This Week's Drop-In Discussion: Inside Saudi Arabia.  Janus Mary Jones will review and facilitate a discussion of In the Land of Invisible Women by Dr. Qanta Ahmed, a liberal British Muslim who spent two years as a physician serving women in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.  She told of restriction, overt racism and oppression, as well as kindness, charity and humor.

Cozy Night Supper

Our last Friday Cozy Night Supper for the church year is on February 27 at 5:30 PM.  We have discussed our seven UUA principles at suppers before. This session will be devoted designing our own principle.  Food is provided.  

Sign up in the Clara Barton Lounge, or let Connie Valk know that you will be there. If you forget, please come anyway.  Everyone is welcome.

Are you looking for a way to help?

Are you looking for a way to meet people at First Universalist?  Are you looking for a low impact way to volunteer and help at First Universalist?  Why not usher on Sunday?  

The duties are easy:  greet people at the sanctuary entrances and hand out order of service; take up the offering; count those attending; give the joys and sorrows cards to the minister; count the offering and process checks after the service.  

This would not be an every Sunday duty.  We are looking to get 8 - 10 people so you would only have to do it once every 4 - 5 weeks.  If you are interested please contact Karl Abbott at: [email protected], 585-256-2611, or in church. 

Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network (RAIHN)

RAIHN is holding a rotation at the RAIHN Day Center the week of 3/8-3/15.  We are working on bringing on a 14th host, but rather than disrupt the 41st rotation, we decided the best option was to hold the open week at the Day Center.  Please help us fill volunteer spots, by signing up through VolunteerSpot.

This Week at First Universalist

Thank you for keeping us updated, both when you schedule events and when you need to cancel one!  Please continue to do so. Send news of your events to [email protected]; or call 546-2826.

ANNOUNCEMENTS FOR FEBRUARY 22, 2015:

NEXT SERVICE: Sunday, March 1: Reverend Amina Linda Hall, from the Sufi Order Rochester Center for Sufi Studies is our pulpit guest.  Reverend Hall will be offering the sermon "How can we build understanding, practice and mastery to fulfill the purpose of our life?" Reverend Hall is a minister in the Church of All, Sufi Order International/North America. She officiates the Universal Worship service at the Sufi Order of Rochester Center for Sufi Studies. 

NEXT DROP-IN DISCUSSION: Sunday, March 1: Roots.  Shirley Bond will review The Family, by David Laskin, which tells the story of the descendants of a Torah scribe and his wife who lived 150 years ago on the western fringe of the Russian Empire.  Some went to America, some to Israel and some stayed put, and this determined their fates.  Shirley will ask us to reflect on our own family origins and roots.

RELIGIOUS EDUCATION: Kids ages four and older join us every week in the sanctuary for the first portion of our worship service. Children's Worship begins after the Message for All Ages. Nursery care for babies and younger children is on the second floor provided throughout the service. We also have seating in our second floor foyer, where parents can hold their little ones and listen to the service via speaker.

ARE YOU NEW TO FIRST UNIVERSALIST?  Have you come a few times and want to find out more about Unitarian Universalism and our congregation?  Then stop by the Welcome Table  in the Clara Barton Lounge during coffee hour.  You'll find friendly folks there every Sunday who are eager to talk with you!

BOOK GROUP: The February book, Rodrigo's Land, is written by our church member, Steven Farrington. It is a historical novel set in Spain and Cuba in the 1500's, and is available on Amazon in both paperback and ebook. We will meet today at noon, in the Adult Lounge.

FRIDAY COZY NIGHT SUPPER: Our last Friday Cozy Night Supper for the church year is on February 27 at 5:30 PM.  We have discussed our seven UUA principles at suppers before. This session will be devoted designing our own principle.  Food is provided.  Sign up in the Clara Barton Lounge, or let Connie Valk [email protected] know that you will be there. If you forget, please come anyway.  Everyone is welcome.

CHILI COOK-OFF:March 15th, after Sunday service, we will once again invite cooks, chefs, foodies, and mere lovers of food to participate in our annual Chili Cook Off.  This event which challenges the inventiveness and imagination of our members and friends to dig deep into their recipe books or Google recipes to make this a very memorable event. Do let Bill Elwell know if you plan to participate.

LET YOUR VOICE BE HEARD! Our annual stewardship campaign begins on March 15^th. We will be soliciting financial pledges until April 19^th, when we will once again celebrate with a pie fest during coffee hour. Please add your voice to the "music" of our church community by making a pledge to support our 2015-2016 church budget.

PASSOVER SEDER: Clara Barton Lounge, Friday, April 3 at 6:00 P.M. Based on tradition, it will have a distinctly UU flavor and be an open inter-generational participatory event with children and youth most welcome. (Prizes for whoever finds the Afikoman).  Matzoh ball soup, a la Gilbert & Ward-Baker, traditional beverages, and ritual foods will be provided. Sign-ups will begin in March so we can prepare appropriately. A pot luck dinner will be part of the event so capacity will be limited.  If you would like to help or have questions, please call Lew Ward-Baker at 244-6968 or email at [email protected]

ARE YOU LOOKING FOR A WAY TO MEET PEOPLE AT FIRST UNIVERSALIST?  Are you looking for a low impact way to volunteer and help at First Universalist?  Why not usher on Sunday?  The duties are easy:  greet people at the sanctuary entrances and hand out order of service; take up the offering; count those attending; give the joys and sorrows cards to the minister; count the offering and process checks after the service.  This would not be an every Sunday duty.  We are looking to get 8 - 10 people so you would only have to do it once every 4 - 5 weeks.  If you are interested please contact Karl Abbott at: [email protected], 585-256-2611, or in church. 

RAIHN HOST WEEK: RAIHN is holding a rotation at the RAIHN Day Center the week of 3/8-3/15.  We are working on bringing on a 14^th host, but rather than disrupt the 41^st rotation, we decided the best option was to hold the open week at the Day Center.  Please help us fill volunteer spots, by signing up through VolunteerSpot. 

INTERFAITH IMPACT OF NEW YORK STATE will hold its annual legislative briefing at First Universalist on Sunday, March 15, 2:00-4:30 pm. The topic is "Show Me the Money: Escalating Inequality Hurts," with Michael Kink from Strong Economy for all Coalition (Albany), Ann Johnson of ACT Rochester and a fast food worker. Escalating Inequality is a UUA study-action issue. Contact Dick Gilbert at 244-7403.

DISTRICT ASSEMBLY will be March 27-28, 2015 in Niagara Falls. This year's theme is "Deep Roots, Broad Wings". If interested, please contact Tom Williams.

EASTMAN LUNCHTIME CONCERT SERIES: Concerts are held in the sanctuary each Thursday at 12:15 pm. They are free and open to the public.

A CARING COMMITTEE REMINDER: When a family member enters the hospital, needs emergency meals, needs transportation to church, or wants home visits; please contact Ruth Fitzgerald [email protected] 225-0555,or Eileen Fernandez, [email protected].

HEARING LOOP IN SANCTUARY: Please use the T setting on your hearing aid or see an usher for a receiver.