Category: Congregational News and Events

Morristown – Benefit Concert – Jan. 26

by UU FA Office

The Morristown Unitarian Fellowship is holding its 27th annual benefit concert to benefit the people of Central America at 8pm on Saturday, January 26.

The headliner this year is the captivating artist Christine Lavin who “knows how to keep her audience guessing, thinking, and laughing at the same time” according to the Washington Post.  Opening for Ms. Lavin is Jean Rohe and Ilusha Tsinadze.  Jean is a multi-lingual singer and composer of American folk music, Brazilian and Afro-Peruvian traditions.

Tickets are $25 in advance available by email from admin@muuf.org (must be picked up by 7:30 night of concert) or $30 at the door.

UU Princeton Hosts Candidates for UUA Moderator on Jan. 20

by UU FA Office

The UU Congregation of Princeton will host Tamara Payne-Alex and Jim Key, the two candidates for the position of UUA Moderator, on January 20 at 3 pm, to talk about their vision Unitarian Universalism and how they would lead if elected at General Assembly 2013. The UUA Moderator is the chair of the UUA Board of Trustees and the presiding officer at each General Assembly. The 90-minute program will include a question and answer period and will be followed by a reception.

Summit Unveils Banner Supporting Marriage Equality

by UU FA Office

The Unitarian Church in Summit unveiled a banner on the front of its building on December 9 supporting full legal recognition of same-sex marriage. The banner reads “Say ‘I Do’ to Marriage Equality” and was designed by graphic designers within the church. Church members discussed the issue last June at the church’s annual meeting and voted to take the stand supporting marriage equality for gays, lesbians, bisexuals, and transgender people.

http://www.nj.com/independentpress/index.ssf/2012/12/unitarian_church_in_summit_unv.html

Sussex County – Stop the Waiver

by UU FA Office

The Green Sanctuary Committee of the UU Fellowship of Sussex County sent a letter to Senate President Sweeney advocating for the passage of SCR59 to stop the NJ Department of Environmental Protection waiver rule, saying, “This DEP waiver rule goes well beyond legislative intent and would actually break the law.  The citizens of New Jersey are counting on our lawmakers to protect our clean air and water.”  Three members attended a public hearing in Hardyston Twp. on December 3 and read the letter at the microphone.  A number of other northwest NJ environmental groups also sent representatives who made statements.  The Waiver Rule establishes circumstances under which DEP may waive compliance with certain Department rules.

Monmouth County Responds to Hurricane Sandy

by UU FA Office

The UU Congregation of Monmouth County (Lincroft NJ) responded to Hurricane Sandy through the efforts of the congregation’s minister, the Rev. Virginia Jarocha-Ernst, and the congregation’s “caring neighborhoods.” Writes Rich Held, congregation president, “Two things we know for sure: the UUCMC is a caring community, and our support of the recovery from Sandy has just begun.”   http://uumetrony.org/metronyminute/dec12/Lincroft.pdf

Skylands – Hurricane Relief

by UU FA Office

Disasters have a way of bringing out the best in people, and it’s really quite amazing what a difference just a few people can make. In only one and a half weeks’ time, two members of the Skylands Unitarian Universalist Fellowship and a group of committed volunteers organized and staged a benefit concert for Hurricane Sandy relief. “Sky to Shore,” held Thanksgiving weekend at Skylands UU Fellowship, netted more than $2,000 in cash and carloads of personal care items for people at the Jersey Shore struggling to put their lives back together. http://www.examiner.com/article/benefit-concert-at-skylands-uu-raises-more-than-2-000-for-hurricane-relief?CID=examiner_alerts_article

[This article was written by Michael Dalzell, a member of the UU Church at Washington Crossing, part of an ongoing series for examiner.com.  See Mike’s past articles and subscribe at http://www.examiner.com/unitarian-universalism-in-newark/michael-dalzell.]

BUURG – Hurricane Relief

by UU FA Office

The Bergen UU Relief Group (BUURG), formed by congregations in Englewood NJ, Paramus NJ, and Ridgewood NJ, held a highly successful benefit concert on December 1 to raise funds for three local non-profits providing relief for victims of Hurricane Sandy. Eight bands and performers donated their talents for free, and all production costs, food, beverages, and artists’ CDs were fully donated as well. Nearly $9,000 was collected. BUURG continues to organize volunteers in the field providing storm relief.  Read more about BUURG . http://uumetrony.org/metronyminute/dec12/BUURG.pdf