Upcoming Events

• Friday, November 25, 7:30pm, Evening Women’s Group ~ Contact Diane Guernsey (dianeguernsey.uu@gmail.com).

• Friday, November 25, 7:30pm, Men’s Group ~ Contact Paul Gross (pgross@pulsevoices.org) or Art Lowenstein (artlowenstein48@gmail.com).

• Friday, December 2, 12:30pm, First Friday Women’s Group ~ Contact Theresa Reynolds (ntdelise@optonline.net) or Marilee Scheuneman (marilee@scheuneman.com) for additional details.

• Saturday, December 3, 10:00am, Meditation ~ Contact June Sidman (junesey2010@yahoo.com).

Upcoming Worship

• Sunday, November 27, 10:00am Worship “Living in the Storm: Sailing Toward the Dawn” ~ Gross/Guernsey Program Group

• Sunday, December 4, 10:00am Worship “TBA” ~ Rev. Arlin Roy

Guest in our Pulpit

The Rev. Dr. Barbara Wells ten Hove started her ministry at East Shore Unitarian Church in Bellevue, WA, in 1985 and since then has served congregations in Washington, Colorado, Maryland, and British Columbia. She and her husband Jaco (longtime friend of Betsy Kates) retired in 2017 as Emeritus Ministers from Cedars UU Church on Bainbridge Island, WA, and are now happily enjoying life in Bellingham, WA. While her focus in ministry was on worship and UU evangelism, in retirement she preaches, writes, sings, volunteers at hospice, and does “noble chores” at her co-housing community.

Food Collection this Sunday

Pre-Thanksgiving Food Collection and Share the Plate, Sunday, November 20, during the worship service

Our service this Sunday will include a special collection of food and household staples to go to the Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry. We will also donate all the cash in the collection plate to the Food Pantry. We ask everyone who is able to please attend in person, and to bring a donation of nonperishable foods/household staples. If you can’t attend in person, never fear! You can place a donation of nonperishable items in the Food Pantry bin located outside of South Presbyterian Church, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry. Or you can donate directly at the Dobbs Food Pantry website: https://dobbsferrypantry.org/donate.

Coffee Hour Refreshments

FUSW Refreshments at South Church Coffee Hour, Sunday, November 20 

The FUSW congregation has offered to provide refreshments for the coffee hour after the service at South Church this Sunday. If you are attending in person, please bring baked goods or other tasty items to share, and leave them in the kitchen before the worship service.

Sing in the FUSW Choir

FUSW Choir, Sunday, November 27, Rehearsal 9:15am, South Church

Come join the FUSW Choir! Under the direction of Richard Slade, we will be singing a simple and lovely piece at next Sunday's worship. We gather at South Church at 9:15 am that morning to rehearse for the service, which begin at 10:00am.

Message from Rev. Arlin Roy

Mixed Feelings

With a lot of mixed feelings of grief, sadness, resentment, and anxiety, we have sold the shell that was once the home for our spiritual searching and fellowship. After Hurricane Ida ripped into our home, we responded with the committed strength and vigor that dwelling in our home had built up for us. Many people turned out to clean and throw things away; many worked long hours in the mud and stink. I like that Tim Lamorte, the Rivertowns Enterprise reporter, greeted me with: “You are the dirtiest minister I’ve ever met.” I wasn’t even the dirtiest or most fatigued. You were amazing.

It was an accomplishment last week to sell a building that no longer securely sheltered us. Several people worked long hours to make it possible. I feel grateful to those who worked hard for months to free us from what had become an unhelpful anchor. However, I didn’t hear a lot of celebrating. That is only normal — we don’t yet have a place that helps us nurture each other.

I am impressed that we are still vital, still moving forward. We have three subcommittees, suggested by the Future Committee, working on real estate, finances, and leadership decisions. Exciting, isn’t it? Maybe not exciting in the way a roller coaster gets the blood pumping, or a long vacation in an interesting country invites exploration. Maybe exciting in the way putting one cement block on another and mortaring them into place is exciting — exacting, reasonable, painstaking work. Helpful and necessary planning, and it builds for the future. Work is necessary for us to gather together and then move out into the community. Once established in a home, we can better advance our principles in the world. It is frustrating to have to build our internal structure again. Our principles call us to search for truth and meaning, to advance justice and equity, to feed the hungry and house the poor and oppressed. Advancing our principles has not been abandoned. We are still searching for truth and meaning; we still feed the poor and worry about the oppressed. We just need a home base that makes it more possible, more fulfilling.

Party Invitation

Advent Party, Sunday, December 4, 4:00pm, South Church, 343 Broadway, Dobbs Ferry

Our friends at South Church invite us to join their celebration, with crafts, cocoa, and camaraderie, featuring carol singing and Christmas tree lighting, RSVP: South Church at 914-693-6473, office@southpres.org. Click here for the Advent Party flyer.

Illumination Volunteers Wanted

FUSW Hospitality at the Grand Holiday Illumination, Thursday, December 22, 4:00 - 8:00pm, Untermyer Gardens, 945 North Broadway, Yonkers

This year FUSW will again volunteer one evening to provide hospitality at this annual celebration of lights, by greeting and pouring hot chocolate for visitors. We have two shifts: 4:00-6:00pm and 6:00-8:00pm. Please join our team for one of the shifts — it’s lots of fun! Contact Marilee Scheuneman (marilee@scheuneman.com) and let her know which shift you’d like. Learn more at untermyergardens.org.

Transgender Day of Remembrance

UUA Transgender Day of Remembrance Ceremony, Friday, November 18, 4:00pm ET, on Zoom - register for link

Sunday, November 20 is Transgender Day of Remembrance (TDOR), memorializing the trans and non-binary people who have died by violent means in the preceding year. The Unitarian Universalist Association invites all to a virtual TDOR Ceremony two days earlier, to honor the lives lost in 2022, and to celebrate the resilience of the transgender community as we grieve together, worship together, and recommit to moving together in solidarity. Register to receive the Zoom link: https://bit.ly/UUA-TransDayofRemembrance2022

It's a Small World...

If you are at South Presbyterian Church this month, take a moment to walk the Donald Gallery in the hallway between the sanctuary and Fellowship Hall. The Rivertowns artist whose work is featured is Charles Green - brother of FUSW bookkeeper Rita Ruotolo! Charles (or Chuck, as his little sister calls him) is a self-taught painter and native of Ardsley, who exclusively depicts seascapes. His work will be on display through Sunday, November 27.

Is There Room at Your Thanksgiving Table?

Make a place for an international student! Expand cultural understanding and help promote world peace one student and host at a time. A wonderful experience for children and youth! Members of Community UU Congregation at White Plains have been participating in this program since 2015, and have found it a fun and inspiring experience. Call, text, or email Jane Dixon and she'll be happy to answer any questions you might have (lilrhodie@gmail.com, 914-370-0760). All participating students will be fully vaccinated.

UUA Invites Your Feedback

UUA Article II Study Commission, Proposed Changes to Article II, Google Feedback Link, available through Monday, November 28 

Significant changes are being proposed to Article II of the UUA by-laws, which includes our 7 principles and 6 sources. So that we can live into the Unitarian Universalism of the future, an Article II Study Commission was created, and they are excited to share their draft of a new Article II. They invite you to read it, reread it, and offer your feedback by using their online Google form. For more information, read this message from our UUA Central East Region.

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).

The Board of Trustees usually meets on the third Tuesday of each month. Meetings begin at 7:30pm. We are currently meeting online. Meetings are open to any member of FUSW. If the Board enters into executive session to discuss personnel or confidential matters, non-Board members will be asked to leave for that portion of the meeting. At the end of the meeting there will be an open forum, moderated by the President, during which non-Board members can speak about topics of concern. We ask that you limit your remarks to two minutes. This forum will last from five to ten minutes, depending on the Board agenda. Please contact any Board member if you have questions or comments. To access the minutes from previous meetings, visit the Members page of fusw.org and click on Board Minutes Archive. Click here to join our meeting on Zoom.

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.

The Scoop e-newsletter is sent out each week. Have news to share? Submit articles to our administrator, Rina Schunk (admin@fusw.org), by Wednesday at 10:00am. To schedule events on the FUSW Calendar, contact Rina Schunk at admin@fusw.org