Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains, NY
Spirituality   ·   Compassion   ·   Service
September issue of On the Journey: Covenant -- Click HERE
This Week's Post from the Minister: HERE
Practice of the Week: Roller Derby Yes, Roller Derby can be a spiritual practice. It might not be for you, but reading Dawn Cooley's inspiring account (with video!) may help you think about what could be a spiritual practice for you. READ MORE.
Classes meet this Sunday. We all begin in the sanctuary, leave during the second hymn, and meet in classrooms until 11:30am. Children 3rd grade and younger must be picked up in the classroom. Those 4th grade and older will be dismissed to head to coffee hour at 11:30am. Youth are attending worship this Sunday. The next 8th-12th grade Youth Group gathering is Fri Oct 4, 7:00-9:00pm in Fellowship Hall... READ MORE.
French composer Claude Debussy was one of the first Western artists to acknowledge an indebtedness to Asian culture. His exposure to the Balinese Gamelan at the 1889 Paris Universal Exposition had a transformative impact on his music. The piano works this Sunday are all illustrative of this influence, with their frequent use of the Asian pentatonic (five-note) scale. .. READ MORE .
Upcoming Worship Services
 
Sun Sep 29, 10:00am 
"The Blanket Thing
Rev. Meredith Garmon  
In I Heart Huckabees (2004), Bernard Jaffe (Dustin Hoffman) says: "Our everyday mind forgets this. We think everything is separate, limited -- I'm over here, you're over there. Which is true. But it's not the whole truth. Because we're all connected. We need to learn how to see the blanket truth all the time -- right in the everyday stuff. You wouldn't want to miss out on the big picture, would you? It'll take a while for you to get it, but it'll help you. When you get the blanket thing, you can relax because everything you could ever want or be you already have and are."
  
Sun Oct 6, 10:00am
"The Days of Awe
Rev. Kimberley Debus   
Jews around the world celebrate the time between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur as "The Days of Awe" - a time of forgiveness, reconciliation, and preparation for the new year. Together, we will celebrate our own version of these holy days.
Our CUUC YouTube Channel has videos of many past services. Check it out HERE!
Supporting Sanctuary 
 
Learn About Helping with Sanctuary, Sun Sep 29, 11:30am, Fellowship Hall
Learn what we, as individuals or as a congregation, can do to help people facing deportation. Hear one person's experience with this threat, and see how South Presbyterian Church in Dobbs Ferry is responding to the need. See flyer HERE. Contact: Mary Cavallero (marycava4@gmail.com).
You Are Invited!
 
Ordination of Cynthia Erb Davidson, Sun Sep 29, 4:00pm, Sanctuary
The Fourth UU Congregation of Westchester and Community UU Congregation at White Plains invite you to celebrate with us the ordination of Cindy Davidson, the former ministerial intern at CUUC and current minister at FourthUU. Reception to follow in Fellowship Hall - bring a finger food to share! 
Wild Parrot Wild Walk    
 
Wild Walk at Green-Wood Cemetery, Sat, Sep 28, 10:00am - 12:00pm, 500 25th St, Brooklyn
Embrace your wild side at our Green-Wood Cemetery walk, where we can see the wild parrots who live there. Part of the Nurture Nature program of Rev. LoraKim Joyner (amoloros@gmail.com). Register HERE.  
Be an RE Assistant
 
All adults have the opportunity to get to know our children and youth this year by serving as assistants in Religious Education classes. No preparation required! Just spend an hour with our amazing children and youth while you fulfill our Safe Congregation practice of having two adults with our young people at all times. Click HERE to view available dates - then volunteer!  
Woodstock: 50!
 
Just The FAQs  
"It's all so confusing, man... Bid & Bump? What's that? Do I have to wear my formal fringed vest, or is my tie-dye t-shirt enough? And will there be brownies?" WE GET IT! You have questions... we have answers! Click HERE for answers to Frequently Asked Questions, or simply ask any of our committee members. Wondering who we are? Look for the red festival t-shirts at coffee hour in the next few weeks! Auction 2019, Sat Nov 16, Doors open 5:30pm, advance tickets $45 until Nov 10, or $50 at the door. 
In the Community  
 
"NY State's Energy Goals and You," Sun Oct 6, 12:00pm, UUFNW - Mt. Kisco
Learn ways to put our UU commitment to the earth into practice in our homes and apartments by saving energy as well as money through NYS subsidies and tax rebates. Taco lunch served. Learn more HERE .  
Bring Pie! 
 
"Eat More Pie" Community Coffee Hour, Sun Oct 13, 11:15am, Fireside
Help us officially welcome our sabbatical minister, Rev. Kimberley Debus, by bringing a pie with you to our next community coffee hour. After hearing Rev. Kimberley's "Eat More Pie" service that morning, we're going to want to eat some pie! Choose a sweet or savory pie - quiche, pizza, shepherd's pie, pot pie, berry pie, apple pie, tart, cream pie - whatever kind of pie tickles your fancy.
Then pitch in to help us set up, serve, and clean up together. Many hands make light work!  
UU Needs a Room  
 
A friend from the UU: East congregation in Manchester, CT,is looking to rent a room near Mamaroneck from Sep 16 to Dec 13. Learn more HERE. Contact: Deen O'Connell (860-989-0879, deeno54@att.net).  
Volunteer Drivers Wanted 
 
WestFair Rides provides free transportation for older adults, and adults with vision impairment, who live in and travel to medical appointments in Westchester and Fairfield counties. Several CUUC members are already volunteer drivers. Join them! Contact Arlene Penn ( volunteer@westfairrides.org , 914-752-2631). 
Nurturing Discussions

Rev. Dr. LoraKim Joyner is co-author of Nurturing Discussions and Practices , a workbook with discussion guides designed to support the health of individuals, relationships, and communities of all species. Learn more HERE. Order HERE, or purchase copies after worship. 
Share the Plate for September: PrideWorks  
PrideWorks® was first organized to produce an annual conference for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) youth, their allies, and the adults in their lives. PrideWorks' mission is to inform communities about the realities of growing up gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender, and to inspire them to respect and support LGBTQ people, and to advocate for positive change. prideworks.com . 
Caring & Sharing Circle
 
If anyone knows of another among us who is in need of a caregiver, please contact Paula Meighan (914-834-6454, paula.meighan74@gmail.com), or Liz Laite (914-366-4211, em.laite@verizon.net). Or contact the CUUC office (914-946-1660 x2, admin@cucwp.org).
This Week at CUUC
The full calendar can be found HERE. Room numbers subject to change; please check the board on Sunday morning. To reserve a room or Zoom online meeting, contact the CUUC office (914-946-1660 x2, admin@cucwp.org).
 
Sat Sep 28 - 9:00am Rental: Exercise (Fireside); 10:00am Zen (24)
Sun Sep 29 - 9:00am Economic Social Justice (43); 9:30am Nursery (32); 
10:00am Worship (Sanctuary); 11:15am Coffee Hour (Fireside); 11:30am  Forum: Supporting Sanctuary (Fellowship Hall); 11:30am Music Committee (43); 2:30pm Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary); 4:00pm Cindy Davidson Ordination (Sanctuary); 5:30pm  Ordination Reception (Fellowship Hall); 6:00pm Rental: WCHJ (Sanctuary)
Mon Sep 30 - 11:00am Rental: Children's Jewish Education Group (Sanctuary); 5:00pm  Rental: Exercise (Fireside); 6:30pm T'ai-ch'i (Fireside)
Tue Oct 1 - 4:00am Rental: Film/TV Production (Parking Lot, Sanctuary, Fellowship Hall); 7:00pm Rental: WCSPP (Classrooms)
Wed Oct 2 - 8:30am CUUC Dance Movement Group (Fellowship Hall or 41); 10:00am Rental: Exercise (Fireside); 7:30pm Program Council (41)
Thu Oct 3 - 9:30am Rental: League of Women Voters (41)
Fri Oct 4 - 7:00pm Youth Group (Fellowship Hall); 7:30pm Journey Group Facilitators (Parsonage); 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary)
Sat Oct 5 - 9:00am Rental: Exercise (Fireside); 10:00am Food Prep for HOPE (Kitchen); 10:00am Zen (24); 12:30pm Journey Group Facilitators (Parsonage)
Sun Oct 6 - 8:45am Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary); 9:00am Welcome Committee Meeting (22); 9:30am Nursery Care (32); 10:00am Worship (Sanctuary); 11:15am Coffee Hour (Fireside); 11:30am Auction Committee (43); 12:00pm Cooking for HOPE (Kitchen)  
Contacts

Minister: Rev. Meredith Garmon, minister@cucwp.org, 914-946-1660 x3
Sabbatical Minister: Rev. Kimberley Debus, sabbaticalmin@cucwp.org
Dir of Lifespan Religious Education and Faith Development: Tracy Breneman, cuucwptracy@gmail.com, 914-946-1660 x4
Community Minister: Rev. Deb Morra, getreal714@gmail.com, 914-830-1509
Community Minister: Rev. LoraKim Joyner, amoloros@gmail.com
Music Director: Adam Kent, music@cucwp.org, 212-595-7280
Choir Director: Lisa Meyer, choir@cucwp.org
Choir Pianist: Georgianna Pappas, georgianna.pappas@gmail.com
Children's Music Director: Lyra Harada, musicalyra13@gmail.com
Congregation & Communications Administrator: Pamela Parker, admin@cucwp.org, 914-946-1660 x2
Bookkeeper: Diane Pearson, cuucwpbookkeeper@gmail.com, 946-1660 x5
Board of Trustees
Board Chair: Al Rocchi, alrocchi@verizon.net
Vice Chair: Joann Prinzivalli, joannmp@outlook.com
Treasurer: Chris Kortlandt, kortlandtbunch@gmail.com
Social Justice Coordinators
Jeff Tomlinson, jefftomlinson8@gmail.com
Mary Cavallero, marycava4@gmail.com
Rev. Meredith Garmon, minister@cucwp.org
Quick Links

On The Journey (current and past issues)
Social Justice Teams
Practice of the Week (current and all past)
The Quarterly Communitarian
CUUC Main Web Site
Liberal Pulpit Index
The Liberal Pulpit Video
Boundless Way Zen of Westchester
Dear Ones,

Everything we do interacts with other people in two opposite ways: modeling and niche-filling.

When we model, we display a way of being that we invite others to adopt. Bad behavior encourages others to act badly; good behavior encourages others to act well. There's a voice in each of us that is always saying, "Look at what that person is doing. Maybe that's what I should do."

When we fill a niche, we encourage others to seek a different role. Your job is an example: the fact that you have that job means that no one else has it. Even if your job helps create other jobs, those are other jobs. Should you resign, a replacement might be hired, but as long as you're there, the niche is filled and any would-be replacements must seek other employment.

Every family has patterns of interaction with certain niches in the family system filled by different members of the family. If one member stops carrying out a given role -- whether it's a positive role like "primary meal planner," or an unhappy role like "chief complainer" -- others in the family are likely to shift to fill that role.

Another voice that's in each of us is always saying, "Look at what that person is doing. Since they're doing it, I'll find something else to do."

Your minister aims to be a helpful model -- an example of a spiritually reflective life, thoughtfully engaged with the big questions of our human meaning-making enterprise. That's what I try to do, and what Rev. Kimberley will be aiming to do for the next six months with our congregation. But we ministers are also mindful that we might be taken as filling that niche. With clergy, theologians, gurus, and spiritual writers doing the wrestling with religious questions, maybe that leaves you free to focus on other things.

"Free to focus on other things" isn't a bad thing. We ministers understand that part of our role is to do some of the spiritual, meaning-making labor for you. Some. But we'd also like you to make use of the model we try to offer and seriously engage the spiritual work yourself.

Consider, for instance, questions like these: What religious questions are "alive" for you? From which of our 6 sources do you find the most hope and healing? What do you imagine spiritual growth and faith development might look like for you? As a spiritual seeker, what can you say about what you are seeking? What are you yearning to do more of to develop peace and wisdom? Difficulty responding to questions like these indicates that perhaps more engagement with the spiritual work before you is called for.

Yours in faith,
Meredith
Your Moment of Zen: Greed, Hatred, and Ignorance Moose Roshi said to his students, "Greed, hatred, and ignorance are themselves Buddha-nature." On one of his visits, Raccoon asked Raven about this. Raven said, "Moose oughta know." READ MORE
The e -Communitarian newsletter is e-mailed each week. 
Please send submissions to admin@cucwp.org by noon on Tuesday.
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