FIRST UNITARIAN SOCIETY OF WESTCHESTER |
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Online Worship, Sunday, January 3
“Be Subject to One Another”
Rev. Kimberley Debus
Gathering Music 10:25am - Service 10:30am
In these tumultuous times, it is easy to be unkind to those we disagree with. Yet there is a prophetic as well as a pastoral value to kindness, thoughtfulness, and helpfulness - we'll explore how our principles and sources call us to treat others.
or call 646-558-8656, Meeting ID 600 398 863
Passcode: 230809
Gathering music starts at 10:25am. You are invited to log in early to greet one another.
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To protect ourselves and our neighbors, we are holding gatherings and Sunday services online. Check our website at fusw.org and our Facebook page to find information and updates during this time.
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Upcoming Events
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Friday, January 8, 12:30pm, First Friday Women’s Group Luncheon ~ (Note the date change, to avoid the New Year’s Day holiday.) Prepare your lunch and join us online - all are welcome! For login information, contact: Adelaide DiGiorgi (adigiorgi@optonline.net), Joan Livingston (ljblivingston@aol.com) or Theresa De Lise (ntdelise@optonline.net).
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Saturday, January 23, 7:00pm, Game Night ~ Contact Betsy Kates (bkates42@verizon.net). Details below.
Upcoming Worship
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Sunday, January 10, 10:30am - “What’s Next?” ~ FUSW Men’s Group
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Sunday, January 17, 10:30am - TBA ~ Rev. Kristina Church
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Our Guest Worship Leader
Rev. Kimberley Debus is a community minister who inspires artful and art-filled worship. Based near Saratoga Springs, NY, she consults with congregations and religious professionals throughout the denomination. Rev. Kimberley was sabbatical minister at CUUC White Plains in 2019-2020, and has served at the Church of the Larger Fellowship as well as congregations on Long Island and Key West.
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A Second Look
During our “Hindsight is 2020” service on Sunday, December 27, Adelaide DiGiorgi shared the poem “It is Okay (a Poem of Validation for the Year 2020)” by Cleo Wade. If you missed it, or would like to read it again, you can find the poem here.
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Save the (Play) Date!
Online Game Night, Saturday, January 23, 7:00pm
Join the fun! Hop online for our monthly gathering of restorative play with FUSW folk and friends. January promises some surprises, so stay tuned! Contact Betsy Kates (bkates42@verizon.net). Click her to log in online, or call 646-558-8656 (audio only), Meeting ID: 979 3808 1663, Passcode: 732803
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Message from the President
FINALLY – in a few more hours, we can say good-bye to 2020, a kidney stone of a year if ever there was one.
For many in our country this challenging time has brought degrees of loss - of health, of livelihoods, of loved ones. Of course, I recognize that your experience of 2020 may be totally different (and if it is, I’m genuinely happy for you – and a little envious, too!) – but my sense is that most among us feel that the year as a whole was, at the very least, trying.
Still, even the dark cloud of 2020 had its silver linings, and I’d like to take a moment to recognize a few of them:
Just as was the case with past events like the flood, the pandemic and the subsequent move to online services demanded that our congregation work together as a community – and we met that challenge beautifully. We made the transition with only a few bumps, thanks to all of us working together and being willing to accept the shortcomings of virtual services in exchange for the ability to be together and to share our thoughts about and struggles with the pandemic.
We also quickly learned to appreciate that, for all its shortcomings, going online meant that we could welcome more people than we typically would in person at 25 Old Jackson Avenue. It has been a delight to see some faces we haven’t seen as frequently, many of whom are far too distant to attend in person services. Reconnecting in this way is something to cherish.
And the opportunities that we have had to actually meet in person (in a socially distanced and masked setting) – for our wonderful meet-and-greet with Rev. Kristina and the fall concert, as well as for the “candle pick-up” for the Christmas eve service – were made so much more special. We came to realize how easy it is to take for granted something as simple as being physically present with another person, let alone a group of people.
Finally, even with the pandemic, FUSW was able to transition rather seamlessly from one minister to another – and how fortunate have we been to have two ministers of the quality of both Viola Abbitt and Kristina Church? And another silver lining – while we wish that we could engage our ministers on a full-time basis right now, the need to seek out guests in the pulpit this year and last has brought us into contact with new and varied voices that we would never have been exposed to otherwise. At the same time, our program groups more than met the challenge of supplying additional services, ensuring that our members’ voices were an even greater part of our public face than usual.
So even a year as full of worry and anxiety and sadness as 2020 has offered us sustenance. And if FUSW can come through a year like this in such a strong manner – imagine what we can do with 2021, as we start to recover from and move on from the pandemic? Are we going to have big challenges? Of course. But we’ve demonstrated we as a community are strong enough to meet those challenges.
Thank each and every one of you for all you have done as a part of FUSW this year. You make me proud to be a member of this community.
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Gratitudes
The FUSW staff -- administrator Rina Schunk, bookkeeper Rita Rutuolo, and communications coordinator Pam Parker - want to thank the congregation for their thoughtfulness and generosity this holiday season. We are grateful to be part of the FUSW family, and we wish everyone a happy and safe New Year.
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Calling All Singers
Join a Virtual Choir Project! Community UU Congregation at White Plains invites interested FUSW singers & friends to be part of their next music video. The song is "You Will Be Found, from the musical Dear Evan Hanson (click here to see a similar music video, created by another group). Weekly online rehearsals run Jan 5 to Feb 10, and your video contribution is due Sat Feb 13. You don't need to read music, just match pitch. Click here for more detailed instructions. Interested? Contact Lisa Meyer (musiciansings@yahoo.com) by Jan 4.
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Textile Recycling at FUSW
Green Tree Textiles is still collecting goods placed in the bin in our lot, which is now listed on the company's map of box locations. You can drop off clothing, shoes, household linens, fabric scraps, handbags, and accessories to be recycled, reused, or donated. (Not accepted: bathroom rugs, pillows, comforters, soft toys, or electronics.) Since Goodwill isn't accepting donations now, and the New Rochelle Salvation Army has closed, Green Tree is an excellent alternative.
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FUSW Contacts & Information
Questions, Concerns, or Compliments for FUSW?
Reach out to any member of our Board of Trustees, fusw.org/board-of-trustees (place cursor over picture, then right-mouse click to copy email).
Scheduling Online Meetings
To schedule a Zoom online meeting for your committee or program group, contact Rina Schunk (admin@fusw.org) with the purpose, date, and time you need, as well as information you want included in the Scoop. Rina will check availability, schedule the calendar, and send you the invitation link.
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The Scoop e-newsletter is sent out each week. Have news to share? Submit articles to our administrator, Rina Schunk, at admin@fusw.org by Tuesday at noon. To schedule events on the FUSW Calendar, contact Rina Schunk at admin@fusw.org
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We are a liberal religious community
shaping the world in our image of love
Deepening Spirituality · Nurturing Community · Advancing Justice
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