Join us this Sunday
10:30 a.m. Service:  Grace. This year’s auction sermon. Rev. Celie Katovitch.

9:15 a.m. Drop-in Discussion:  Women’s Reproductive Health in 2017. Stephanie Gerspacher, public affairs organizer at Planned Parenthood of Central & Western New York, will discuss policy concerning women’s reproductive health in 2017. She will touch on state and federal issues impacting reproductive rights and freedom.
Upcoming Events
The Garden Committee Needs Your Help! - May 18

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On the morning of May 18, rain or shine, the City will be delivering a load of wood chips for the paths around our Community Garden.  Help is needed to move the chips from the sidewalk area to the garden area, and then spread the chips evenly.  Email Sarah Singal ssingal@rochester.rr.com if you can help.

Participants should come prepared with work gloves, shovel or rake, and a tarp if you have one.
Mindfulness and Meditation - May 20
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"Back by popular demand” – More exploration of Mindfulness and Meditation, and why Buddhist psychology is taking westerners by storm. Why it’s not about religion or faith, it’s about how we think. We’ll explore some of the world’s leading thinkers and luminaries who can guide us through troubling mindsets to a place of inner peace: it’s not your grandmother’s chicken soup, but it’s close! Saturday, May 20th, 9:30–noon.  Sign up on the bulletin board in the Clara Barton Lounge, or email Joy Leccese at coachingjoy@gmail.com. 

Congregational Vote - May 21

On Sunday,  May 21st the congregation will vote to accept or not accept the Faith In Action Council recommendation that we work with the social issue racism as our project for Social Justice the next two years.

The FIAC team (Joy Leccese, Heather Jones, Becky Elwell)  encourages you to step up - determine and participate in the activities that help us to better impact individual, institutional and systemic racism.  By understanding our history, we can better understand the present.

When the social justice issue is accepted by the congregation a project team will be assembled to plan the effort.  As stated by Martin Luther King Jr., “Faith is taking the first step even when you don’t see the whole staircase.” We plan on our beloved community to help begin building the staircase.
Calling All Musicians!
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Our summer services will be starting on June 25, and music for those services is provided by volunteer musicians.  Could you be one of them?  Even if you have just one piece you’ve always wanted to try to perform, we’ll make a time and place for you to do it, whatever your voice or instrument.  Please contact the summer music coordinator, Ann Rhody at annrhody@gmail.com for more information.
Additional Announcements

COMMUNITY OFFICE HOURS:  Rev. Celie will be offering extended community office hours on Wednesday, May 17th, 10-noon at New Roots Coffeehouse in Greece. There will be no Minister's Community Office Hours at Java's on May 18th.

UU COMMON READ BOOK DISCUSSION: Continues May 18th from 6-8pm in the Chalice Room. The Third Reconstruction: Moral Mondays, Fusion Politics, and the Rise of a New Justice Movement, by Rev. Dr. William J. Barber II with Jonathan Wilson-Hartgrove. Please contact Rev. Michelle at edu@uuroc.org with questions and interest.

FLOWER COMMUNION: This year, our beloved UU ritual of Flower Communion will take place on Sunday, June 4th. The same Sunday, there will also be an opportunity for a Child Dedication. Dedication is a beautiful UU ritual of blessing that welcomes children into the life of the congregation. If you would like your child to participate, please let Rev. Celie know (minister@uuroc.org) by May 21st.

SPECIAL BOOK SALE ON MAY 21st:  There will be a special sale of three boxes of high-quality books donated by David Markham in the Clara Barton lounge during coffee hour on Sunday, May 21.

SOCIAL JUSTICE PLATE OFFERING:  Our collection on May 21st will go to GIRLS ROCK! Rochester. This organization is a rock n' roll camp geared towards empowering girls and trans youth through music and using creativity and performance as tools for cultivating self-confidence. Further information can be obtained by visiting girlsrockrochester.org.  

SAVE THE DATE:  May 21st - Please support Roc/ACTS by attending the Roc/ACTS "Fun-raiser" at  St. John the Evangelist Church Hall. For details, please see Becky Elwell or Shirley Bond.

INTERFAITH ALLIANCE OF ROCHESTER:  Annual Celebration - "Deportation, the Ban and the Wall: Unwelcoming the Stranger."  Panel Presentation and Discussion.  Sunday, May 21, 3-5 p.m. at the Linehan Chapel, Golisano Academic CEnter, Nazareth College.  Free and open to the public.

BOOK GROUP: The book group has chosen The Girls of Atomic City by Denise Kiernan as our choice for the May 28th book discussion. It is the untold story of the WOMEN who helped win World War II. If you have not heard of the Manhattan Project, you will be pleased to know that our very own Ruth Fitzgerald worked on the project and has graciously agreed to tell us about her experience.

FUNERAL PLANNING WORKSHOP: Wednesday, May 31st, 6:30-8:00 p.m. in the Clara Barton Lounge. Join Funeral Consumers Alliance of Greater Rochester (FCAGR) President Marcy Klein, board members Reverend Peggy Meeker and Elizabeth Osta, and Reverend Celie Katovich for an evening of suggestions and support for these difficult conversations. You'll even get to fill out a form you can provide to next of kin with your plans in place. Reserve your place now and look forward to checking this niggling need off your bucket list. Sign up in the Clara Barton Lounge or by contacting Elizabeth Osta (elizabethosta@gmail.com) or 585-451-5822.

UUA GENERAL ASSEMBLY: The UUA General Assembly will be held in New Orleans this year from June 21st ‒ 25th. Details are on the UUA website at www.uua.org/ga/program/schedule. Everyone who has gone raves about what a wonderful experience it is. If you are interested in attending, please speak with Shirley Bond and she will answer your questions or point you in the right direction.

VOLUNTEER FOR RAIHN* WEEK:  During RAIHN Week, June 25-July 2, we will turn our church into a home for temporarily homeless families. To volunteer, sign up in the lounge after church on Sunday, or contact Chris DeGolyer, chrisdeg@frontiernet.net if you have questions. A training session for first time RAIHN volunteers will be held on Wednesday, June 7th, 6:30-8:30 PM at St. Paul's Episcopal Church, 25 Westminster Rd.,(corner of East Avenue), Rochester. Even if you can't attend training, you are welcome to help with set up or other tasks.  If you would like to learn more before volunteering, we have opportunities to "shadow" experienced volunteers. *Rochester Area Interfaith Hospitality Network: keeping families together. Getting families home for good.
To submit an item for "This Week at First Universalist", e-mail  office@uuroc.org no later than Thursday at noon.  
Staff:

Rev. Celie Katovitch, Minister

Rev. Michelle Yates, Director of Life Span Faith Development

Stacey Yang, Director of Music

Melissa Davies, Office Administrator
150 S. Clinton Ave., Rochester, NY 14604 | (585) 546-2826 | office@uuroc.org