Unitarian Universalist
Church of the
North Hills
Nourish your spirit. Celebrate life. Cherish the connectedness of all things.
Newsletter
Thursday - March 23, 2023

INTERCOM

Sunday - March 26, 2023
10:30am (EDT)
Humanist Theory of the Blues
James Clarke

James Clarke, a UU seminarian and aspiring music chaplain will lead us on an exploration of the blues’ spirituality, with an emphasis on its implications for the responsible search for truth and meaning. Understanding the blues, in turn, can help us more mindfully navigate the tension between comedy and tragedy, particularly when dealing with grief and trauma.
Faith Development for Children (PreK- 6th) 10:45am – 11:30am
PLEASE MAKE NOTE OF THIS CHANGE
The Office Admin will be out of the office from Wednesday, April 5 - Monday, April 10.

The E-News for the week of April 3rd will sent out on Tuesday, April 4 instead of Thursday of said week. All submissions for that E-News mailing must be sent to office@uucnh.org by Friday morning March 31 at the latest.

The OOS for Sunday, April 9 will be printed on Tuesday, April 4. All April 9 OOS draft info must be sent to office@uucnh.org by Friday, morning March 31st at the latest.

Any questions please contact the Office Admin at office@uucnh.org.

Thank you.
UNDER THE PRESIDENT'S TREE
This week, I’ve been thinking a lot about the parallels between church life and my professional life as a product manager, particularly as they relate to agility. And then I thought about essays from my school days that might begin with, “The dictionary defines ‘agility’ as…” and I inwardly groaned. 

While I won’t subject you to such a cliché, it seems that change is inevitable at work and at church. How we respond matters. 

Over the past year, I’ve developed somewhat of a zen philosophy in both cases. At work, do we have the right team in place to do the work? Are we communicating well? Are we able to pivot if something we thought was crucial has been proven not so? 

At church, similar questions come into my mind, and the answers all relate back to this beloved community. There's energy in the air. It’s palpable. I can feel our momentum building, and it feels like we are moving in the right direction. As ever, the journey feels more important than the destination.

I’ve been participating in UUA training with our Covenantal Relations team, now referred to by the UUA as the Right Relationship Team. We’ve connected with UUs from all over the country, via Zoom. Whenever I encounter other UUs in these situations, it makes me excited for the future. 

Speaking of the future, you may have heard some buzz about the Article II Study Commission. The linked website from the UUA contains a wealth of information about the process and next steps. Per the website, our current Principles and Purposes were last revised in 1987. There have been smaller changes proposed over the years, culminating in this current effort to look at Article II holistically. I’m hoping we will have an opportunity to discuss this as a congregation soon, but in the meantime, I encourage everyone to review the materials with an open mind and an open heart. 

Jen Suehr
STEWARDSHIP THANK YOU!
If you haven't submitted your pledge yet, you're welcome to either fill out one of the yellow cards and put them in the wooden box in Friendship Hall, OR you can submit your pledge electronically. Your financial support is what keeps this community moving toward the future. Thank you! 
MYSTERY PALS IN APRIL - SIGN UP NOW
Mystery Pals is back! This popular multi-generational activity provides an opportunity for children and adults in the congregation to get to know one another and form new relationships. Pals exchange clues about themselves via code names over four weeks and eventually reveal themselves at a fun party.
 
On March 26th, children and adults can sign up to participate at a table set up in Friendship Hall. If you prefer, or are unable to sign up on these Sundays, you can also use the Mystery Pals Sign Up below. The deadline for sign ups is March 26th!
 
During the week of March 26th, you will be emailed the code name of your mystery pal. You both will have a mail slot in the large purple file organizer located in Friendship Hall near the lift. During the month of April, you will leave notes, puzzles or other clues about your REAL identity in your Mystery Pal's mail slot (it will have their code name written on it). Your Mystery Pal will leave notes, puzzles or other clues about their REAL identity in your mail slot (it will have your code name written on it). On April 30th at 12:00pm, we will have a Mystery Pal Reveal and Ice Cream Social where you will learn the REAL identity of your Mystery Pal!
 
Questions? Contact Dawn Lindsay or Dana Poss.
4TH SUNDAY FORUM
Will meet on Sunday, March 26, by Zoom and in the East Room:  Russia – but not just Russia! After more than a year of brutality, the violence continues. It is tempting – but perhaps too easy – to credit all of the bloodshed to a specific demonic leader. After all, that part of the world has a long history of autocratic governments. Is there such a thing as a Slavic national temperament? Did the Western nations’ handling of the fall of the USSR play into this situation? What about the significant rise of autocratic, nationalistic sentiment in our own society? And how do we square these realities with our 1st, 2nd and 6th Principles? Join us as we ponder how to think and feel about the turmoil in our world. As always, feel free to contact Dick Myers with questions and/or to be added to the email list for additional information.  
 
Meeting ID: 895 1948 7832
Password: 200829
FABULOUS FLEA MARKET
UUCNH Craft Group presents…
A Fabulous Flea Market!
Here is another mystery item from among the Unusual, Beautiful and Baffling Treasures you will find at the June 2nd and 3rd Fabulous Flea Market! (Note the quarter for scale.)

We received three correct answers to last week's Baffling photo. Yes, those round blue items were reusable, stretchy lids to cover bowls and jars. You can buy these handy items from one of our vendors on June 2 and 3.

Members and friends of UUCNH are invited to become vendors ($10 to rent a table + 20% of your proceeds go to support UUCNH). Please contact Flea Market if you are interested.
SHARE THE PLATE FOR MARCH
The Share the Plate recipient for March will be UU Justice PA (UUJPA). The mission of UUJPA is to pursue justice by voting, advocating and making just public policies. Its vision is one where Unitarian Universalists in PA are aware of justice issues and are called to speak and take action. Our Systemic Change Team members attend the various Justice Teams including: Gun Violence, Environmental Justice, Good Government, Criminal Justice Reform, Reproductive Justice, and Economic Justice.

You may donate to STP by March 31st in the following ways: 1) Place cash or check in the BLUE envelope in the offering plate during Sunday services; 2) Mail a check to the church office; or 3) Go to the church website's Donation Page and select Special Offerings. Checks should be made payable to UUCNH, with "Share the Plate" or "UUJPA" in the memo line. If using the website Donation Page, please be sure to include the words "Share the Plate" and/or "UUJPA" when making your donation. 

Share the Plate totals are not fully tabulated by the end of the month but will be shared when available. Thank you for your patience and your generosity!
WEEKLY CONNECTIONS
Zoom with UUCNH Friends - CLICK HERE
This drop-in connection will be held every Tuesday at 3:30pm-4:30 pm and will be led by Michael Horwitz. Click the link above to join the Zoom meeting. Login is the same each week:

Vespers - with Reverend John Ballance - CLICK HERE
Join us for a Vespers service every Wednesday starting at 7:00pm. The formal part of vespers will end at 7:30, but the Zoom link will remain open until 8:00 so that participants who wish to remain longer can converse informally about what’s going on in their lives. Please join us (and invite others to join us as well!) as we continue to nurture our bonds with one another.
SYSTEMIC CHANGE TEAM CREATING CHANGE
Upcoming
  • March 23rd, March for our Lives and CeasefirePA will gather in Harrisburg to rally for gun safety and attend a Judiciary Committee Public Hearing on gun bills. Join other UUs on the free bus from St. Paul’s UMC, Allison Park. Sign up here 
  • March 29 & May 23, team members will volunteer for a Junior Achievement project to provide civic education to area students. 
  • April 15th at 7PM, Rabbi Pollock will bring the “History of Corruption in Harrisburg” to UUCNH at 11:30 AM, First UU at 7 PM and April 16 to UU Erie & Ginger HIll UU. Sign Up here to help us estimate snacks or just come 
  •  April 20th at 7 PM The Faith in Action Forum, “Human Trafficking in Western PA” will be held by zoom. All are invited. See Flyer and Sign Up here
 
Ongoing 
  •    Lend a hand for Economic Justice. Send a postcard after Sunday Services! 
  •   PIIN: Book study group “White Too Long” by Robert P. Jones
 
Email Liz Perkins for monthly meeting zoom link, for more info, and/or for helping with any of our activities. The next SCT Meeting is on Mon, Apr 3 at 7:30 pm on Zoom.
NHCO PERSONAL CARE COLLECTION
North Hills Commumity Outreach (NHCO) is collecting new personal care items now through mid-April. SNAP (Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program) benefits cannot be used to purchase personal care items. These items are a necessity, and can be an expense that many low-income families cannot afford. NHCO collects these items and provides them to families and individuals through their food pantries. 

Please drop off donations in the blue bin next to the food pantry in Friendship Hall. Unscented or gender neutral scents are preferred.

Thanks for your generosity!
CAPTAL CAMPAIGN UPDATES
The March Status Summary is a prioritized project list and cost breakdown. The February Update is a detailed discussion of our progress to date and the January Update is the slides we presented at the Congregational meeting on January 29, 2023. Please preview each informative updates from the Capital Campaign Team.
ASSISTANCE FOR GA ATTENDANCE
Connections team is offering assistance for GA attendance

The UUA General Assembly is in Pittsburgh this year. What better way to connect with UU's from around the country. The Connections team would like to help members of UUCNH to attend, so we have created two $300 scholarships to help individuals in need to pay their registration fee.  This can be given to either an adult or a youth.  If you are interested in receiving a scholarship please contact Connections Team.
JOYS AND SORROWS
No new Joys or Sorrows listed this week.
Note: There are times when you may not be able to share during a service, but want the Congregation to know what is on your heart. In that instance, just contact a member of the Lay Pastoral Care Team (LPCT) in person or submit your Joys & Sorrows electronically by clicking here. Once submitted, the form is sent to all LPCT members. (Chris Hill, Ruth Horwitz, Susan Powers, Lynn Richards, Lynne Herchenroether). Please be sure to submit your item by NOON on Saturday at the latest, so we get it in time for Service. Also, LPCT emails forward to all members of the team. We welcome your sharing and would be honored to carry forth your message.
UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS
Click your calendar choice below, then choose to view by list, day, week, or month.
UU Church of the North Hills
2359 West Ingomar Road
Pittsburgh, PA 15237
Phone: 412-366-0244