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April 7, 2015

unitarian universalist congregation at shelter rock

We aspire to be a loving religious community where we can grow spiritually and build a more just and joyful world.

-shelter rock vision statement

TOUCHSTONES Rev. Jennifer L. BrowerFRIDAY, APRIL 10, 2015 - 6:30 PM

Soulful Sundown Rev. Jennifer L. Brower

Soulful Sundown includes a monthly multigen-erational evening worship service. A $4.00 light meal is available before worship. Rev. Brower will lead the service with contemporary music by the Gathering of Friends band.

This evening we welcome singer-songwriter Kerri Powers! Dinner - 6:30 p.m., Worship - 7:30 p.m., Free Coffee House - 8:30 p.m.

Soulful Sundown

SUNDAY, APRIL 12, 2015 - 11:00 AM

“Speak Out for Me”

Rev. Will Feinberg

This service considers the rich spirituality in the Holocaust Martyrs’ and Heroes’ Remembrance Day 2015. I might explore such themes as sacred witness, suffering, forgiveness, justice, and healing. I might invite us to a deeper understanding of what makes a holocaust and the existance of other Holocausts. I might share some personal stories by Holocaust survivors. I might share some of my own personal story. I might read some poetry. See you at worship.

The Rev. Will Feinberg has served as a pastoral care counselor/chaplain for Hospice Care Network for over 15 years. He concur-rently serves as the Affiliated Community Minister at SNUUC, in Freeport, since 2014. He practices with the Green Island Sang-ha/Community of Mindfulness Long Island, in Muttontown. Will is a born Long Islander and lives here with his husband, Jim, and their dog, Freddie.

SUNDAY, APRIL 19, 2015 - 11:00 AM

Music SundayThe Armed Man: A Mass for Peace by Karl Jenkins

Based on texts by Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Lord Tennyson, San-kichi Toge, John Dryden and the Islamic call to prayer, the Bi-ble, and the Mahabharata.

The UUCSR CHOIR and SOLOISTSJessica Standidge, sopranoBlythe Gaissert, mezzo-soprano

with THE ORCHESTRA AT SHELTER ROCK

Stephen Michael Smith, Music Director

This musical work will be presented in its entirety as part of a worship service. A free-will offering will be taken.

Andy McCullough, tenorBrace Negron, bass

In recent days, I have been thinking about my experiences as a mem-ber of a congregation – before ministry. There are two milestone events that stand out in mind and memory: When I was first accepted to divinity school and the days just after my mother died.

When I was accepted to divinity school, I was still affiliated with the Presbyterian church of my childhood. I had been in contact with one of the ministers there when I suspected that I might be called to the ministry. When I returned to New York from San Francisco to apply to seminary, I spent time with that minister and at that church. Though I knew that I would not be a Presbyterian minister, I was in deep need of place where I felt a sense of belonging. One Sunday afternoon, one of the ushers from the church brought me the chancel flowers – the HUGE beautiful chancel arrangement from worship. I wasn’t home to receive the flowers. But the usher told my parents that the church members just wanted me to know that they were thinking of me, and that they were proud to learn of my admission to seminary. I felt loved by my home church.

Three years later, in the sanctuary of the Unitarian Universalist church where I had become a member, I again felt the incredible power of the caring community. It was the first Sunday after my mother’s death. All I could do during the service was cry. A young woman with whom I was acquainted but whose name I have, sadly, long forgot-ten, moved from the pew where she had been sitting in order to sit next to me. I don’t remember our saying much. But by her presence she comforted and companioned me. She made me feel welcome – no matter where I was emotionally. I felt embraced and cared for by my new church.

I was touched by the care that was extended by these two congre-gations. Though I did also receive pastoral care in each, the care ex-tended by fellow members was meaningful in a different way. It was both humbling and uplifting to feel that my feelings and needs were known to others, and that they were holding me in heart and mind. I knew with all of my heart that what I was experiencing - my joy and my sorrow - had a place in the religious community.

And your joys and sorrows do, too.

The true power of the religious community - as a community of heal-ing and comfort, of restoration and transformation – is made mani-fest when we share the realities of our lives with the congregation, and not just our small group of friends. Receiving flowers delivered by a church member – someone I didn’t know – who wished me well and celebrated my admission to seminary was so much more power-ful than having a friend swing by to say, “Good job! I knew you could do it.” Having an acquaintance who not only witnessed my sorrow but was willing to gather up her things, move across the center aisle of the sanctuary and come sit with me on one of the saddest days of my life touched me deeply. I will never forget how I felt on both of those days.

I want for each of you to know the feeling of being embraced and

(cont. on pg. 3)

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One of the Board of Trustees (BOT) goals set for FY 14-15 is lead-ership development. The focus of this goal originated from the need for more clear definitions of roles and responsibilities of the leadership positions. This includes the lay leaders, the ministers, as well as the professional staff. In theory, the role and responsibility definition task should be pretty straight forward as we have the by-laws, the charges, the ministerial agreements and staff job descrip-tions to guide us through it. As we started to develop an approach to achieve this goal, reality revealed a much more complex issue. This complexity is attributed to our governance structure, relation-ships between different components of the leadership team, and the capacity of our lay leadership pool. Each of these attributes re-quires a thoughtful process that embraces open mindedness and acceptance of potential major cultural changes to come. This goal can best be achieved through Congregational self-assessment and forthright commitment to change.

Our governance structure is at least 40 years old. If one looks at our by-laws, we will see that many of the charges and congregational resolutions either require clarification or are no longer relevant to UUCSR today. The lay leadership model that worked so well back then is beginning to show some weathering in its effectiveness. The fact that we are now categorized as a large congregation with a membership of close to 700, and that we have more than tripled our endowment goal of 1985, we have not revisited nor affirmed the relevancy of our governance structure to accommodate these growths. There were various discussions through different congre-gational BOT meetings in the past on this subject but without spe-cific actions. This is not a new topic as many reviews and recom-mendations were made by hired outside consultants during the last decades. We have enough data and information to facilitate con-gregational discussion. This discussion would indeed be a healthy and meaningful act to advance the future of the Congregation.

The relationship between lay leaders, the ministers and the profes-sional staff is currently cordial and respectful. In my view, there is a need for a deeper and more refined relationship between them in order to foster a more effective integrated leadership team. The lack of clarity on roles and responsibilities of each of these components has created an unclear boundary in which the leadership team can

operate. The mixture of volunteer lay leaders, called ministers and paid professional staff poses a governance challenge. While the BOT is charged as the body that has fiduciary responsibility and is responsible for all aspects of the Congregational business and membership life, the fact is it does not have jurisdiction over the spiritual leadership of the ministers, and in some ways, it does not really interfere with the operational authority of the Congregational Operations Administrator. While one can infer the final authority of the BOT and the Congregational President, I would take a position that the authority of the Board and the lay leaders is not always sup-ported and not without challenges. Thus the relationship for these three components is based on the personalities and values of elect-ed lay leaders. This governance model often creates opportunity for leadership conflicts and requires careful examination.

The issue of a leadership pool has been a congregational priority for quite some time. As long as we continue to be a lay-led organi-zation, it is critical that we have the right leaders with the right skills to lead. To attract additional volunteers to our leadership pool, we need to establish a leadership development program that is ger-mane to our Congregational needs. To do so, it is important that we start with the identification of skill set needs per our govern-ance structure. It then should be followed by the inventory of our membership skills, capabilities and talents. With the understanding that not every member can volunteer for committee work due to personal and family priorities, certain creative ways of serving need to be explored. From the process perspective, by investing in the development of a leadership pool and the non-traditional ways that members can lead, it may change the way we select our leaders and how we eventually will govern.

In summary, a congregational self-assessment of our governance in terms of structure, relationship between the three components (lay leaders, ministers, and professional staff) and leadership develop-ment is crucial to the continual success of our congregation as a whole. It is important that we take intentional action to address this item that has been tabled for quite some time.

As always, I look forward to your comments. Please send them to President@uucsr.org.

PRESIDENT’S COLUMN Nancy Chen Baldwin

CONGREGATIONAL OPERATIONS ADMINISTRATOR Adam Barshak

I am starting off this article with a request to members to observe our parking restrictions in the main parking lot. Although progress was evidenced last year, members and guests are once again park-ing in restricted areas, primarily on Sundays. Those restricted are-as are clearly marked with either “NO PARKING” signs or have the ground painted yellow with appropriate restrictive language. The purpose of limiting parking in certain areas to allow a free path for emergency vehicles to enter the property should the case arise and allow other appropriately parked vehicles to get by without fear of hitting an inappropriately parked one. So, for your safety and the safety of others, please do not park in these areas. As the weather is warming and the steps to the lower parking lot are cleared of snow, I would ask all those that are able bodied, to park in the lower parking lot or the Veatch parking lot to allow those with physical limitations to park closer to the building. Further, I am always disappointed to hear when members or guests react in a discourteous manner when our Facilities staff request that they move their vehicle. Responses such as “I’m a member”, “So, what” and “If you want it moved, you move it” are some of the more recent negative replies your staff has received. I know that the majority of our members and guests

would not communicate in this manner and ask that you support the request when made and encourage others to do so.

Now onto more positive news. I am pleased to announce that the pledging component on the website has been upgraded. Through the My UUCSR page, members now have greater control of their pledge and payments. Payments, via credit card can now be split into monthly or quarterly installments, so if you are unable to make a full payment towards your pledge, smaller and evenly distribut-ed options are now available. Remember, it is payment towards the pledge that maintains membership, not the pledge itself. Further the system allows members to view the prior year’s pledge and pay-ment amount so if you are interested in increasing it by a certain per-centage or amount, you will no longer have to contact the finance department to find out what you pledged in the prior year. With this upgrade, the administration strongly encourages members to pledge / pay online to enhance department efficiencies but checks remain welcome. As we continue to upgrade our website/member-ship database, we welcome feedback from members on your inter-action with the system and recommendations for improvement.

(cont. on pg. 4)

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lifespan religious education Rev. Natalie M. Fenimore

adult programs

GREAT BOOKS DISCUSSION - SEVEN DEADLY SINS: Join Rev. Johnson as he leads the the following discussions in RE Room 9 at 9:00 a.m.: Sunday, April 12: Mary Postgate, Rudyard Kipling ; Sun-day, April 19: Hairball, Margaret Atwood.

SINGING LESSONS WITH GEORGE: Join George Weisman in a se-ries of classes to explore the basics of singing. These classes will fo-cus on beginners, and those who wish to find their singing selves! George Weisman is the Youth Music Director here at UUCSR. Classes will be on Tuesdays, April 14, 21, 28 (skipping April 7). 7:00-8:15 p.m. in the Music Rehearsal Room or Chapel. Fee: $5/$7 for mem-bers/non-members per class.

ESCALATING INEQUALITY: (co-sponsored with Denominational Affairs Committee). The escalation of inequality undergirds so many injustices which our faith movement is committed to addressing: from economic injustice to mass incarceration; from migrant injus-tice to climate change; from sexual and gender injustice to attacks on voting rights. Co-facilitated by Bob Nuxoll, Chair of Adult Pro-grams and Claire Deroche, Social Justice Coordinator, 7:30 - 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays: April 14. in RE Room 15.

DRAMATIC READINGS: Saturdays Apr. 18, May 16, 5:00 to 10:00 p.m. in the Art Gallery. $10 per person per session including a light dinner and beverages. If you bring food to share, the fee is $5. Reg-ister with Sharyn, sesposito@uucsr.org; 516.472.2960.

Ongoing Programs: See calendar on pg. 7 for Bridge, Center-ing, Tai Chi/Qi Gong, Yoga and Zen Meditation.

Save the Date: the Climate Justice Fair will be Sunday, April 26 (starting with the UU Café) and will be a multigenerational event with lots of information and activities on how to be part of the cli-mate justice movement!

Next Sunday, April 12: Special RE Class for K-6th grade during ser-vice from 11-12. “Creating Beautiful Springtime Pots” in Room #10.

Thanks to all RE parents who contributed food and time to the Teacher Appreciation Lunch. It was a lovely event! Thanks to Melinda Nasti for her vision to express gratitude to our RE teachers!

youth & young adult program coordinator India Harris

VOYAGERS: 7-Week YOUNG ADULT Covenant GROUp!Open to Young Adults 18-30 April 16, 30; May 14, 28 & June 11

7:00 - 9:00 p.m. ChapelCome share your joys, challenges and spiritual musings in an open-minded inclusive space. We will engage in facilitated discussion and reflection on spirituality, community, social justice and our per-sonal beliefs.

Contact India Harris, Youth & Young Adult Program Coordinator to sign up: iharris@uucsr.org; 516.472.2943 + connect on Facebook: Young Adult Unitarian Universalists of Shelter Rock.

Youth & Young Adult Service Learning Trip | Ages 18 -25

Sunday July 19 - Friday, July 24 in Washington D.C.Hosted by the Youth Services Opportunities Project (YSOP)

Cost: $600 per person; includes program free, housing, foodand transportation

Reserve your spot by May 1Contact India Harris, Youth & Young Adult Program Coordinator for more info.: Email: iharris@uucsr.org; Phone: 516.472.2943

celebrated and cared for by fellow congregants. I want you to have a place where you can put aside any pretense and know that you are welcome. I want you to feel confident getting up and moving to be with an acquaintance who doesn’t need your words, but needs your willingess to go and sit beside them. I want you to know the joy of brightening a fellow member’s living by showing up unannounced with flowers.

When we share our sorrows and concerns, our achievements and our joys, we experience the deep purpose of the religious commu-nity: to bind us together. When our hearts are bound together, we are strengthed in all that we do. Our relationships with each other, our appreciation for life, our religious exploration, our ability to en-dure hardship, our individual ministries in the larger world are all en-hanced by our feeling the assurance that comes with being part of a caring religious community.

I want that for every person who comes to our congregation. Don’t you?

Yours in Faith,Reverend Jennifer

TOUCHSTONES (cont. from pg. 1)

MILESTONES

We mourn the death of long-time member Pat Luciano. Pat is sur-vived by her husband, Nino, her son and daughter-in-law, Nino and Liz, and her grandchildren, Michael and Sarah. A memorial service in celebration of her life will be held on Sunday, April 12 at 1:30 p.m. A reception will follow.

We offer support to Harriet Lipman who is caring for her mother after an accident. Cards of encouragement may be sent to Harri-et’s home.

We extend care to Hy Livingston who has had a new stent placed in his carotid artery. We think as well of Verna as she companions Hy in his recovery. Cards may be sent to the Livingston residence.

We send healing wishes to Jerry Galazo who was recently hospi-talized. May Jerry’s recovery be swift and smooth. Cards may be sent to his home address.

We congratulate George Frooks who received an award for his volunteer work as an attorney during the Access to Justice Pro Bono Recognition Reception on April 1.

We congratulate Jim Smith who will be honored with a ‘‘Good Guy Award” from the Center for Women of NY at their Annual Lun-cheon on April 18.

In worship and through our Quest newsletter, we mark the mile-stones in the lives of our members. Milestones include the cel-ebration of rites of passage: Infant dedications, Coming of Age, weddings and funerals. But there are many other meaningful, memorable moments from our daily lives that can be shared and honored within the religious community.

(cont. on pg. 4)

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I recently read “Fire and Light, How the Enlightenment Transformed our World” by James MacGregor Burns, one of America’s most distinguished historians. “It highlights Enlightenment thinkers and of the many political actors--in Britain, France, and America--whom they influenced between the 17th century and the mid-1800s. Descartes, Spinoza, Hegel, Montesquieu, Locke, Hume, Franklin, Jefferson, Paine, Tocqueville, James Watt, James and John Stuart Mill, and Marx are among the host of writers, entrepreneurs, and national leaders who come to life on Burns’ pages”, says Michael Beschloss.

The dreadful inequality of the working class/poor populations in these western countries regardless of the significant efforts by the Enlightenment warriors on behalf of the voiceless left a great deal to be coveted. Neverthe-less, improvements developed, although at a regrettably slow pace indeed. I was struck as I read through the century’s efforts to initiate “CHANGE” that there remains so much inequality, more haves and have nots, especially with women and children appearing to pay the highest price…President Obama indicated that today’s media causes us to witness the messiness of our world, and history explains the messiness of the past…as did liberal-minded authors. George Orwell’s 1945 “Animal Farm” an allegorical dystopian “Fairy Story” comes to mind, a superior example of “POWER” changing hands. Orwell’s work was lauded in Christopher Hitchens 2003 book “Why Orwell Matters.” And, I believe he does matter. In a word, what both of these books reflect on is “CHANGE” in the social order of their times. The lack of “CHANGE” was frustrating in the 17th century, in Orwell’s century, and equally so in the 20th/21st century.

Veatch grants to my mind are modern day miracles supporting “boots on the ground” on a daily basis where inequality, injustice, racism permeate locales in this country. By providing grants that sustain social advocacy organizations Veatch funds, in a manner of speaking, continues the philosophical gems of the great enlightenment scholars, political leadership, and socially conscious authors. We UUs generally acknowledge the daunting task necessary to in-fluence “CHANGE.” Therefore, more than ever before, Veatch funding is a vital instrument in the arduous goal of seeking justice for marginalized citizens.

Fast-forward to March 6, 2015, the Veatch Board of Governors’ board retreat, which included a 30-page booklet, “Grant Making with a Racial Equity Lens,” along with materials on racism for discussion. The evening was launched by a Langston Hughes poem from 1940 illustrating the sinister treatment of African Americans that mirrored some of the findings of the insidious practices exposed in Ferguson, MO. Michelle Alexander’s 2010 best seller: “The New Jim Crow” dubbed “the secular bible of a new social movement” video followed providing insight into the shocking, shameful, treatment of young, black males in America…not a pretty picture at all, actually immoral in a democratic society. We were joined by executive director Rinku Sen of Race Forward; The Center for Racial Justice Innovation. Sen, a passionate, dynamic, speaker (in a recent Quest, there was a profile of Sen) raised the bar for many of us in understanding racism in today’s racially fraught times. Coin-cidentally, the same day, President Obama and Congressman John Lewis led a march commemorating the Voting Rights Act of March 1965 and the 50th anniversary of the Civil Rights Movement’s march from Selma to Montgomery.

I invite you to think “Animal Farm” wherein the success of the animals’ protest for, “increased food and no whips,” the “pigs” became powerful, “rations are cut and guess what? “Whips” return.” The success of the 1965 Civil Rights Movement granted sweeping positive “CHANGE” for African Americans. But, slowly, methodically, insidiously, since 1965, these sweeping beneficial changes were denied African Americans, as revealed in startling details in “The New Jim Crow.” There is much work to be done.

Chris MorrisPrivileged to serve as a Governor on the Veatch Board

The UUCSR Veatch Program provides support for efforts within the religious and spiritual mission of the Congregation where their purposes are best served by outside agencies acting under the Supervision of the Veatch Program and the Congregation.

VEATCH VIEWS COA (cont. from pg. 2)

As an update on the capital improvements to our infra-structure and equipment, members listening to a video played in the worship room may notice the sound of si-lence. A new high definition projector and screen are now installed. The new projector not only offers better picture quality but does so without the need for a high pitched fan running. The new projector is mounted in the audio visual booth so it removes the need for the unsightly table in the balcony that the old one was placed. This opens up some additional seating. In FY16 it is the plan, assuming budget approval, to continue to upgrade the equipment in the worship room to allow for high definition video capture of services and other events to allow for streaming or post production video play on our website.

On another note, we are closing in on the finish line for our new main building generators. National Grid was onsite the other week and signed-off on the generators. The genera-tors are scheduled to be load tested on or about April 9 by the electrical firm that was contracted for their installation. There will be some very short periods of power outages when this occurs as we switch from the main electrical grid to the generators for power. Should all go well, the genera-tors will be seen as operational and be available to support future power outages; again, these generators are natural gas powered and will support all functionality within the main building including air conditioning and heat.

Lastly, much of the parking lots, roadways and sidewalk slate on the property have settled back into their normal positions after the heavy winter freezing. Some emergency repairs will be taking place in the next month to replace slate where there are extensive trip hazards and signifi-cant potholes on the property. The repaving of the lower parking lot and the Veatch garage area which are capital projects for FY15 will occur in late April / May to coordi-nate with the installation of new exterior lighting, another scheduled capital project that is expected to occur at the same time.

As I look out of the office window, the pond is still fro-zen and snow still lingers on southwestern portion of the meadow. Spring weather can’t get here soon enough!

MILESTONES (cont. from pg. 3)

Our milestones include the events that challenge us or bring sorrow, those that inspire hope, call forth our prayers and bring us joy. Everything from getting a first driver’s li-cense, to a first or next job, the loss of a job, acquiring a home, losing a home, welcoming a child or grandchild, celebrating a retirement, marking the anniversary of a death or an anniversary of recovery from addiction, and so much more.

We hope you will choose to share your milestones with the members and ministers of your congregation. Milestones should be directed to the Assistant to the Ministers, at ministerasst@uucsr.org or by calling 516.427.2941.

* Please be assured, we will share your milestone with discretion – sharing only what you are comfortable sharing - and we can offer instruction to fellow members about whether you welcome telephone calls or visits or cards.

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SOCIAL JUSTICE COORDINATOR Claire Deroche SOCIAL JUSTICE ANNOUNCEMENTS

According to UU minister Rev. Paul Rasor, writing in Faith Without Certainty: Liberal Theology in the 21st Century, “We must think of so-cial justice work not simply as something we do, but as part of who we are. If I cannot see myself in solidarity with others whose circum-stances are different from my own, then something is missing from my own identity. My sense of self is incomplete.” While this quote applies to many aspects of social justice work, at this moment I most associate it with the work of legislative advocacy.

On Wednesday, April 22 and again on Monday, May 4 members of UUCSR will make the trip to Albany to speak with our elected offi-cials on behalf of others “whose circumstances are different from [our] own.” We will speak up for issues that we care about, some of which affect us and some that on their face may not appear to affect us. Yet, because of our commitment to the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part, we are affected and we will speak up.

On April 22 we will join the members of the Campaign for Alterna-tives to Isolated Confinement (CAIC) to focus on one specific issue: ending the use of prolonged solitary confinement through the pas-sage of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. By seeing ourselves in solidarity with those who suffer the torture of prolonged solitary confinement, we are compelled to speak out. Visiting our legislators is one way to make our voices and the voices of the incarcerated heard.

On May 4 we will join the members of the Interfaith Impact of NYS (IINYS), an organization founded by UU minister Rev. Richard Gil-bert. This organization brings together congregations, clergy and individuals from progressive Protestant, Reform Jewish, Unitarian Universalist and other faith traditions. It is our Unitarian Universalist Legislative Network for the state. This year IINYS will advocate for three issues: Reproductive Justice; Transgender Civil Rights; and Criminal Justice, including the HALT Act. On May 4 we will have the opportunity to work together with other people of faith who share our liberal religious values to bend the arc of the moral universe a little bit more towards justice.

If you’d like to join us on either of these trips, please contact Social Justice Coordinator Claire Deroche at 516.472.2977 orcderoche@uucsr.org ASAP! Space is limited.

Social Justice Committee and SJ Mental Health Subcommittee Combined Meeting: Wednesday, April 8 at 7:30 p.m. in the Art Gallery.

Congregational Action for Climate Justice: Planning meeting on Monday, April 13 at 6:00 p.m. in the Art Gallery. Come lend your ideas and talents as we create UUCSR’s 30 Days of Action for Climate Justice and Climate Justice Fair. Co-sponsoring commit-tees include the Women’s Group, Green Sanctuary, and Social Jus-tice. We’d welcome representatives from all program committees.

Training Workshop for Lobby Day in Albany, Thursday, April 16, 7:30 p.m., Social Hall: Participants in the April 22 Lobby Day are urged to attend this training workshop. We will review the contents of the HALT Solitary Confinement, questions that legisla-tors may have, and role play lobbying visits. Please contact Social Justice Coordinator Claire Deroche at 516.472.2977 or cderoche@uucsr.org with any questions.

Lobby Day in Albany: Ending Prolonged Solitary Confinement, Wednesday, April 22, 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.: This year the Social Justice Committee will again sponsor a trip to Albany to lobby on behalf of the HALT Solitary Confinement Act. We will travel in the congre-gational van. Lunch will be provided. To sign up for this important trip please contact Social Justice Coordinator Claire Deroche at 516.472.2977 or cderoche@uucsr.org as soon as possible. Space is limited and only a few seats remain.

Interfaith Impact NYS Lobby Day in Albany, Monday, May 4, 6 a.m. – 8 p.m.: Interfaith Impact NYS is our Unitarian Universalist Legislative Network. This year their advocacy issues are Stand Up for Reproductive Justice, Speak out for Transgender Civil Rights, and Reform Criminal Justice – Black Lives Matter! Rev. Paul John-son and Social Justice Coordinator Claire Deroche will lead this UUCSR trip to Albany. We will travel in the congregational van. To sign up for this important trip please contact Social Justice Coor-dinator Claire Deroche at 516.472.2977 or cderoche@uucsr.org as soon as possible. Space is limited. There is no charge for this trip. Please register no later than April 30, 2015.

Calling all INN/UUCSR Cooking Volunteers: The Social Justice Committee would like to recognize all those volunteers who have prepared meals here at UUCSR for the guests of the shelters run by the INN. We will have a small event on Sunday May 3 before Worship. In order to include both current and former volunteers, we would like any FORMER volunteer to contact us. (We know who the current volunteers are!) If you are a former volunteer for the UUCSR/INN cooking, please be in touch with Social Justice Coor-dinator Claire Deroche at 516.472.2977 or cderoche@uucsr.org as soon as possible. Thank you!

Special Grocery Collection for the Veterans of Beacon House, Freeport: Every year the Social Justice Committee sponsors a spe-cial grocery collection for the veterans who are residents of Bea-con House in Freeport. Beginning on Sunday, April 12 committee members will be in the lobby after worship with shopping lists and grocery bags. We hope you’ll return the bag on SUNDAY, MAY 3 with some of the groceries on the list. In the past, the veterans have appreciated the groceries and also the creative decorations on the bags. If you or someone in your household can decorate the bag, that would be great! Thank you! When you shop, don’t forget those in need! We are in need of non-perishable food items, especially peanut butter, soup, and tuna fish. These donations help us keep our congregational pantry stocked and help the local pantries run by the INN and the LI Council of Churches. You can leave your donations in our sleek, new grocery cart at the entrance every time you come to the congregation. Thank you!

In 2013, the Board of Trustees voted not to extend the lease of the congregation’s childcare tenant, North Shore Early Childhood Center. With the lease ending in 2016 a taskforce has been formed to provide recommendations on options for future use of the Religious Education wing during the business week. The full charge of the taskforce is located in the MY UUCSR section of www.uucsr.org. Please email Tammy Weil, Executive Assistant if interested in serving at tweil@uucsr.org.

AT-LARGE MEMBER NEEDED TO SERVE ON RELIGIOUS EDUCATION WING

SPACE USE TASKFORCE:

Calling All Gardeners: Our UU Community Garden will be starting up again very shortly! If you are interested in growing your own or-ganic vegetables, please let us know by April 14. Parents with kids are encouraged to join us; the kids get super excited picking to-matoes and watching things grow. This is truly a multigenerational activity worth exploring. Please contact May Choi-Steele at may_steele@yahoo.com or 917.215.3336.

GREEN SANCTUARY

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WOMEN’S GROUP PROGRAMS

MEN’S GROUP ANNOUNCEMENTS

WOMEN TALK DAYTIME: Wednesday, April 15, 12 Noon, Art Gal-lery. Come and share with us who the most influential people are in your life and why. Bring lunch; beverages and dessert will be sup-plied.

WOMEN’S GROUP BOOK SERIES: Friday, April 17, 7:30 p.m., Art Gallery. Join leader, Diane Mansell as we discuss the book The House of Mirth by Edith Wharton.

PIZZA & POKER: Wednesday, April 8, 6:30 p.m., Oval Room. Join facilitator Herb Waldren for a couple hands of poker while you enjoy some pizza with a beer, soda or wine and have some good old fashioned fun! Please let Sharyn in the office know if you are planning on attending so we are sure we have enough players: 516. 472.2960 or sesposito@uucsr.org.

MEN’S GROUP APRIL MEETING: Sunday, April 19, RE Room 15 - for lunch – 12:15 p.m. Come help the Men’s Group plan the Ken-tucky Derby – Spring Square Dance Event, and the End-of-Year BBQ. Also, please bring some new ideas for events or trips that you would like to see the Men’s Group work on for next year. Lunch will be served – so you need to RSVP with Sharyn so that we have enough food: 516.472.2960 or sesposito@uucsr.org.

MEN’S GROUP KENTUCKY DERBY – SPRING SQUARE DANCE: Saturday, May 2, Social Hall, 5:00 p.m. Get ready to place your bets with UUCSR’s bookie Paul Drezner, enjoy a country dinner, and grab your partner and square dance with professional caller Primo Fiore. Early Bird Special – IF PAID IN ADVANCE – by Thur. Apr. 30: $20.00 per person for Members - $25.00 per person for Non-Members. (You can send a check to Sharyn, pay with a credit card by calling Sue Kimler 516. 472-2919 , or drop off cash in the office to Sharyn). Remember advance PAYMENT gets the early bird discount.You can still RSVP as a courtesy but without advanced payment you will be required to pay $5.00 additional at the door. Members - $25.00 and $30.00 for Non-Members.

CARING COMMITTEE

WOMEN’S ISSUES

On March 25, lawmakers in both houses of Congress reintroduced legislation that would help narrow the gender pay gap. The Pay-check Fairness Act would help ensure that women workers are not shortchanged, and promote fair and stable family incomes. The Paycheck Fairness Act would update and strengthen the Equal Pay Act of 1963 by closing loopholes in the law that have hindered its effectiveness in ending pay discrimination, would eliminate cer-tain unfair defenses for pay discrimination that are currently avail-able to employers, prohibit retaliation against employees who discuss their salaries and improve wage data collection. The bill’s introduction comes in the weeks before Equal Pay Day on April 14, which is the day that the average American woman catches up in earnings to what the average man brought in during the previous calendar year. That’s because, on average, women make 78 cents for every dollar that men make – a disparity that is even worse for African-American women who are paid only 64 cents and Latinas who are paid only 54 cents for every dollar paid to White, non-His-panic men. If you are in support of this legislation, tell your mem-bers of Congress to co-sponsor and support the Paycheck Fairness Act and make sure we’re not fighting unfair pay for generations to come but help ensure that we see pay equity within our lifetimes–and boost our economy. - Jo Rymer, adapted from Civil Rights.org and MomsRising.

THANK YOU

The NAMI Queens/Nassau, Family to Family Signature Program would like to thank you for the use of the very beautiful Social Hall at Unitarian Universalist Congregational at Shelter Rock, on Friday, February 27. The NAMI Family to Family, 1st Annual Family Reunion was a great success because of your commitment to partner with NAMI Queens Nassau to continue our work in your community. -Jeannette Wells, LCSW

Thank you Rev. Johnson, Ben Bortin and the Caring Committee who sent me cheerful flowers, and all of my dear friends from the congregation who called and sent so many warm hearted cards wishing me well. My fractured knee is almost healed. – Sylvia Specht

The Financial Development Committee would like to thank every-one who pledged on or before March 22 – we had over 100 pledg-es! If you haven’t pledged yet, please do so. The Committee will start making phone calls, to those who haven’t pledged, at the end of April. We also would like to thank the following volunteers for making our Pledge Kick-Off day a success: Hank Arond, Nancy Berliner, Marcello Da Silva, Craig Jennings, Joel Loewy, Barry Nobel, Catherine Ripley, Bruce Torff and Herb Waldron. If you would like to discuss pledging, or can help us make phone calls, please speak to a member of the Committee: Tara Christie Miner (Convener), Rev. Paul Johnson, Richard Bock, Martha Chimienti, Paul Drezner, and Diane Lombardy.

The Funeral Consumer's Alliance of LI/NYC, sponsored by the UUCSR Caring Committee, will hold their annual meeting on Sat-urday, April 18 from 2-4 p.m. in the Art Gallery. All UUCSR con-gregants and interested parties are invited to attend.

This year they have two speakers from the New York State Depart-ment of State, Division of Cemeteries, to discuss dealing with not-for-profit cemeteries. Vincent Gimondo, Senior Accountant, and Kerry McGovern, Investigator, will welcome questions concerning cemeteries and burials.

Join Dan Pratt on Thursday evenings in May for a series of classes on Basic Music Theory. Dan will start at the very beginning, with an exploration of intervals, scales and chords. Topics covered will be of interest to classical and jazz performers of all levels and back-grounds. Please pre-register with Lea Titza, the Assistant to the Ministers (516.472.2941, ministerasst@uucsr.org). May 7, 14, 21, 28; 7:30 - 9p.m. in the Choir Room. $15 members /$20 non-mem-bers for the series of 4 classes, or $5/6 per individual class. Partici-pants under 18 years old - NO FEE!

MUSIC THEORY CLASSES

Welcome to a Singles’ Discussion GroupTopic: The Power of “No”/”Yes”

Fridays, April 17, May 15 and June 19, 2015 RE Room 15 at 7:30 p.m.

With facilitator Lilyan Strassman of UUCSRPsychotherapist and Life Coach

Register online or with Elaine: 516.472.2933, ecorrao@uucsr.org.Questions: 516.944.4414

SINGLES’ DISCUSSION GROUP

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MEMBERSHIP MATTERS Ben Bortin

Tuesday, April 07, 2015 4:00 PM Centering 7:30 PM Ad Hoc Veatch Program Review Task Force 7:30 PM Membership Meeting 7:30 PM RE Committee Meeting 7:30 PM Stewardship Committee Meeting Wednesday, April 08, 2015 10:00 AM Library/Bookstore Committee Meeting 12:30 PM Reach Out America 1:00 PM SGM Group 2:00 PM Custodial Staff Meeting 4:00 PM Centering 6:30 PM Pizza & Poker 7:30 PM Investment Task Force 7:30 PM INIS FADA-Zen Sitting Meditation 7:30 PM Food & Water Watch 7:30 PM SGM Group 7:30 PM Social Justice Committee Meeting Thursday, April 09, 2015 9:30 AM INN Cooking - Thursday 4:00 PM Centering 6:00 PM Music Committee Meeting 7:00 PM NAMI Families Support Group 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal Friday, April 10, 2015 10:15 AM Tai Chi/Qi Gong 12:30 PM Bridge Group 6:30 PM Soulful Sundown Saturday, April 11, 2015 10:00 AM Quilting 11:00 AM Yoga Spring Session #1 11:00 AM Memorial 11:00 AM Sponsored-Pax Christi LI Annual Awards 12:00 PM Memorial Reception Sunday, April 12, 2015 9:00 AM Great Books Discussion 9:00 AM Worship Committee Meeting 9:15 AM All Congregation Retreat Meeting 10:00 AM Choir Rehearsal 10:00 AM Bagel Breakfast 11:00 AM RE Alternative Program 11:00 AM Worship Service

semi-monthly planner12:00 PM UU Cafe 12:30 PM Love & Stitches Quilting & Crafts 1:30 PM Memorial 2:30 PM Memorial Reception Monday, April 13, 2015 4:00 PM Centering 7:30 PM Program Council Meeting Tuesday, April 14, 2015 10:00 AM UUMA Meeting 3:30 PM Adult Programs Meeting 4:00 PM Centering 6:00 PM Veatch BOG Meeting 7:00 PM Singing Lessons w/George 7:00 PM Caring Committee Meeting 7:30 PM Escalating Inequality 7:30 PM BOT & Housing Board 7:30 PM Finance Committee Meeting Wednesday, April 15, 2015 12:00 PM WG - Women Talk Daytime 2:00 PM Custodial Staff Meeting 4:00 PM Centering 5:30 PM Past Presidents Circle 7:30 PM INIS FADA-Zen Sitting Meditation 7:30 PM Member Resource Committee Mtg. Thursday, April 16, 2015 9:00 AM Look Book Photo Sessions 2:00 PM Sponsored Group-The Interfaith Alliance 4:00 PM Centering 5:30 PM Cooking-Leader Fellowship Dinner 6:30 PM NAMI Family to Family Class 7:00 PM Leader Fellowship Development Dinner 7:00 PM Young Adult Group Meeting 7:30 PM Committee on Ministry 7:30 PM Green Sanctuary Committee Meeting 7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal 7:30 PM Advocacy Day Training Friday, April 17, 2015 9:00 AM Look Book Photo Sessions 10:15 AM Tai Chi/Qi Gong 12:30 PM Bridge Group 4:00 PM Centering 7:30 PM Singles Group

7:30 PM WG - Book Series Saturday, April 18, 2015 9:00 AM Look Book Photo Sessions 9:30 AM Inn Cooking - Saturday 10:00 AM Quilting 11:00 AM Yoga Spring Session #1 11:00 AM Music Sunday Rehearsal 12:00 PM UU Green Sanctuary Community Garden 5:00 PM Dramatic Readings 5:30 PM LIAC Annual Dinner Sunday, April 19, 2015 9:00 AM Great Books Discussion: 7 Deadly Sins 9:00 AM Look Book Photo Sessions 10:00 AM Choir Rehearsal 10:00 AM Bagel Breakfast 11:00 AM RE Classes 11:00 AM Worship Service 11:00 AM Music Sunday 12:00 PM UU Cafe 12:15 PM Men’s Group Meeting 12:30 PM Town Meeting 12:30 PM VBOG Special LG Meeting 12:45 PM Service Trip Meeting 1:00 PM Ad Hoc Covenant Task Group 1:30 PM Shelter Rock Forum Meeting 1:30 PM 3rd Sunday SGM Meeting Monday, April 20, 2015 4:00 PM Centering 7:30 PM Collaborative Campaign Task Force 7:30 PM Large Grants Advisory Group Tuesday, April 21, 2015 4:00 PM Centering 7:00 PM Singing Lessons w/George 7:30 PM Board of Trustees Meeting 7:30 PM DAC Meeting 7:30 PM Earth Day Event 7:30 PM SGM 3rd Tuesday Meeting 6:00 AM Advocacy Day in Albany 4:00 PM Centering 7:30 PM INIS FADA-Zen Sitting Meditation 7:30 PM Emerson: The Man & His Writings

Long Island Area Council Annual Spring DinnerSaturday, April 18, 2015 - Social Hall

Heading in the Wrong Direction:Growing School Segregation on Long Island

Cocktail hour 6:00 p.m.; Dinner 6:30 p.m.; Speaker 7:15 p.m.

Guest Speaker: Elaine Gross, MSW, President of Erase RacismMs. Gross has successfully led ERASE Racism, bringing together a cross section of Long Island leaders to discuss and formulate reme-dies to persistent regional inequities, resulting from imbedded in-stitutional and structural racism in health, education and housing.

Please R.S.V.P. by April 10Tickets $20 pp in advance, $25 at the door, $10 for students/Checks payable to: LIAC, Memo line: Spring Dinner

Send payments to: Gretta Johnson-Sally (LIAC Administrator) 5 Reydon Place, Commack, NY 11725. For information, contact Gretta at gjsdre@hotmail.com.

LONG ISLAND AREA COUNCIL

With spring blessedly upon us (just about?), many of us are more inclined to venture into the outdoors, presumably to partake of its abundant glories, and/or take excursions to indoor destina-tions without shivering along the way.

That segues to the fact that the UUCSR Expeditions Working Group is offering three excursion opportunities in the weeks ahead – and you’re cordially invited to any of them.

The nearest in the future is to the Rubin Museum of Art in Man-hattan. A small museum specializing in Himalayan and Indian art, we will gather there on Wednesday, April 15, at opening time, 11 a.m. There will be a guided tour at noon, and afterward for lunch, and the menu, to my mind, looks very enticing – and Asia-oriented. Car-pooling might be available, but the museum is readily reachable by public transportation.

Second, the twice postponed journey to the Planting Fields, due to the deep freeze of Winter, 2015 (and global warming is still a fact), will take place at what might be a flourishing apex April flowers, namely, Wednesday, April 29. Meet at Planting Fields at 11 a.m., and after a walk around the grounds, lunch at Canter-bury Ales in Oyster Bay.

Third, Lunch Bunch probably will take place at the beautiful Swan Club, the next day, Thursday, April 30, 12:30 p.m. (Note change in time; details will be forthcoming.)

Finally, Saturday, May 16, there will be an outing to the Brook-lyn Botanic Gardens and Brooklyn Museum.

If you are interested in being part of the expedition-planning group, you’re invited to that as well. Contact me for date infor-mation – probably Wednesday, April 22, 3 p.m.

2015 UU District of Metropolitan NY Annual MeetingMay 1-2, Morristown, NJ

UUCSR members are alerted to the April 15 deadline for appli-cation to the 2015 UUMDNY Annual Meeting. Application pack-ets are on the Welcome Table in the lobby, and completed appli-cations submitted there. Please contact Richard Bock, Chair, with questions: rbock@optonline.net or 516.922.6052.

UU Metro Annual Meeting

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48 Shelter Rock Rd. Manhasset, NY 11030(T) 516.627.6560 (F) 516.627.6596 | www.uucsr.org / uucsr@uucsr.org Senior Minister: Rev. Dr. Paul S. Johnson (pjohnson@uucsr.org)Minister for Pastoral Care: Rev. Jennifer L. Brower (jbrower@uucsr.org)Minister of Lifespan Religious Education: Rev. Natalie M. Fenimore (nfenimore@uucsr.org)Congregation Operations Administrator: Adam Barshak (abarshak@uucsr.org) Veatch Executive Director: Ned Wight (ned@veatch.org)Music Director: Stephen Michael Smith (ssmith@uucsr.org)Membership & Volunteer Coordinator: Ben Bortin (bbortin@uucsr.org)Religious Education Coordinator: Jeanne Nametz (jnametz@uucsr.org)Youth & Young Adult Program Coordinator: India Harris (iharris@uucsr.org)Social Justice Coordinator: Claire Deroche (cderoche@uucsr.org)Communications Director: Kim Losack (klosack@uucsr.org)

BOARD OF TRUSTEES:President: Nancy Chen BaldwinVice President: Arnold BabelSecretary: Jim SmithTreasurer: Paul Drezner Trustees:

PresortedFirst Class Mail

U.S. Postage PaidLindenhurst, NY

Permit No. 57

FIRST CLASS MAIL DATED MATERIALADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED

Next Quest: Tuesday, April 21, 2015 | Deadline for Content: Thursday, April 16, 2015

Vince ChimientiDiane LombardyToni LogueKlaus Masuch

John RyanNina WeberLatifa Woodhouse

Unitarian Universalist Congregation at Shelter Rock [ April 7, 2015 ]

The Green Sanctuary Committee of UUCSR presents

The Climate Crisis:The Science and Reasons for Hope

Tuesday, April 21, 20157:30 p.m., Art Gallery

With Gail Koelln

Learn about:

Climate change and scienceImpacts on weatherSCIENTIFIC consensus

Reasons for hopeActions and ways you can help

Free and open to all. Refreshments will be served.

Gail Koelln is President of GK Grant Writing, a grant writing consulting firm es-tablished in 2006. Gail has a Master’s degree in Zoology, a Bachelor’s degree in Biology and a passion for environmental causes. She is a volunteer Climate Leader who trained under former Vice President Al Gore, the former Chair of Gotham Green, a business and social networking group for green businesses in New York, a former Chair of the New York City Sierra Club’s Endangered Species Committee and a former docent for the Wildlife Conservation Socie-ty’s Bronx Zoo. She is a member of UUCSR and lives in Hollis Hills, NY with her husband Jim and daughter Emma. www.gkgrantwriting.com

Register online on the Events Calendar at www.uucsr.org

Sunday, April 19, 2015 at 11:00 a.m.

THE ARMED MAN: A MASS FOR PEACEKarl Jenkins

Based on texts by Rudyard Kipling, Alfred Lord Tennyson, Sankichi Toge, John Dryden and the Islamic Call to Prayer, the Bible, and the Mahabharata.

The UUCSR CHOIR and SOLOISTSJessica Standidge, soprano; Blythe Gaissert, mezzo-soprano

Andy McCullough, tenor; Brace Negron, bass

with THE ORCHESTRA AT SHELTER ROCKStephen Michael Smith, Music Director

Free Admission & Open to All! This musical work will be presented in its entirety as part of

a worship service. A free-will offering will be taken.

Shelter Rock Annual Music Sunday