Congregational work for the environment is the subject of a district Social Justice Council survey available at http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MDJKQHM.
The St. Lawrence District Survey of Environmental Work and Needs responds to "The Green Revolution in Religion" resolution passed at General Assembly this year. The resolution calls for a UU environmental action plan and a report on the progress of the Green Sanctuary program, both to be presented at next year's General Assembly.
The SJC invites ministers, lay leaders, and any interested members of SLD congregations to fill out the survey, to join the UU Ministry for Earth, and to plan to attend the fifth annual district Social Justice Conference, "Rethinking Social Justice Issues Within an Eco-Justice Moral Framework," October 30 at May Memorial UU Society in Syracuse. For more information about the GA resolution, the survey, and the conference, read "News from the UU General Assembly" on our Social Justice Council page here.
- E. A.
Posted 7/21/10
On July 1, 2010 a new level of service delivery is being inaugurated by the Central East Regional Group (CERG) which is a cooperative venture among the Joseph Priestley District, the Ohio-Meadville District, the St. Lawrence District, the Metro New York District and the Unitarian Universalist Association. The four districts have decided to share regional program staff in the following arenas - Growth, Life Span Faith Development, and Leadership Development. In addition there is a part time Communications staff member to assist in web based communications. Karen LoBracco and Karen Palmer are currently representing the St. Lawrence District on the CERG implementation team along with the District Executives and Presidents representing the other three districts.
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Posted 7/12/10
This is an exciting time in our District's life with numerous changes and new opportunities. Our work together this year as a District will definitely involve negotiating the challenges inherent with any transition. I thought it might be good to lay out the changes we expect will happen this year.
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Posted 7/9/10
CRUUNY: A Cluster on the Cutting Edge
Working together to grow the faith has made the Capital Region Unitarian Universalists of New York a cluster on the cutting edge, according to Kathy McGowan, chair of the group.
The four congregations in the cluster - Albany, Glens Falls, Schenectady and Saratoga Springs - are entering the second year of a media effort aimed at regional growth. Radio, television, direct mail, and internet ads brought three times the usual numbers of visitors to cluster congregations last year, McGowan says.
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Posted 7/5/10
UUA President Rev. Peter Morales
Speaks at CRUUNY Joint Service
photo by Don Porter
by Linda Way and Dave Munro
UUA President Rev. Peter Morales was the featured speaker at the second annual joint service of the Capital Region Unitarian Universalists of New York (CRUUNY) on Sunday, June 13th. More than 500 persons from the Albany, Schenectady, Saratoga and Glens Falls congregations filled the ballroom at the Saratoga Hilton for this special service/celebration, entitled "Sharing Beloved Community." During the Chalice Lighting, each congregation shared a few words about its contribution to the heritage of Unitarian Universalism in the Capital Region. The service featured a four congregation joint choir, a bridging ceremony for high school graduates, and the exciting introduction of a start up group with whom CRUUNY has begun to work to form a new congregation in Clifton Park. Additionally, the choir sang a very moving song entitled "To Love and Bless," written especially for this service by Michael Harrison, music director of the Saratoga congregation.
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Posted 6/22/10
Now More Than Ever, A Religion for Our Time
Rev. Peter Morales (photo by Don Porter)
by Linda Way and Dave Munro
After serving as president of the Unitarian Universalist Association for almost a year, Rev. Peter Morales told a group gathered at the First Unitarian Universalist Society of Albany, he is more convinced than ever that Unitarian Universalism is the religion for our time. Rev. Morales led a discussion for interested members of the four CRUUNY congregations the day before the joint service organized by the St. Lawrence District cluster.
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Posted 6/22/10
Western Cluster Marches in Buffalo Pride Parade
photo collage by Mark Flanders
Marching with church banners and carrying UU signs, members of the Western New York Cluster joined the Buffalo Pride Parade on Sunday, June 6.
The cluster was represented by marchers from the UU Church of Amherst, the UU Church of Buffalo, and the UU Church of East Aurora. Among their individual signs were those reading "I am Gay - I am UU," "I am a Free Thinker - I am UU," "I am Straight Ally - I am UU," and "I am Christian - I am UU."
Following the parade, members of the cluster staffed a table at the Pride Market, where they distributed information about Unitarian Universalism and UU churches in the Buffalo area. According to Mark Flanders, Board vice-chair of the East Aurora congregation, they handed out almost all of the material they had printed. "I'm hoping our churches will see some new interest from the community now that this information is out there," Flanders said. For more photos from the Parade and the Pride Market, see Mark Flanders' album.
Posted 6/14/10
