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Sun Jan 19 2020 Winter #5
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January issue of
On the Journey: Authority - Click
HERE
This week's post from the Sabbatical Minister - Click
HERE
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Practice of the Week: Pray Prayer is not about asking for stuff with any expectation that it will magically appear. Prayer does not require believing in a personlike entity or committing to the notion that reality-as-a-whole has knowledge and desires. Prayer is about being in touch with things exactly as they are in your heart. It's about blessing what is - even if "what is" is your own desperate need for help. READ MORE |
In honor of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Day, members of the Racial Justice team are offering programs for the RE classes this Sunday. Jim Cobb is leading the multiage childrens group, sharing stories about his and Mary's families' connection to slavery. Rhonda Morgan will lead the 8th-12th grade group in learning about the roles of children and youth in the Civil Rights Movement and exploring how our faith calls us to action today. The 6th-7th grade class meets to continue learning about Islam with Mohammed Loutfy and Nicole Turygin... READ MORE
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Music by composers of African descent is featured in Sunday's solo piano selections. Born in Niagara, Canada, in 1882, R. Nathaniel Dett is especially remembered for his
In the Bottoms Suite for piano, which concludes with the festive "Juba Dance." At one time, few advanced piano students neglected this finger-twisting work. The CUUC Choir is also on hand with arrangements of uplifting Spirituals to round out our musical commemoration of MLK Day...
READ MORE
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Upcoming Worship Services
"For Such a Time as This"
Rev. Dr. Willard W. C. Ashley, Sr.
"The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people." ~ Martin Luther King, Jr.
Our guest speaker is Dr. Willard Ashley, acting dean of practical theology at New Brunswick Theological Seminary. After worship, we invite you to join a special group discussion with Rev. Ashley.
"I Know This Much Is True"
Rev. Kimberley Debus
We know the value of knowing the truth of our own stories, so how do we accept the truths of other people's stories, especially when they tell a different truth than the one we know? How do we make space for the authority of another's experience and open ourselves to other ways of knowing?
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Our
YouTube Channel has videos of many past services. Check it out
HERE!
Opening in Gmail? Be sure to click "View entire message" at the bottom.
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Cooperative Coffee Hour this Sunday
Cooperative Coffee Hour, Sun Jan 19, 11:15am
We invite you to bring along juice, milk, or a treat to help fill our coffee hour table this Sunday. Then help us set up, serve, and clean up together.
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"Multicultural Readiness," Sun Jan 19, 11:30am, Fellowship Hall
Our guest speaker, Rev. Dr. Willard W. C. Ashley, Sr., will be with us after worship for a special group discussion on ways to assess an organization's multicultural readiness. Sponsored by the In the Spirit of Truth/ Racial Justice Team. Contact: Jeff Tomlinson (jefftomlinson8@gmail.com).
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Sunday Journey Groups, Sun Jan 19, 11:40am
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Science & Spirituality, Thu Jan 24, 11:30am, Fireside
We meet the second and fourth Thursday and discuss books and articles on the intersection of spirituality and science. Join us! Contact: Barbara Mair (
barbara.k.mair@icloud.com
).
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Interfaith Friends for Peace, Sat Jan 25, 1:00 - 4:00pm, Rm 41
A multifaith discussion group for sharing and learning, designed to enhance our appreciation of the religious heritage of humankind. Contact: Deb Margoluis (debby14all@gmail.com).
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Serving Indigenous and Families of Color
Tracy Breneman would like to be in conversation with Indigenous and Families of Color (you or someone in your family is Indigenous or a Person of Color) who attend CUUC. She is wondering if our RE ministry is meeting your needs and would be grateful for a conversation around what that means for you, what it means for you and your family to feel supported and served in this community. Please feel welcome to speak with Tracy any Sunday after worship or to reach out via email (
cuucwptracy@gmail.com) or by phone/text (914-434-7539).
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The CUUC Environmental Practices Group pitched the
Community Solar renewable energy program to the CUUC Board of Trustees at their January meeting, and the BOT approved. When CUUC enrolls, CUUC will get renewable energy for a 10% discount. Community Solar is available to residents as well and is organized by
Sustainable Westchester and
Solarize Westchester.
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CUUC Accessibility Upgrades Forum, Sun Feb 2, 11:30am, Fellowship Hall
The Building Committee will walk through their plans to make the building accessible to persons with disabilities. See details HERE. Questions? Contact Creighton Cray (creighton.cray@gmail.com).
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2019-2020 Congregation Survey
The Committee on Ministry is evaluating how we support our spiritual development, and asks your help by answering our survey. It should take 10-15 minutes and responses are confidential. Pick up a copy on Sunday, or download HERE and print. Return completed surveys to any COM member or drop off at the CUUC office. Or take the survey online HERE. The survey is open until Mon Feb 3. Contact: Tom Wacht (tjwachtesq@aol.com)
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The Hunger & Homelessness team's Backpack Drive supports the
Brighter Futures After-School Mentoring Program.
"Sponsor" a backpack and we will shop for you! $30 buys a backpack; smaller amounts buy supplies. Or you may purchase 3- or 5-subject spiral notebooks, multi-packs of pens/pencils, or looseleaf paper to donate. Flyer HERE. Contact: Amy Swiss (amyswiss@aol.com).
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We would love to have families greet Sunday morning before worship. What could be more welcoming to visiting families than having a family greet them at the door! Your family would be in place 9:45-10:15am. Contact Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com) to sign up for a Sunday.
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Wise Aging Group, Mon Feb 3, 2:00 - 3:30pm, Fireside
A series of monthly conversations to help us grow wiser in good company. We will use the book
On the Brink of Everything: Grace, Gravity, and Getting Old
by Parker Palmer to spur on conversation and reflection. Contact: Rev. LoraKim Joyner (amoloros@gmail.com).
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Come to Barnes & Noble for a day of activities - OR - order items online from Jan 20 to Jan 24 at
barnesandnoble.com/bookfairs
and enter ID #12583688 at checkout. Purchases benefit the MLK Freedom Library.
Showing Up for Racial Justice, Monday, Jan 20, 7:00pm, South Presbyterian, Dobbs Ferry
We discuss Martin Luther King Jr's message of nonviolence, which especially resonates today amid the rising tensions in the Middle East. Read or listen to Dr. King's speech
HERE.
Learn more about the SURJ meeting
HERE
.
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Share the Plate for January:
Interfaith Council for New Americans of Westchester
We donate half our non-pledge collection this month to the Interfaith Council for New Americans of Westchester (ICNAW), a coalition of local congregations that provides welcome and support to refugees being resettled in our area. ICNAW has welcomed two families from Afghanistan (in November 2017 and May 2019) and anticipates receiving a third family imminently. To learn more or to join the CUUC Refugee Resettlement team, contact Robin Rocchi (robinandal@verizon.net) or Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com).
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Caring & Sharing Circle
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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).
Saturday, January 18 - 9:00am Rental: Exercise (Fireside); 10:00am Zen (Rm 43); 10:15am Overeaters Anonymous (Rm 21); 2:00pm Rental: WCHJ (Fellowship Hall)
Sunday, January 19 - 8:45am Choir Rehearsal (Sanctuary); 9:30am Nursery Care (32); 10:00am Worship (Sanctuary); 11:15am Coffee Hour (Fireside); 11:30am Discussion: Multicultural Readiness (Fellowship Hall); 11:40am Sunday Journey Groups - Millers (Rm 13), Freiberger/Heller (Rm 31), Morra (Rm 43); 5:00pm Journey Group - K. Leahy (Off-Site)
Monday, January 20 - OFFICE CLOSED; 5:00pm Rental: Exercise (Fireside)
Tuesday, January 21 - 10:00am Rental: Exercise (Fireside); 1:00pm Rental: Watercolor Class; 7:00pm Rental: WCSPP (Classrooms); 7:30pm Choir Rehearsal
Wednesday, January 22 - 8:30am Dance Movement Group (Fireside); 7:00pm RE Check-In Meeting; 7:30pm Journey Group - J. Majsak (Off-Site)
Thursday, January 23 - 10:00am Journey Group - Kung (Off-Site); 11:30am Science & Spirituality Group (Fireside)
Saturday, January 25 - 8:00am Rental: Rug Hookers (Fireside); 9:00am Rental: Exercise (Fellowship Hall); 10:00am Food Prep for Chili Meal (Kitchen); 10:00am Zen (Rm 43); 10:15am Overeaters Anonymous (Rm 21); 1:00pm Interfaith Friends for Peace (Rm 41); 1:00pm Rental: WCSPP Open House (TBD)
Sunday, January 26 - 8:45am Economic Social Justice (Rm 13); 9:30am Nursery Care (Rm 32); 10:00am Worship (Sanctuary); 11:15am Coffee Hour (Fireside); 11:15am Community Meal: Chili (Fellowship Hall); 11:20am Newcomers' Conversations (Rm 13)
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Congregation & Communications Administrator: Pamela Parker,
admin@cucwp.org, 914-946-1660 x2
Board of Trustees
Social Justice Coordinators
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Remembering Dr. King
I was a small child when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. was assassinated in Memphis, and mostly unaware of the news or the reasons for changes in my parents' moods - my first real memory of news is the moon landing. But as an adult, the importance of this man's passion, commitment, and righteousness continues to inform us today as we dream of the beloved community.
Yet in order to achieve the dream, we must not only transform our politics and our culture, but we must transform ourselves. As my contemporary. Rev. Erik Walker Wikstrom writes, "we must not just express our desired change, we must reorganize our thoughts, our perspectives, and even our organizations to be like the anti-racist, multi-cultural, anti-oppression world we want to see. And the sad truth is that as long as our denomination is organized the way it is, the best we can hope for is change. True transformation will elude us, and nothing short of transformation is what we need."
On the day before he was assassinated, King encouraged us toward transformation, to keep on this path, because the journey is worth it:
"Something is happening in our world. And you know, if I were standing at the beginning of time, with the possibility of taking a kind of general and panoramic view of the whole of human history up to now, and the Almighty said to me, 'Martin Luther King, which age would you like to live in?' I would take my mental flight by Egypt and I would watch God's children in their magnificent trek from the dark dungeons of Egypt through, or rather across the Red Sea, through the wilderness on toward the promised land.
"And in spite of its magnificence, I wouldn't stop there.
"I would move on by Greece and take my mind to Mount Olympus. And I would see Plato, Aristotle, Socrates, Euripides and Aristophanes assembled around the Parthenon. And I would watch them around the Parthenon as they discussed the great and eternal issues of reality.
"But I wouldn't stop there.
"I would go on, even to the great heyday of the Roman Empire. And I would see developments around there, through various emperors and leaders.
"But I wouldn't stop there.
"I would even go by the way that the man for whom I am named had his habitat. And I would watch Martin Luther as he tacked his ninety-five theses on the door at the church of Wittenberg.
"But I wouldn't stop there.
"I would come on up even to 1863, and watch a vacillating President by the name of Abraham Lincoln finally come to the conclusion that he had to sign the Emancipation Proclamation.
"But I wouldn't stop there.
"I would even come up to the early thirties, and see a man grappling with the problems of the bankruptcy of his nation. And come with an eloquent cry that we have nothing to fear but 'fear itself.'
"But I wouldn't stop there.
"Strangely enough, I would turn to the Almighty, and say, 'If you allow me to live just a few years in the second half of the 20th century, I will be happy.'
"Now that's a strange statement to make, because the world is all messed up. The nation is sick. But I know, somehow, that only when it is dark enough can you see the stars. And I see God working in a way that we, in some strange way, are responding. Something is happening in our world. The masses of people are rising up. And wherever they are assembled today, the cry is always the same: 'We want to be free.'"
Amen.
~
Rev. Kimberley Debus
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Your Moment of Zen: The Spirit of Practice Relaxing with the others after zazen one evening, Owl asked, "What is the spirit of practice?" Raven said, "Inquiry." Owl cocked his head and asked, "What do I inquire about?" Raven said, "Good start." READ MORE |
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