First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

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

Lifespan Faith Development

Adult Faith Development - Path to Social Responsibility

The Path to Social Responsibility includes opportunities for spiritual growth which focus on service, advocacy, ethics, current events, and social justice.

Encounters: A Workshop on Race, Ethnicity and Identity

Saturday, January 28, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Encountering others and reconciling with others are necessary steps in building multicultural community. What role does reconciliation play in the quality of our lives? Join Paula Cole Jones for this workshop which will focus on her recent book Encounters: Poems about Race, Ethnicity, and Identity (Skinner House Books, 2010). Paula is a dedicated, skilled, and experienced anti-racism trainer within the Unitarian Universalist community. Light refreshments will be served starting at 12:30 PM.

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The Death of Josseline

Tuesday, March 6, 7:30pm - 9:15pm

Based on Margaret Regan’s book The Death of Josseline: Immigrant Stories from the Arizona Borderlands (Beacon Press, 2010), this course will allow participants to read and discuss a collection of powerful and poignant stories about those directly involved with immigration in the Arizona borderlands: immigrants, activists, human rights workers, and border patrol agents. It draws the reader into the physical, economic, and above all, personal terrain of immigration in southern Arizona.

This one-session class will focus on the reader’s human and religious response to the stories from the border, rather than a political debate. This book was the “common read” for the Unitarian Universalist Association in 2011 in anticipation of and preparation for the 2012 General Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona, which will focus on immigration justice. Please read as much of the book as possible prior to the class. The book will be available at the Adult Faith Development sign-up table after Sunday worship services. This course is recommended for adults, young adults, and youth. Led by Jennifer Halperin.

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Training for Congregation-Based Community Organizing (CBCO)

Sunday, March 25 through Saturday, March 31
Villa Maria Retreat Center

First Unitarian Church is a member of the Pittsburgh Interfaith Impact Network (PIIN), which is a local affiliate of the Chicago-based Gamaliel Foundation. Through PIIN, members and friends of First Unitarian Church engage in community organizing around local social justice issues. Our Core Team leads the way, and members of our Core Team are especially encouraged to attend the week-long training offered three times each year by the Gamaliel Foundation. But this intensive residential training is appropriate for anyone who would like to become a more powerful social justice leader.

The Spring 2012 Gamaliel Foundation week-long training will take place at Villa Maria Retreat Center, located a few miles west of Newcastle, PA. Details may be found at www.gamaliel.org. Scholarship funds are available to help cover training costs; please contact Rev. David Herndon at dherndon@firstunitarian- pgh.org or 412/621-8008, extension 102, for more information. Contact members of our Core Team who have experienced the training to learn more about this training experience.

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Green Sanctuary: Sustainable Consumerism

Wednesday, March 28, 7:30pm - 9:15pm

A presentation of materials on how to participate in sustainable consumerism and avoid companies that act in unsustainable ways. Followed by discussion. Led by Thorne Hays.

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Green Sanctuary: Contributing to Clearner Water: Rain Barrel and Rain Garden Education

Saturday, April 28, 1:00pm - 4:00pm

This workshop consists of education and discussion about rain barrels and rain gardens. Participants will learn how – and why – an individual can help control their own property water runoff. The workshop will include hands-on work with rain barrels, and possibly group construction of rain barrels. Led by Scott Smith.

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