First Unitarian Church

Information may not be reliable

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

NEWS and FEATURES
JOB OPENING - Children and Youth Ministry Administrator (Part-Time)

One Page Governance Summary
See Calendar and Upcoming Events and the Chalice Newsletter for details on these and other events.
Send Order of Service announcemnts to

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

Finitude, Transience, and Mortality are three challenging existential realities we all face as human beings. In November, we will explore the spiritual theme of Transience by asking questions such as these: How can we accept that even our most enduring personal accomplishments may fade into obscurity over time? How can we accept that we are part of the story of life on earth for only a brief span of years? How can we wholeheartedly embrace life even though the time of this embrace is limited?
Lifespan Faith Development

November 7 , 2010 - 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m.
The Rev. Alma Faith Crawford, Associate Minister

Rev. Tom Bodie will be completing his internship with our church at the end of December. This will be one of his final Sundays with us during his internship.
Music: Sanctuary Choir at 11:00 a.m.

November 21, 2010 - 9:30 a.m. and 11:00 a.m. - Thanksgiving Sunday

“Thanks for the Moment”
In accord with our spiritual theme for November, which is Transience, our Thanksgiving service this year will focus on being grateful even when what we are grateful for has a limited existence in time.

Music: Family Choir at 9:30; Folk Orchestra (both services)

We welcome to our pulpit this morning Brian Byers, a member of our church and a student at Pittsburgh Theological Seminary.
Music: Sanctuary Choir at 11:00 a.m.

If you are new to First Unitarian Church and you would like to learn more about this congregation, please attend our Orientation for Newcomers, which will take place on the following dates in the Schweitzer Room: Sundays, October 31, November 7 and 14, 12:30-2:00pm

Friday Night Lives: Celebrating the Human Family by Reading Autobiographical Texts
UUs agree on one sacred text: the human life. Please read these fascinating accounts of the human adventure and then join Rev. Alma Crawford in exploring the similarities and differences that characterize our one family. (Even if you haven't read the book, come anyway!).
November 5, 7:30pm - The Spiral Staircase, by Karen Armstrong

December 3, 7:30pm - Stone Butch Blues, by Leslie Feinberg

Prison Pen-Pals: Building UU Spiritual Community
Nearly 350 Unitarian Universalists are incarcerated in our nation's prisons. Many came to our faith and maintain their membership through our largest congregation, the Church of the Larger Fellowship (http://clf.uua.org).

This fall, members of First Unitarian of Pittsburgh will be able to correspond with these sisters and brothers, sending encouragement and hope. Though prisoners will not know our personal information, the spiritual growth possibilities for all correspondents are transformative. Weekly gatherings will include a brief
worship and reflection with Rev. Crawford. Please join us in the library!

First gathering: Tuesday, September 14, 10:00am-11:30am

Faith Without Certainty
This four session course will explore the theological foundatins of Unitarian Universalism. We will read and discuss several chapters in the book Faith Without Certainty by Unitarian Universalist theologian Paul Rasor. This class will be led by Rev. Tom Bodie.

Building the World We Dream About: Exploring Diversity with Story and Spirit
A Year-Long Diversity Curriculum with Rev. Alma Faith Crawford
Building the World We Dream About: Exploring Diversity with Story and Spirit engages participants in spiritual reflection about how Unitarian Universalist principles and values support and undergird the work of
becoming more racially and culturally welcoming, inclusive, and justicecentered. The program provides
opportunities for worship, for sharing what has been learned with the congregation, for building multiracial/
multicultural relationships in the larger community, and for developing action plans for helping a congregation become more welcoming to people of all races and cultures. For more information about the program, check out the UUA website.

Monday evenings at 7:30 p.m. or Thursday mornings at 10:00 a.m.
Children and Youth: 2010 - 2011 Classes

JOB OPENING: Children and Youth Ministry Administrator

Songspace presents Angelo M.
When the steel mill where Angelo M. worked went bankrupt, taking his pension with it, he tossed his hard hat, picked up his guitar and made the unlikely transition from steelworker to touring artist. Angelos an Americana songwriter and virtuoso finger style and slide guitarist/ Dobro player with a serious blues bent. Soulfully sung and sometimes autobiographical, Angelos songs are seasoned with experience and retrospection. Angelo was selected from over 500 artists for a coveted Falcon Ridge Folk Festival Emerging Artist showcase slot in 2009. This humble blue-collar steelworker from Pennsylvania is a gifted artist who is just beginning to hit his stride.
Doors open at 7:00 p.m. and music begins at 7:30 p.m. in the Undercroft Gallery. Tickets are $15 for general admission and $10 for students.

The Family Choir rehearses on Tuesday evenings and sings about once each month at the 9:30 service and at the Family Christmas Eve Service. New families and other singers are always welcome! Please contact David Herndon at 412/621-8008, extension 102, or dherndon@first-unitarian-pgh.org with questions and for more information.

For Tuesday rehearsals, dinner is available at 6:00 PM and singing takes place from 6:30 to 7:15 PM.

Sunday, November 21 9:00--9:15 AM Warm-up and review
9:30 AM Sharing our music in church (Thanksgiving Sunday)