2020-04-23

Fardin & Mahnaz on NPR

Fardin & Mahnaz were on NPR! They were part of a story about local refugees helping with the coronavirus response in Westchester.

If you have three minutes, the story is well worth a listen.


Wall of Vows

Instructions: Articulating Your Vow
As you think about how you would articulate your Great Vow, it’ll be helpful to reflect on your sources of vow. There are three sources: inherited, reactive, and inspired.

Inherited Vow. What is your inherited vow? As you were growing up, what were you given to understand by your parents or primary caretakers was the primary function of a life? They may never have articulated it to you, but if you had to now articulate what your parents’ great vows were, what were they?

Reactive Vow. What experiences of wrong or harm have shaped you? Sometimes people who become doctors had a formative experience with illness or death -- or people who become lawyers experienced injustice in their childhood or youth. Or maybe unpleasant experiences with your parents or other significant adults imbued with a clarity about the kind of person you wanted NOT to be. What reactions in your life have shaped your sense of the purpose of your life?

Inspired Vow. We pick up inspired vows – often in adolescence or early adulthood – when we learn about someone we admire. We aspire to be like them. Martin Luther King Jr’s vow of nonviolence came from an inspired vow – inspired by the life and work of Mahatma Gandhi. Athletes often draw inspiration from a particular athlete they admire. Who are your heroes?

Discerning Your Vow. To bring out your vow -- to consciously articulate and thereby strengthen it as the orientation of your life -- it helps to explore those three sources of vow: the inherited, reactive, and inspired. Then reflect on how to bring this sources together into one overall Great Vow of your life. You may Email your Great Vow to me at minister - at - cucwp - dot - org. OR: Add your vow as a Comment below.

Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation's
Wall of Vows

* * *
I vow to live with compassion and integrity.

* * *
Make the time to care for yourself, to be kind to all others, and to protect the planet. -Jacy

* * *
I vow to push forward in love.

* * *
I vow to live soulfully, and to give back.

* * *
My great vow is to give of myself through caring, nonjudgmental listening, my empathy and sympathy, my friendship to all those who are struggling in life with things like sickness, death, relationships, daily life for an immigrant etc.

* * *
To give everyone the care I give to my family. To hold my beliefs lightly and change them as circumstances change.

* * *
To be present in loving awareness.

* * *
I vow to be mindful of both self care and care for others.

* * *
I vow to know, to know not-knowing, to not know;
To learn to be what is new, to arrive fresh, to arrive in love, to endear;
To stumble with, to embrace, to grapple;
To companion, to befriend, to love, to love, to love;
To attend (to serve, to wait);
To notice, to bear witness, to never let creation play to an empty house;
To be the motion of stillness -- and the stillness of motion;
To yield, and yield, and yield, and budge not an inch;
To receive all the pain of the world -- and all the joy;
To rest in the peace of defeat -- restless in triumph;
To live until I die -- and die, and die, and die until I live.

* * *
I vow to love and to learn.

* * *
Accept all beings as my teachers

* * *
I vow to recognize, cultivate and nurture community

* * *
See the Magic in everything.

* * *
CARE

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* * *
Aging gracefully
With Compassion, Frugality, and Joy

* * *
Inherited: education has a way live to my adult live life free of economic uncertainty and potential hardship; don’t let others squelch my talents
Reactive: to be free of emotional instability
Heroes: political and cultural leaders who fought for fairness and equality, e.g., JFK, RFK, MLK, Gene McCarthy, Pete Seeger, Bob Dylan

* * *
Inherited - Be selflessly loyal to one's family
Reactive - Be open minded, no matter how challenging
Inspired - Learn to be happy with less

* * *
I vow to live soulfully and use my gifts to give back.

* * *
I want to be a home my children can--and seek to--visit throughout their lives.

* * *
To give and receive love. To continue to learn, evolve and move forward. To listen more. To speak up. To not be afraid. To always be kind.

* * *
I vow to keep learning about what really matters.

* * *
Be the person who makes others feel welcome and thereby makes him/her self feel welcome and fitting in.

2020-04-22

Music: Sun Apr 26


The “Indianist Movement” refers to a practice among several early-twentieth century American composers of classical music to evoke Native American culture in their works. In some cases, they attempted to harmonize indigenous folk melodies; in others, they provided more generalized evocations of this world. Edward MacDowell, Charles Wakefield Cadman, Arthur Nevin, and Arthur Farwell were among the better-known exponents of this style. Just as their music represents a nexus between European musical traditions and indigenous cultures, the Centering Music begins with a commemoration of the date of the advent of white European settlers to a land already settled by another people.

From its CD, the CUUC Choir also offers a famous evocation of a river which carries the name of an indigenous people.  Read on for programming details.

Centering Music: Adam Kent, piano
“A.D. 1620” from Sea Pieces, Op. 55
                        Edward MacDowell
“Village Song,” “Before the Sunrise,” and “Wolf Song” from Thunderbolt Suite, Op. 63
                        Charles Wakefield Cadman

Opening Music:
“Indian Idyl” from New England Idyls, Op. 62
                                                MacDowell

Interlude:
“From an Indian Lodge” from Woodland Sketches, Op. 51
                                                MacDowell

Anthem: CUUC Choir directed by Lisa N. Meyer and accompanied by Georgianna Pappas
Shenandoah
                        American Folk Song, arr. by Brad Printz


Meditation:
“Panorama” from From Edgeworth Hills
                        Arthur Nevin

Music for Parting:
“Choral” and “Ichibuzzhi” from American Indian Melodies
                        Arthur Farwell

2020-04-21

This Week in Religious Education: Apr 21-28

*|MC:SUBJECT|*
Religious Education & Faith Development
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains
April 21, 2020

 

At-a-Glance RE Calendar This Week
Plus a Few Extras!
Details Provided in the Boxes that Follow, in the 
CUUC Online Programming Schedule 
Our Online Calendar

 

Tuesday, April 21

  • 9:30-10:00am PreK/K Story Time with Diane (Room 4635)
  • NEW! 3:00-3:30pm Mindfulness: Mandala Meditation with April Castoldi - for all ages! (Room 2210)
  • 7:15-8:00pm Children’s Story Time with Rev. Meredith (Room 4635)
  • NEW! 8:15-9:15pm Parent Group (Room 8428)
Wednesday, April 22
  • 9:00am Past Prime Time Dancers (Room 8428)
  • 12:00-12:30pm Community Lunch with Tracy B (Room 7899)
  • NEW! 3:00-3:30pm Mindfulness: Mid-Week Meditation Chill with Rev. Meredith - for all ages! (Room 2210)
  • 7:15-8:00pm Children’s Story Time with Amy Nathan (Room 4635)

Thursday, April 23

  • 9:30-10:00am PreK/K Story Time with Diane (Room 4635)
  • 1:00-3:00pm Science & Spirituality Group (Room 7899)
  • NEW! 3:00-3:30pm Mindfulness: Meditation & Gentle Movement with Jane Cowan - for all ages! (Room 2210)
  • 7:15-8:00pm Children’s Story Time with Barbara Mair (Room 4635)

Friday, April 24

  • 9:00am Past Prime Time Dancers (Room 8428)
  • 12:00-12:30pm Community Lunch with Rev. Meredith (Room 7899)
  • 3:00-3:30pm Mindfulness: A Tempo with Adam, live piano performance - for all ages! (Adam's Room, Listed Below)
  • NEW! 4:00-4:30pm Children’s RE (K-5th grades) (Room 8428)
  • 6:30pm SR Youth Group (8th/9th-12th grades) if Youth RSVP (Room 8428)
  • 6:30pm JR Youth Group (6th-8th/9th grades) (Room 2210)
  • 7:00-8:30pm Sehdeva Journey Group (open to new members) (Room 7899)

Saturday, April 25

  • 10:00am-12:00pm Zen Practice Led by Rev. Meredith (Room 7899)

Sunday, April 26

  • 10:00am Worship (Room 1991)
  • 11:00am Coffee Hour (Room 2210)
  • 11:30am Coming of Age RE Class (Room 8428)
  • 12:30-1:00pm Racial Justice / In the Spirit of Truth (Room 7899)
  • NEW! 4:00-5:15pm: Adult RE Class with Rev. Meredith (Room 7899)

Monday, April 27

  • 12:00-12:30pm Community Lunch with Pam B (Room 7899)
  • 3:00-3:30pm Mindfulness: A Tempo with Adam, live piano performance - for all ages! (Adam's Room, Listed Below)

Opportunities to Connect
 
Staying Socially & Spiritually Connected While Physically Distancing
Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:00-12:30pm, Community Lunch. Hosted on Mondays by Pam P, Wednesdays by Tracy B, and Fridays by Rev. Meredith. zoom.us/j/2898507899.

Tuesday & Thursday 9:30-10:00am, PreK/K Story Time and Songs with Diane. In the Private RE Zoom Room

Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 7:15-8:00pm, Children's Story Time. In the Private RE Zoom RoomReaders: Tuesdays, Rev. Meredith; Wednesdays, Amy Nathan; Thursdays, Barbara Mair. Barbara is reading Stuart Little over five Thursdays. You can listen to the audio of Barbara reading: Part 1 / Part 2 / Part 3.  
 
NEW  Tuesday 8:15-9:15pm, Parent Group, an opportunity for parents to share and support each other through parenting during a pandemic. zoom.us/j/817388428.

Wednesday & Friday 9:00am, Past Prime Time Dancers with Terri Kung.  zoom.us/j/817388428.

Thursday 1:00-3:00pm, Science & Spirituality Group. A bi-monthly meeting (2nd & 4th Thursdays) to explore the relationship between science and spirituality. Contact: Barbara Mair (barbara.k.mair@icloud.com). zoom.us/j/2898507899.

NEW  Friday 4:00-4:30pm, Children's RE with Amy Nathan & Tracy Breneman. We are now offering Children's RE weekly on Fridays at 4:00pm. This Friday, we will make space for our children to express how they are handling the up-ending of their daily lives during this pandemic. The White Plains Public Library has started a project—“Documenting COVID-19: White Plains Experiences” —and invites local residents to submit contributions. The Library of Congress and other archives are also collecting accounts of living through this pandemic. Amy Nathan, CUUC member and author of books for children and adults, has been reading books to a small group of RE students on Wednesday evenings and has volunteered to work with RE students on their story and art ideas, and perhaps put their creations together in some kind of format to share with others at CUUC or to send to one of those archives.  Here are two links that tell more about the archives that are collecting pandemic-related materials: White Plains Library & Library of Congress and Other Archiveszoom.us/j/817388428.

Friday 6:30pm, JR Youth Group (6th-8th/9th grades). JRYG meets 2nd & 4th Fridays. Contact: Tracy Breneman.  This Friday, youth make a snack using these required ingredients: flour, sugar, milk, fruit, butter and eggs, then you can add anything else. Bring your snack and a favorite Ted Talk to watch with the group. zoom.us/j/3369562210.

Friday 6:30pm, SR Youth Group (8th/9th-12th grades) if Youth RSVP in the GroupMe chat (or suggest another day/time). Leaders: Cyndi and Daniel Tillman.

Friday 7:00pm, Journey Group led by Alex Sehdeva. This is a weekly check-in. The group is open to new members. Contact Alex Sehdeva (alex.sehdeva@gmail.com). zoom.us/j/2898507899.

Sunday 11:30am-12:30pm, Coming of Age Class. Youth meet with Kate Colson and Tracy Breneman to continue working on their credo statements and worship planning. zoom.us/j/817388428. COA class meets weekly on Sunday at 11:30am through May 10th.

12:30-1:30pm Racial Justice / In the Spirit of Truth Meeting. Contact: Jeff Tomlinson (Jeff Tomlinson8@gmail.com). zoom.us/j/2898507899.


Sunday 4:00-5:15pm, Adult RE Class: Don't Be So Predictable with Rev. Meredith. Read the post about this practice HERE. Try some the practices described. Then join the class to share our experiences and reflections. zoom.us/j/2898507899.
 
VISIT the CUUC Online Programming Schedule for programs and resources! There are links with fun for children, music & the arts, and to get you up and moving. The Zoom room links are also posted there for easy reference. Have a look!

NEW

Moments of Mindfulness
 
Daily Opportunity to Catch Your Breath, Quiet Your Mind, and
Re-charge - for All Ages

Monday 3:00-3:30pm, A Tempo with Adam Kent, Live Piano Performance. zoom.us/j/2506008849 or phone 646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID  250 600 8849. Please keep your microphone muted.

Tuesday 3:00-3:30pm, Mandala Meditation with April Castoldi, Drawing Mandalas. Bring papers, colored pencils, pens or other materials. 
zoom.us/j/3369562210 or phone 646 876 9923 and enter Meeting ID 336 956 2210.

Wednesday 3:00-3:30pm, Mid-Week Chill with Rev. Meredith, Meditation.  zoom.us/j/3369562210 or phone 646 876 9923 and enter Meeting ID 336 956 2210.

Thursday 3:00-3:30pm, Mindfulness Moment with Jane Cowan, Meditation and Gentle Movement.  zoom.us/j/3369562210 or phone 646 876 9923 and enter Meeting ID 336 956 2210.

Friday 3:00-3:30pm, A Tempo with Adam Kent, Live Piano Performance. zoom.us/j/2506008849 or phone 646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID  250 600 8849. Please keep your microphone muted.

Saturday 10:00am-12:00pm, Zen - Online with Rev. Meredith.  
zoom.us/j/2898507899 or phone 646-876-9923 and enter Meeting ID 289 850 7899.

Sunday 10:00-11:00am, Worship Servicezoom.us/j/761321991 or phone 646-876-9923 and enter Meeting ID 761 321 991.
 

De-stress & calm your mind any time with a 1 min, 10 min or 15 min recorded mindfulness meditation ~ this could be a wonderful daily practice for the whole family.

Sunday: April 26, 2020

Worship:  Expanding Our Story: Indigenous Peoples
Rev. Meredith Garmon and Tracy Breneman
9:50am Centering Music
10:10am Worship Begins

In Our Virtual Worship Space-Online: zoom.us/j/761321991 or
by Phone: 646-876-9923 with Meeting ID: 761 321 991

11:00(ish) Virtual Coffee Hour
Zoom Room Ending 2210: zoom.us/j/3369562210

Religious Education 

11:30am-12:30pm Coming of Age Class: Kate Colson and Tracy Breneman meet with youth as they continue working on their belief statements and planning for their May 17th worship service.  zoom.us/j/817388428.  For phone audio dial 646-558-8656 and enter Meeting ID 817 388 428.

4:00-5:15pm Adult RE Class: Practice of the Week, "Don't Be So Predictable." with Rev. Meredith. Read the post about this practice HERE. Try some the practices described. Then join the class to share our experiences and reflections. 
View the growing list of online activities and
resources we have shared, all collected in one place: HERE.

 
Community Unitarian Universalist Congregation at White Plains  
468 Rosedale Ave · White Plains, NY 10605-5419
.