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 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.

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

• Saturday, Oct. 11, 2008 – National Coming Out Day.  This day velebrates those bisexual, gay, lesbian and transgender people who have braved fears of discrimination, rejection, hatred and violence to lead open lives in the community.  Take a moment to celebrate our friends, family members and others whose courage has paved the way for others by coming out.  Send a card, write a letter or email, light a candle of thanks and celebration for all of those who celebrate the day.
• Friday, Oct. 17, 2008 – daylong — Social Welfare Action Alliance conference and workshop on poverty and violence at the Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, 141 Adams St., Rochester. We will have two free tickets and others cost $20. See Sarah Singal, Sally Hamlin or call Kris in the church office.
• Tuesday, Oct. 21, 2008 – 7 p.m. – Volunteer training for RAIHN at the Third Presbyterian Church, 4 Meigs St., Rochester. This training is necessary before starting to volunteer in the RAIHN program. This session will be RAIHN Director Erica Vera’s last, as she leaves for a new job.

• Monday, Oct 27, 2008 at 6 p.m. – Annual RAIHN dinner at the Church of the Transfiguration in Pittsford. Keynote speakers are Joe Robach, Bill Johnson and Erica Vera. Cost is $40 per person. Order tickets by phone at (585) 506-9050 or in person at the RAIHN Day Center, 34 Meigs St., Rochester. Donations are welcomed for a silent auction fundraiser; drop off gadgets, art work, condo rental, etc. to Deni Mack at the Church of the Assumption, 20 East Ave. in Fairport, NY. For more information about the dinner and auction, contact Deni Mack at (585) 388-0400 x314 or by email.
• Monday, Dec. 8, 2008 – United Nations Human Rights Day. This is an evening event held at the Downtown Presbyterian Church (DUPC). The topic is School to Prison Pipeline. More details to come.