9, 2008 — Veteran’s Day Peace Observance and Ceremony: “Sharing the Burden”
  • 3:00 p.m. — Washington Square Park (if no rain): Reading of names and sharing stories of war dead. During this time all attendees are welcome to share remembrances of veterans in their lives in the form of pictures and/or stories.
  • 4:30 p.m. — First Universalist Church (rain or shine) – Program and ceremony with reflections by local veterans from past wars and conflicts
  • 6:00 p.m. Food and community-building – at First Universalist Church.

  All are invited to attend and be a part of this poignant event to honor veterans of all wars by focusing on peace and healing. Veterans are invited to bring a “symbol of war” which will be exchanged for a “symbol of peace” during the ceremony.

  Sponsors (in formation): Rochester Chapter of Iraq Veterans Against War (IVAW), Rochester Against War (RAW), RAW Theater, Rochester Chapter of Veterans for Peace, Declaration of Peace Affinity Group, Peace Advocates-First Unitarian Church, Military Families Speak Out Upstate NY Chapter, Food Not Bombs, and Metro Justice’s Peace Action and Education Task Force.

  For further information: call (585) 271-4796.

• Monday, Dec. 1, 2008 – 6-9 PM — Shop ‘Til You Drop at Pittsford Plaza. Retailers give 15-20% of proceeds to the Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN). Farm Fresh Kitchens, Camille’s, One World Goods, blueground, Rugged Bear , Irish & Celtic Imports, Color Me Mine. Camille’s also extends 20% of the evening’s proceeds to RAIHN at its other two locations on Park Ave and Eastview Mall.

We hope you’ll join us in this newly-listed activity and check previous This Week, This Month announcements for additional upcoming events. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

• Saturday, November 15, 2008 – 11:00 to 1:00 p.m.– Court Street Crafters – in the Clara Barton Lounge
  Do you enjoy quilting, knitting, beading, weaving, rug hooking, crocheting, or some other craft? Are you interested in learning how to do one of these? Then the Court Street Crafters may be just the group for you!

  Our goal is to be together and enjoy each other’s company. We’re also exploring possible service projects, such as making blankets for Project Linus and knitting mittens and scarves for those in need.

  After the holidays, we plan to meet twice a month on Saturdays, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the Clara Barton Lounge. However, so that we can learn about and possibly start some projects for the holidays, we will meet on Saturday, November 15, from 11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

  Bring your ideas and crafts and join us! Also, please bring your calendar so that we can set future dates. If you have any questions, please contact Nancy Gaede.

We hope you’ll join us in this newly-listed activity and check previous This Week, This Month announcements for additional upcoming events. Some are educational, some are purely social and some are both. Inter-generational activities include children of all ages, while other activities are for adults only. Check the details to see if childcare is provided.

Saturday, November 8, 2008 – 9:30 a.m. to noon — Navigating the Sea of Social Services workshop at 1st Universalist Church, 150 S. Clinton, Rochester, NY. Our congregations may have members who need more help than what we as a faith community can provide:

• the beloved older member who lives alone and has become increasingly frail. Other members hold their breath as they watch her slowly drive her car to the parking lot and make her way to church. She has no family members living nearby to watch out for her.
• the eccentric whose grooming has deteriorated and whose behavior has become so strange that people are wondering if s/he may need professional help.
• the single mother who has lost her job and is struggling to support three children.

Navigating the Sea of Social Services is a workshop designed to help us help our congregants connect with services that will meet their needs over the short or long term. At this workshop we will explore all levels of services, from welfare to private pay, how to access them and what our role should be. Erica Vera, a licensed social worker with 15 years of experience in Rochester, will guide us through this process.

Registration information:
pre-register via our workshop flier,
9:30 to 10 a.m. the day of register
Cost: $5 per person or $10 for 3 people with advance registration
$10 per person registering at the door

If you have further questions, please contact the Caring Committee of First Universalist Church of Rochester.