The sessions will meet on the following Thursday nights at 7:00 pm: June 25, July 9 and 23, Aug. 13 and 27, and will end Sept. 10.  Each session will last an hour and a half, participants must agree to miss no more than one circle and to read all materials in advance. The Heart to Heart books will be available for loan or purchase from Fourth U. Come enter the circle of listening and sharing.

Join co-leaders Rev. Beth Putnam, Fourth U Affiliate  Community Minister, and Tom McGuinness, Fourth U Music Director, for brief services of reflection built around music, poetry and silence offered one Wednesday a month at 7:00 p.m. at Fourth U.

Each month will focus on a different spiritual tradition.  Here are the topics for this summer:

• June 17th – Earth-based traditions can connect us to a sense of our place in time and space, especially by focusing our attention on the changes in the world around us. The Summer Solstice celebrates the beginning of summer, come celebrate with chants and reflection.
• July 15th- In many Buddhist traditions, sitting meditation combines chant meditation and silent meditation to expand each participant’s consciousness of themselves and their connection to the world. Come share an evening of mantra chanting and silent meditation with others.
• August 19th- Summer is time when many of us explore nature, come explore nature inside our own heads at Refresh and Revive. This nature meditation will combine simple songs with the poetry of Mary Oliver and times of silence.

Please get your registration and payment in as soon as possible.

Download the form HERE – RETREAT REGISTRATION FORM.  You can hand it in after church, or mail it to:

Retreat Registration, Fourth Universalist Society, 160 Central Park West, NY, NY 10023.

The cost is the same as last year: $200 for adults and $110 for children 12 and younger. What’s different is transportation. We will be renting a van for those who are not traveling by car (though carpooling is certainly encouraged!). There will be a modest charge to cover this cost.

Spend the weekend reacquainting yourself with other members of the Fourth U community in the tranquility of the woods in Connecticut. Hike through the woods, swim in the lake, or just sit and read. We go up to the Incarnation Center near Ivoryton, CT, the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and return on Sunday afternoon.

For more information, please contact Matt Gilbert (646-209-0033 or matt_gilbert@world.oberlin.edu).  This is one of the highlights of the Fourth U year, so please join us!

Recently members of the congregation have shared their wonderful stories about their lives at Fourth U and as Unitarian Universalists during Sunday services.  We want to hear from more of you, and to share our experiences with others, both church members and those seeking a spiritual home, via our website. The Fourth U Communications Committee plans to videorecord church members telling their stories, which will be edited into short segments, each of a minute or so, to be posted on www.4thu.org starting late this summer.

We have set aside time from 12:30 to 2:30pm on Sunday, May 17, for our own filmmaker William Pace to videorecord your story.  We want to hear what aspects of your life with us are most important — the spiritual, the multicultural community, the religious education, the commitment to social justice, or the fun and community.  We want to hear why you chose Fourth U, why you are a Unitarian Universalist, what drew you to us, and what keeps you here.

So plan to join us to make your story made available to others on our website.  We will meet on May 17 at 12:30 pm behind the altar.  Lunch will be provided.  Children are welcome to participate with their parents.  Mark your calendars now!