The Great Story at Cohoes Falls

This past Sunday our 4th and 5th grade class wrapped up their RE year with a visit to a sacred site: Cohoes Falls.

 There they heard the story of The Great Peacemaker who performed a feat of supernatural strength at the falls, and in doing so, convinced the Mohawk people to become the founders of the Iroquois League of Nations or Confederacy.

A portion of the land, across the Mohawk River from where the class stood, has been returned to the Mohawk people only in the past year.

Building our sustainable community

FUSS will host From Scratch Club's FOOD SWAP next Wednesday, May 16 at 7PM!!! Tickets are free but you must have a ticket to participate. Get your ticket here. As I write this there are only 11 tickets remaining!!!

What is a food swap you say?

Food swaps are happening all around the country. This NY Times piece talks about it's beginnings and one person's experience. People get a ticket to participate. There is is no charge to get a ticket, but there's an optional $2 donation at the door. This is not a money-making event. It's a community- building event. It's about learning to exchange what you can make with your neighbors.

I have for a number of years watched the movement towards sustainability and regionalization grow across the country and in this area. I  have been impressed with an online site that started two years ago called, From Scratch Club (FSC.) As they describe themselves, they are about "making food matter." Their reach is deep and broad in the Capital District and their website has grown to become a presence in the area. Their values are values many UU's hold dear. An article recently appeared in the Times Union about them.

During this same time, I have sought to create meaningful, community opportunities around sustainability here at FUSS. For the past two years I have considered ways to create community doing things together, like canning or making cheese or sauerkraut. From Scratch Club seemed a perfect venue for this. They do not have locations in Schenectady while their locations in Saratoga and Troy have been very popular. They are launching DIY cooking schools too!  So I reached out to the FSC founder and suggested FUSS as a possible place to host some Schenectady events.

And she agreed! So,  join us in building local community, trading goods you make or grow yourself May 16, July 18 and September 19.

FUSS Collaborative Easter Egg Hunt

This from our illustrious RE Easter committee!

This year we are conducting a COLLABORATIVE Egg Hunt based upon many of our seven principles! Please review these with your child prior to Sunday.

1. Each person is important. (Everyone is part of our community) 
2. Be kind in all you do.  (Find eggs for each other) 
3. We're free to learn together.  (Have fun)
4. We search for what is true.  (Equality matters) 
5. All people need a voice.  (and some eggs) 
6. Build a fair and peaceful world.  (Be fair, help each other and everyone will feel good) 
7. We care for Earth's lifeboat. (Make sure to pick up all those plastic eggs)

Here is how the Egg Hunt will work: After the Sunday worship service, children “Preschool” through “Coming of Age” (this would include Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 7th, and those kids in the “Coming of Age” group) should report to the Hall between the Kitchen and Dining Room.

Pre-K, K, 1st, 2nd and 3rd graders will line up on the Dining Room side of the Hall (please refer to signs). 4th, 5th, 6th, and older will line up on the Kitchen side of the Hall (please refer to signs). We will PAIR older and younger students in groups of TWO. Each person will be given a specific count of eggs that they may find and the TWO must work together to find both of their specified number TOGETHER. Find ONE egg for the youngest kid FIRST then you may alternate finding eggs for each other! BOTH kids must participate.

Once EVERYONE has their number of eggs please return to the back patio near the doors to:
1. Open eggs
2. Return the plastic eggs
3. AND receive a BONUS prize!

 If there are any concerns or special requests regarding your children’s needs, please contact our Egg Hunt Leaders, Roz Dahl or Lara Turney. Thanks for your cooperation!

Religion and the Empathic Society

Video from KarmaTube

I found this 10 minutes video thought provoking and relevant to our Unitarian Universalist values.  In this stunningly visual and cohesive ten-minute video, Jeremy Rifkin defines the empathic civilization -- and suggests that if we can imagine that possibility, we can save our species and our planet. "Empathy is grounded in the acknowledgment of death and the celebration of life, and rooting for each other to flourish..."

(WE)RE Standing on the Side of Love!

It's been a busy few weeks here at First Unitarian Society Schenectady! Here are some photos from the Trevor Project discussion panel that RE partnered with Welcoming Congregation to offer.

We had over 55 youth and adults stay for the panel discussion and a really excellent panel of presenters. The Schenectady Gazette covered the earlier event with the youth too!

Late winter happenings...

Hope this late winter-time, and for many a school-vacation break, finds you with time and space to enjoy what is most important to you! FUSS is still busy with opportunities to gather, serve, learn and grow in community.

This Sunday we have religious education classes for children and youth!

This Sunday night, February 26,  from 5-7 PM we are showing the film,  The Other Side of Immigration. This award-winning film asks why so many Mexicans leave home to work in the United States and what happens to the families and communities they leave behind. Through an approach that is both subtle and thought provoking, the film challenges audiences to imagine more creative and effective immigration policies. The film will be shown in the Great Hall and followed by a discussion. The film is free and open to everyone.

Sunday, March 11th, the Trevor Lifeguard Project is coming!  Welcoming Congregation and RE are partnering to host this workshop for youth in grades 6-12 during regular RE hours. Morning sessions for youth will be followed by a luncheon and panel discussion for youth, their parents, and interested allies in the FUSS community. There will be an opportunity to ask questions with guest professionals from the greater Capital District, including Chad Putman, Board President of Rainbow Access Initiative and local coordinator for The Trevor Project. The luncheon is free; please RSVP to Melissa by March 8th. Look for a fuller description in the March issue of Circles.

Sundae Sunday is coming!  Our annual multi-generational event, Sundae Sunday, will take place Sunday, March 18 this year. Senior youth will scoop ice cream to raise money towards their trip to New Orleans.

Happy New Year!

This Sunday, uh, tomorrow, is our young adult worship service. This is our second year offering this service. We will also have a lot of music that will include our youth as well.

The service is titled, Being and Becoming. I am looking forward to hearing what some of our young adults will share during their reflections.

As I thought about it, I think we are always always in that process. No matter what our age, we can change and grow. At some ages it is more transparent than others, like when we're younger. We also all need to learn how to just "be," right here right now. Honestly, I think that's the harder part these days. A lovely book for children and interested adults on this very topic as it relates to our animal pets is, Guardians of Being: Spiritual Teachings from Our Dogs and Cats.

As I reflected on this some more, I realized that what I wanted to share during our story for all ages time is not really a story, but a metaphor, about our relationships to each other. It's called Indra's Web.

Our 6/7 class will meet Sunday to plan for their roles the following Sunday, January 15, in the worship service and Children's Chapel.

The rest of our RE classes and senior youth group will resume for 2012 on January 15!