First Unitarian Church of Pittsburgh

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

To support the work, the witness, and the wonder of this religious community

Sunday Services at 9:30 and 11:00

WELCOME!

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.

Monthly Message from Reverend David Herndon

In February at First Unitarian Church

Spiritual Theme: Love

Christian theology has used three Greek words to identify three different meanings of love: “philia”, or personal friendship; “eros,” or romantic love; and “agape,” or commitment to the wellbeing of humankind. How do you express love in your life? In what ways are you motivated by love? What does it mean for Unitarian Universalists to say that we are “standing on the side of love”?

Membership Orientation

Get Involved: Lifespan Faith Development

Music and the Arts

SERVICES IN FEBRUARY

FEBRUARY 5, 2012
Joel Gilbertson-White. “Love is a Source of Truth and Meaning”

In his seminal 1819 sermon, “Unitarian Christianity,” William Ellery Channing changed the course of belief for Unitarians and other Christians alike. From this work, we can find that truth and meaning originate from a place of love. Come connect with us as we explore how and where this love leads us in this moment.

Music: The New Tourists - both services

Forum - 9:30a.m. Optimism: Dealing With the Impact of Life Experiences. George Merrick.

FEBRUARY 12, 2012
The Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, Affiliated Community Minister. “‘Hug Her,’ Said A Woman In The Crowd”, a sermon with poetic interludes

What does it mean to treat others as “beloved,” in spite of our hurts, our fears, and our programming?

Music: Sanctuary Choir - 11:00 a.m.

Forum - 9:30a.m. Health Care Reform and Personalized Medicine: The Revolution in Medicine is Here. Arthur Levine, M.D.

FEBRUARY 19, 2012
The Rev. Jay Abernathy, Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills.

We welcome to our pulpit this morning Rev. Jay Abernathy. Currently serving as Interim Minister at the Unitarian Universalist Church of the South Hills here in Pittsburgh, he has had a long and distinguished career as a Unitarian Universalist minister. Since his ordination in 1974, Jay has served churches in Columbus, Ohio; Hamilton, Ontario; Portsmouth, New Hampshire; Chattanooga, Tennessee; Naples, Florida; Rockville, Maryland; Cedar Rapids, Iowa; and Fort Wayne, Indiana. Welcome, Jay!

Music: Folk Orchestra - both services

Forum - 9:30 a.m. The New World: Technology, Religion and the Utopian Ideal. Chuck Lanigan.

FEBRUARY 26, 2012
The Rev. Robin Landerman Zucker, Affiliated Community Minister and Members of The Sunday Celebrations Committee. “The Voice of Deep Down Things”

As we enter the traditional contemplative season known as Lent, we’ll explore dimensions of the loaded and complex activity called “prayer.” Members of the Sunday Celebrations Committee are Allison Haley, Louise Jencik, Ward Kelsey, Patricia Loverich-Bernard, Jean Peterson, Patrick Rizzotti, Scott Smith, Cydra Vaux, and Bill Waddell (chair).

Music: Sanctuary Choir - 11:00 a.m.

Forum - 9:30 a.m. As the Worm Turns: Sex and Meiosis Revealed. Judith Yanowitz, PhD

Membership Orientation

If you have decided that you would like to become a member of First Unitarian Church, or if you are considering membership but you would like to learn more, or if you simply would like to know how to become more involved with this religious community, please attend our Membership Orientation. This
orientation is a three-session class for people new to Unitarian Universalism or new to First Unitarian Church. It provides several opportunities for personal spiritual exploration, an overview of the history of Unitarian Universalism and the history of First Unitarian Church, a chance to learn more about our groups and activities, and information about becoming a member of First Unitarian Church. You will have an opportunity to become an official member at the end of the third session.

The dates for upcoming classes are:

Sundays: March 4, 11 & 18, 12:30pm - 2:15pm

Sundays: April 15, 22 & 29, 12:30pm - 2:15pm

Registration: Path to Membership or contact Program Assistant Sandy Regan at 412/621- 8008, X107, or sregan@firstunitarian- pgh.org.

LifeSpan Faith Development

Adult Faith Development

To know the universe itself as a road—
As many roads—
As roads for traveling souls.

--Walt Whitman

We encourage our members and friends to engage in a process of intentional personal spiritual growth. To assist with that process, we offer several structured opportunities for church members and friends to explore spiritual insights from a variety of sources. These opportunities are grouped in four different Paths:

Path to Membership
Path to Spiritual Growth
Path to Social Responsibility
Path to Leadership

You may find that becoming part of an ongoing affinity group would be a worthwhile way of engaging in a process of personal spiritual growth.

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Sunday Night Sitting

Sunday Night Sitting is a meditation and spiritual practice group that meets at the church on the second and fourth Sundays of the month, at 7:00pm. Newcomers are always welcome. Please contact Julie Childers at julie36pa@gmail.com for more information.

HERE WE HAVE GATHERED: The Story of Unitarian Universalism in Western Pennsylvania, 1808-2008 by Kathleen Parker Book. Order Form

Music and the Arts

Family Choir

The Family Choir provides an opportunity for families to sing together and to create a friendly, informal, supportive community. Rehearsals take place September through May, with a break in January and the first part of February, on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 7:15 p.m. preceded by a simple catered meal served from 6:00 to 6:30 p.m. The Family Choir provides music for the 9:30 a.m. service about once each month and for the Family Christmas Eve Service. All families andindividuals are invited to be part of the
Family Choir!

New families are welcome at any time. You may register for Family Choir on the church website at the “Family Choir Registration Form.”

THE FIFTH ANNUAL VALENTINE CABARET
Saturday, February 11 at 8:00 p.m.

Come one, come all to our fifth annual Valentine Cabaret in the “Undercroft Hideaway,” where candlelight, great food and drink, door prizes, and fabulous music will make it an evening to remember! Musical performances begin at 8:00, doors open at 7:30 to give you time to mingle and to sample our delectable desserts and appetizers.

Performers include vocalists Denise Sheffey Powell, Tracey Keys and Dave Green, with Bill Larson at the keyboard, as well as the bodacious jazz trio BrunTayShus. Come enjoy a candle-lit evening of terrific music, delectable desserts and appetizers, door prizes, and good company! Wine will be available for a donation.

Tickets: $15 available after both services on Sundays through February 5, and on the night of the performance.

What good is sitting alone in your room? Come hear the music play. Life is a Cabaret old chum. Come to the Cabaret! ~Fred Ebb

SongSpace at First Unitarian presents Ernie Hawkins

Saturday, March 24 at 7:30 pm (doors at 7:00 pm) in the Undercroft Gallery

Ernie Hawkins was already playing blues as a teenager when he heard a fellow passing through town play Rev. Gary Davis' Let Us Get Together. Ernie was hooked then and forever on country blues and ragtime guitar. Now an internationally-renown acoustic guitar virtuoso, Ernie’s riveting music springs mostly from the early twentieth century east coast Piedmont and Texas steel-string fingerpicking styles.

He learned his craft from such masters as Rev. Gary Davis, Son House, Mance Lipscomb and Fred McDowell. As one of a handful of artists fortunate enough to study with the old masters, Ernie now serves as a master to other aspiring musicians and is joyfully dedicated to preserving and passing on this magnificent American musical heritage. Grammy-winning artist Maria Muldaur noted, “Ernie Hawkins is a true living apostle of the True Living Blues. He delivers a huge measure of Soul in every note, and that’s what the Blues are about!”

Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students.

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