Parents and guardians, are you worried about your children starting school during these uncertain times? Do you need someone else to help to engage your child? Would you be interested in having an adult church member paired with your child for tutoring, storytelling, or even as a pen pal to practice writing? If you could … Continue reading Help for School at Home; Volunteers sought
SongSpace, which features local and national artists performing folk, old-time, bluegrass, singer-songwriter and world music, will present a virtual concert at 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 26. The performance will be live-streamed on the group’s Facebook page. The featured artists are Brad Yoder, Morgan Erina and Jason Rafalak, all suitably socially distanced but playing for you. … Continue reading SongSpace Concert Live-Stream Sept. 26
The First UU of Pittsburgh EECM team delivered its monthly meal to the EECM shelter in East Liberty on Sunday, Sept. 6. The menu included roasted chicken, roasted potatoes, 3-bean salad, and Klondikes for 50 people. We typically cook at church together, but in these times of Covid, we all cook or buy, and then deliver … Continue reading Meal Delivered to Homeless Shelter
“Will the new minister hear me? Will my concerns and needs be met? Will the minister understand what I’m living with? How will the community respond to our minister?” In answering these questions, a picture of the “ideal minister” (categorized by age, gender identity, nationality, physical or cognitive ability, race, sexual orientation, etc.) comes to … Continue reading Ministerial Search: Beyond Categorical Thinking Workshop
Cottage meetings are open groups of congregants invited to gather and discuss our search for a new minister. All members and friends of First Unitarian Church are invited to register and attend a cottage meeting. Each cottage meeting will last for 1.5 hours, with 8-10 congregants, a facilitator, and a note-taker. The facilitator will pose … Continue reading Attend a Cottage Meeting
Focus groups differ from cottage meetings in that they are targeted at specific groups within the congregation. The focus groups will be organized, structured and operated in a similar fashion to the cottage meetings. All focus groups will be held in September and October via Zoom by invitation from the Ministerial Search Committee. If you … Continue reading Focus Group Meetings Planned
As the closure of the First Unitarian Church building continues and as planned “openings” in many places around the country are being rolled back or rescheduled, we increasingly realize that where we are is our “normal,” for now. We know, of course, especially during this transitional time for you as a congregation, that change is … Continue reading Paving the Way for A New Normal
Dear families, I know this must be one of the hardest times you’ve ever had. So much has descended upon us all at once and suddenly, we all feel like we have to be experts at everything! I certainly share some of those same fears and concerns. In such times, pulling together is one of … Continue reading Anti-Racism Resources for UU Families
Many members of our congregation have been sewing reusable and washable face masks to help their family, friends and neighbors do what they can to be safe. Members of the UU quilters estimate they’ve made and distributed over 100 masks so far, and we know many others in our congregation have also been sewing masks … Continue reading Face Masks and Other Ways to Help
Just as you are, your minister and staff are learning how to live in this new reality in which we find ourselves. We are learning technology, new to many of us, that helps us connect in new ways. In all probability, this new technology will serve us well into the future, whatever the future may … Continue reading Dealing with a New Reality
Beginning in March, we’re going to start asking volunteer crews to run the popular after-service fellowship hour in the Undercroft Gallery. Volunteers will make coffee, bring snacks and clean up afterward. For the five Sundays in March, our board of trustees has volunteered to serve as hospitality crew! For the next few Sundays, special activities … Continue reading Fellowship Hour Is Changing
