We livestream our in-person worship on Zoom.

From the Music Director

Johannes Brahms’s Quartet for Piano and Strings in G Minor, Op. 25 is considered one of the composer's first mature masterpieces. The wide-ranging emotional content seems to encapsulate the human experience from wonder, mystery, and tenderness to heroism, exultation, and merrymaking. The composer seems to explore the infinite potential of the smallest musical gestures, as the work unfolds through continuous variation and ongoing development. The four instruments interact like a microcosm for society, at times in dialogue, other times in strife, and in still others in joyous unity. 

The CUUC Choir is also on hand Sunday morning with Greg Gilpin’s “Why We Sing.” We invite everyone to stay for this afternoon’s Music at CUUC concert at 12:30 pm to hear the Brahms Quartet in its totality, as well as more music from our Choir and other gifted CUUC members... Read Adam's blog here

Meet Our Ministerial Candidate

Rev. Danielle Lindstrom comes to CUUC from the Olympia Brown UU Church in Racine, WI, where she has been the settled minister since 2021. Before that, she was minister at the Beacon UU Congregation in Troy, MI, and she has served the UU Church of Davis, CA, and the First UU Society of Newton, MA. She has a Master of Divinity (Cum Laude) from the Boston University School of Theology. Before entering seminary, she worked at the John Ball Zoo in Grand Rapids, MI, and earned a BA in anthropology. Rev. Danielle is visiting CUUC from April 20 to 28 for “Candidating Week.” We will host both committee meetings and informal opportunities for everyone to meet her, as well as two Sunday services that she will lead. After the April 28 service, a congregational meeting will be held for CUUC Members to vote to “call” Rev. Danielle as our next minister. The Search Committee asks all Members to attend the congregational meeting on April 28 (in person or on Zoom) and PLEASE wear name tags at ALL candidating week events!

Volunteer Day at Furniture Sharehouse

CUUC Volunteer Day at Furniture Sharehouse, Sat Apr 20, 10:00am-12:00pm, Building #3 Airport Road, Westchester County Airport, White Plains

Furniture Sharehouse provides free furniture to Westchester individuals and families in need, giving them the basic furnishings they need to live with dignity. Many times the recipients are victims of domestic violence rebuilding their lives. The CUUC Hunger and Homelessness team invites you to support the organization’s good works and put our congregation’s mission into action by joining them for two hours of volunteering for various tasks, from checking if a lamp works to rearranging light furniture. All ability levels are welcome and needed, including accompanied children ages 15 and older. Questions? Contact Scott Damashek (scottdamashek@gmail.com).

Congregation Brunch & "Meet Rev. Danielle" Q&A

Congregation Brunch, Sun Apr 21, about 11:15am, Fellowship Hall

We invite everyone to stay after worship to enjoy our congregation brunch to wrap up our Canvass campaign, to celebrate the first weekend with our candidate minister, Rev Danielle Lindstrom, and to enjoy a meal together before attending our Spring Concert. We'll have time during the brunch for Rev. Danielle to answer some of your questions (and maybe ask some of her own). Brunch Volunteers gratefully appreciated! Sign up at: bit.ly/CUUC-Brunch-SignUp.

Members - Before You Brunch...

CUUC Members, let's get the whole online directory up to date, to help our next minister learn our names and faces. This Sunday, stop by the membership table on the way to brunch to confirm or update your info. Or log in directly to the Online Member Directory (onrealm.org/CUUC/signin), put in your unique password (or follow prompts to reset), and check that everything is correct and that you included a photo or two of you and/or your family. If a change is needed, you can type it in. Or email Pam Parker (admin@cucwp.org) in the office, or see Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com) or Mary Cavallero (marycava4@gmail.com).

Spring Concert

Music at CUUC Concert: “Coming Together in Music,” Sun Apr 21, 12:30 pm, In Person and Live-Streamed @ bit.ly/Music-at-CUUC

Our spring concert will feature a number of instrumental and vocal ensembles performing an exciting variety of musical styles from Classical and Jazz, to Folk, Popular, and Broadway. Featuring CUUC Music Director Adam Kent at the piano, and the CUUC Choir, directed by Lisa N. Meyer with accompanist Georgianna Pappas. Suggested Donation: $20 | $10 Seniors and Students | $45 Families. Scan the QR Code or go to https://bit.ly/cuucwp_donate and select Music at CUUC in the dropdown menu to donate.

From Refugee Resettlement

Girl Scout cookies are here! If you ordered from Muqadas Ghafoor, the eleven-year-old daughter of the refugee family our congregation has helped resettle, we will have your cookie boxes available this Sun Apr 21 and also Sun Apr 28 in the RE lobby. Contact: Jane Dixon (lilrhodie@gmail.com)

Congregation Meeting & Member Vote

Congregation Meeting & Member Vote to Call the Minister, Sun Apr 28, Immediately after Worship, Sanctuary & Worship Zoom: bit.ly/CUUC-Worship

The Board of Trustees will call a meeting of the congregation for Sunday, April 28, 2024, immediately following the service at approximately 11:00am. The purpose of the meeting is to vote to call Rev. Danielle Lindstrom as the next settled Minister of Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains. Only Members are eligible to vote, either in person or via Zoom on April 28. A super quorum of 40% of the Membership must be present in order to hold the vote. This vote will authorize the chair of the Board of Trustees, Creighton Cray, to enter into a contract with Rev. Danielle. If you have questions, please contact Nicky Klemens (nsklemens@gmail.com)

Annual Giving Campaign Update - Final Push!

Our Canvass deadline of April 21st is almost here, but we have still not reached our $465,000 goal. With less than a week left, we are currently at 60% of our goal. That means, we still need $185,000 in order to fully fund our programming next year.

If you have not yet made your pledge, please consider what CUUC means for you and how you can help us meet our shared goal. Let us give our new minister the maximum financial flexibility when starting the new year.

To those of you who have pledged—most of whom have increased your annual giving amount by at least 5%—we send a BIG THANK YOU!

We are celebrating the end of the Canvass cycle with a brunch this Sunday, after service, which is open to everyone: members, friends, and visitors. Also, Rev. Danielle Lindstrom will be there for a Q&A.

For reasons to give, please watch the compelling testimonials of three dedicated CUUC-ers - Chris Kortlandt (at 15:10), Al Rocchi (09:27), and Alex Sehdeva (47:20) - and come hear thoughts from Neil Marchi this Sunday.

As we have shared, we want to continue paying our staff competitively and increase their salaries to account for inflation. We are also excited to fund our full range of vibrant programming.

To recap, there are three ways to pledge:

• Return the paper form to CUUC (in the stamped envelope provided)
• Submit your pledge online (cuucwp.org/giving)
• Email the treasurer directly (treasurercuucwp@gmail.com)

If you need extra time to decide on your pledge, please reach out to the treasurer. We will need all pledges by the end of April so that we can finalize our budget in May, ahead of the June vote.

Thank you for your generosity and commitment to our community.

The Canvass Team - Carolyn Hanson, Drew Swiss & Chris Kortlandt

From Environmental Practices Team

This Earth Month, there are many community events throughout Westchester designed to increase environmental awareness and advance our region's sustainability goals, including community cleanups, repair cafes, festivals and more! Through a variety of impactful initiatives, we all can make vital contributions to Westchester's health, prosperity, and resilience. Find a full list of activities here: sustainablewestchester.org/earthday2024.

From Racial Justice Team



Online Learning Session: “America's Housing History - Past and Present,” Thu May 2, 7:00-8:30pm, Zoom 7899

The Racial Justice Team will conduct a 90-minute online learning session on the history of housing discrimination and its impact on minority populations. We will also share current events and opportunities to make a positive impact on housing accessibility and affordability. No reading or other pre-work required; our goal is to expand everyone's comfort zone with learning about housing discrimination and how we can make a difference. Contact: Jeff Tomlinson (jefftomlinson8@gmail.com), Joe Majsak (jmajsak@verizon.net). Click here to see the Housing History flyer.

Save the Date

All-Ages Game Night, Sat May 11, 5:30pm, Fellowship Hall

Bring your favorite game, or come try someone else’s, or just enjoy an evening socializing in a relaxed setting as we get to know one another better. Come at 5:30 to chat and pick your game, share a pizza dinner together at 6:00 (or bring your own meal), and then get ready to play! Family and friends are always welcome. Suggested donation for pizza: $5/person or $10/family. To help us plan food, please sign up at bit.ly/CUUC_Game_Night_Signup, or use the QR code, or contact Audra Russell (audrar631@gmail.com).

Feeding Our Neighbors

Meals for HOPE, Mondays, 10:00am-2:00pm, CUUC Kitchen

Help us live our mission to engage in service to transform ourselves and our world - and have fun and enjoy good company while doing it. Sign up at: bit.ly/CUUC-HOPE-Cooking-Sign-up. Note to those who have wanted to help but are not available on Mondays, we will have a special Meals for HOPE cooking day on Sun Apr 28.

Our Faith Family

Celebration of Life for Ingrid Hartmann, Sat May 4, 11:00am, Sanctuary, Reception follows in Fellowship Hall

Longtime and much loved CUUC Member Ingrid Hartmann died on March 7, one week after her 88th birthday. We will gather to remember and celebrate her life.

Donate Your Used Eclipse Glasses

Donate so kids in Central America can experience their upcoming eclipse in August. You won't need them for 20 years, and if you save them you won't be able to find them! Just drop them in the box in the lobby. Contact: John Cavallero (jcwpny@gmail.com)

Share the Plate for March: Murray Grove

This month we share half our non-pledge collection with Murray Grove Retreat and Renewal Center, the only Unitarian Universalist conference center in the Metro area, and the site traditionally considered to be where Universalism in America began. Make checks to CUUC with the memo “Share the Plate - Murray Grove” and add to the plate or mail to the office. Or click here to pay online, and select “Share the Plate.” You may also select “Other” and type in “Murray Grove” if you'd like your full donation to go to the Center.