605 Morewood Avenue
  Pittsburgh, PA 15213-2999
  412-621-8008

UU Chalice
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WELCOME!



Sunday Morning Services

at 9:30 and 11:00am

Chalice
(newsletter pdf)

Calendar (pdf)

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Get to Know Us

First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh has been providing a liberal religious presence in Pittsburgh since 1890. We are located at the corner of Morewood and Ellsworth Avenues in Shadyside.

The heart of our mission is to promote love, reason and freedom in religion, to foster lifelong spiritual growth, and to act for social justice. We encourage seekers of all faiths, nationalities, races, genders, ages, abilities and sexual orientations to visit our congregation. We hope that you will find the spiritual home that you are seeking.

We are a religious community founded on individual freedom with responsibility and openness to truth wherever it may be found. In the fullest expression of our faith, we seek to support each other in the quest for meaning, in the celebration and enrichment of our common life and in our commitment to enhance the quality of life for all.  Guided by individual conscience and wisdom from many sources, we gather in worship and service to nourish the spirit, work for justice, and celebrate the divine in all.

View Voices of a Liberal Faith to get started!

In May at First Unitarian Church

Sunday Celebrations & Events

Sunday, May 4, 2008—9:30 & 11:00 AM

A True Unitarian Universalist Holiday
Jeff Liebmann, Student Minister

In the1870's, Unitarian writer and reformer Julia Ward Howe saw the Franco-Prussian War as "a return to barbarism, the issue having been one which might easily have been settled without bloodshed." She began a one-woman peace crusade and initiated a Mothers' Peace Day observance on the second Sunday in June. Her idea spread, but was later replaced by the Mothers' Day holiday now celebrated in May. Perhaps the time has come to reconsider this truly Unitarian Universalist holiday and reclaim its original purpose. Perhaps the time has come to sound forth the trumpet of peace and never call retreat.

9:30 am Forum - Circumcision -The Reality. Ron Miller, PhD.


Saturday, May 10, 2008

4 - 7 pm Afternoon of Fellowship, Food, Beer

An interesting selection of beers, non-alcoholic beverages, savories, sweets, and musical entertainment will be provided. Proceeds will benefit the music program. This year’s beer selection will include lagers and ales from Bavaria to Belgium. See Chalice for details.

8pm - Folk Orchestra Concert

Emily Pinkerton, conductor of the Folk Orchestra. Emily will be accompanied by Trish Imbrogno and Ryan Durkopp. Emily performs music drawn from many different folk traditions, including songs and tunes from the Appalachian region of the United States as well as songs and tunes from the Andes Mountains of South America. $10 donation is requested, but no charge for students and children.


Sunday, May 11, 2008—9:30 & 11:00 AM—Mothers’ Day

Rev. David Herndon

We will be observing Mothers' Day this morning.

9:30 am Forum - Quest: A New Charter School for Pittsburgh. Michael and Carolyn Glass.


Saturday, May 17, 2008

9am - 12noon - Community Service Project for the Entire Church Family - Frick Environmental Center

The Social Justice Committee and Children and Youth Ministries invite all ages to Frick Environmental Center (FEC) on Saturday, May 17th from 9:00 AM to noon for a fun and rewarding activity of pulling invasive garlic mustard plants off of Meadow Trail on Clayton Hill. We will provide all necessary supplies and refreshments. Meet at the old fountain at the entrance to the park at the end of the parking lot. There will be signs directing people who are late.


Sunday, May 18, 2008—9:30 & 11:00 AM—Annual Meeting Sunday

The Medium and the Message
Jeff Liebmann, Student Minister

In the 1960's, educator and philosopher Marshall McLuhan called our attention to the relationship between the communication media and its content. His famous slogan, "the medium is the message," helped launch a new wave of academic study of the media and its effects on society. But McLuhan did not limit the notion of "medium" strictly to forms of communication such as television. All religions have a saving message. What is the unique saving message of the medium we call Unitarian Universalism?

9:30 am Forum - An Architectural Tour of Downtown Pittsburgh. Ray Schinhofen.

4:00 pm - Annual Meeting.  All members and friends are invited; voting members are especially encouraged to attend.


Sunday, May 25, 2008—9:30 & 11:00 AM—Memorial Sunday

Rev. David Herndon

We will be observing Memorial Day this morning.

9:30 am Forum -
Let Bygones be Bygones: Burials and Bereavement. Lowell Swarts Funeral Consumers Alliance of Western PA (formerly the Pittsburgh Memorial Society).


Saturday, May 31, 2008

7pm - Flight of Fantasy Auction

With the inimitable Dave Russell as auctioneer and a varied set of offerings, our auctions have been great fun in the past, and this one is shaping up to be a social highlight of the year.  And to insure success, we hope that you -- yes, you -- will donate a dinner, or exciting event, or helpful service to be in the Chinese auction, silent auction, or the live auction.


Sunday, June 1—9:30 & 11:00 AM—Moving Up Sunday


Missed a Service?

MP3 recordings of recent sermons now online.


Religious Education for Children and Youth

We offer classes during both our 9:30 and 11:00 am Sunday services. At the 9:30 am service there are classes from preschool through 6th grade. At the 11:00 am service there are preschool through Senior High classes.

Classes run concurrently with the service. Every Sunday at both 9:30 and 11:00 am children up to 7th grade attend the first part of the service with their families and are dismissed to class after 15-20 minutes.


Social Justice Council

The Purpose of the Social Justice Council is to aid members in translating First Church’s mission statement “to foster a more compassionate and just world and to affirm and promote justice equity and compassion” and its covenanted “goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all” into action with and on behalf of the church. The Social Justice Council provides opportunities for awareness and action for issues at the Congregational, Regional, Denominational, and International level.

See First Unitarian Social Action brochure, Web Calendar and this month's Chalice newsletter for events and meetings.


The Unitarian Universalist Community on Campus

Welcome college students! The Unitarian Universalist Community on Campus (UUCC) meets most Wednesday evenings throughout the school year at 8:00pm at First Unitarian Church. Learn more about Unitarian Universalism, make new friendships, get involved in community service and social action and be with a welcoming and supportive group of Pitt and CMU students.

The First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh also invites you to join us for regular Sunday services throughout the year. You will find like-minded people, stimulating programs, wonderful music and opportunities to become involved with the larger UU community.

Call or email Devon Wood, Membership, Communications, & Campus Ministry Coordinator (412)621-8008 ext. 119, uuchurchpgh@yahoo.com, for information.

See UUCC Pittsburgh website for calendar and events. Or, subscribe to the UUCC list: http://lists.uuyan.org/listinfo/uucc.

We'll look forward to seeing you!



From Our Minister, Reverend David Herndon


On Friday, April 4, and Saturday, April 5, our church hosted the 2008 District Assembly for the Ohio-Meadville District. I thought that we did a splendid job! Many volunteers and church staff members contributed to the success of this event, preparing and serving the meals, providing home hospitality, performing music, leading workshops, welcoming those who attended, serving as delegates, making the building look attractive and clean, arranging for child care, purchasing equipment, providing transportation, and taking care of numerous other details. I very much appreciate the contributions of everyone on the following list. (Unfortunately, I have not yet been able to get an accurate list of everyone who sang with the Sanctuary Choir. If have inadvertently left your name out of this list, but you sang with the choir or contributed in some other way, please let me know and we can find another way to include you on this list!)
Stacey Atwell-Keister
Angelika Aziz
Jim Bain
Madeline Bain
Bill Bartolme & Wood Street Bread
Jennifer Basarab
Bonnie Bayne
Robert Bayne
Tom Bellucci
Sue Bialostosky
Charlie Butler
Ann Cloutier
Margot Critchfield
Gary Crouth
Ken Doyno
Cheryl Dunn
Ebe Emmons-Apt
Denice Galpern
Neal Galpern
Rita Gates
Diane Gibson
Kay Gordon

Dana Grande
Jennifer Halperin
Eileen Hastings
Stuart Hastings
Kathryn Hens-Greco
Sam Hens-Greco
Jeanne Herbert
Meredith Herndon
Lois Hurt
Ben Junker
Brian Junker
Toby Junker
Mary Ruth Kelsey
Ward Kelsey
Cindy Kirsch
Dan Laity
Bill Larson
Michael LaRue
Jeff Liebmann
Mary Livengood
Joan Lotze
Michael Lotze
Phillip Lyons
Jane MacLeod
John McCarter
Kensie McElfresh
Mary Pat Mengato
Chris Doreian Michaels
Richard Michaels
Chris Milcarek
Allison Murray
Chas Murray
Raeann Olander-Murray
Kathy Parker
Jennifer Parsons
Carol Perfetti
Liz Perkins
Jean Peterson
Emily Pinkerton
Melody Platz
Gena Porto
Warwick Powell
Serena Quinsland
Brian Ramsey

Bari Roman
Sandy Roman
Alex Rose
David Russell
Julia Sawyer
Mary Schafer
Mary Schinhofen
Ray Schinhofen
Jean Schmidt
Martin Schmidt
Bill Schuetz
Pat Schuetz
Alison Schwartz
Rob Schwartz
Jeri Spann
Kurt Summersgill
Irma Tani
Judy Wagner
JoAnne Wagstaff
Milt Wolfson
Jenny Wolsk-Bain
Devon Wood

Many thanks to everyone on this list! Approximately one fourth of our total membership helped with District Assembly in one way or another. We can all be very pleased with our collective effort!

See you in church!

David

If you are not currently on our email distribution list to receive occasional email notices about church events, please send your email address to David Herndon at dherndon@first-unitarian-pgh.org.

 



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