Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York

Trinity Shelter is in desperate need of volunteers to sleep overnight on Saturdays. If you can help with that or are interested in helping at the Wednesday night dinners hosted by Fourth U please contact Claudia Lorie Ishariel@aol.com (212) 708-8884

Join Fourth U members on Sunday, June 28, after services as we gather together to march in the Pride Parade! It’s a joyous event you will remember for a lifetime and a great chance to let the public know what a great congregation we have. Family and kid friendly! Contact Claudia Lorie: Ishariel@aol.com 212-706-8884

Share Your Fourth U and UU Stories - May 17!

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!

ONLINE TICKET PURCHASE IS NO LONGER AVAILABLE. TICKETS WILL BE AVAILABLE AT THE DOOR, BEGINNING AT 7 PM. COME EARLY TO GET A GOOD SEAT AND ENJOY THE VAGINA FAIR!

On Saturday, April 4, 2009: “The Vagina Monologues” is coming to the Fourth Universalist Society!

That’s right, Eve Ensler’s powerful, award winning play-that-has-become-a-movement will be presented right here at 4th Universalist on April 4 at 8:00 p.m.

Organized by Deborah Roth, and directed by Nancy Robillard, we will join the hundreds of thousands of “Vagina Warriors” around the world who have launched productions in support of V-Day - a global movement to end violence against women and girls. In 2008, over 4000 V-Day benefit events took place produced by volunteer activists in the U.S. and around the world, educating millions of people about the reality of violence against women and girls.

To date, the V-Day movement has raised over $60 million and educated millions about the issue of violence against women and the efforts to end it, crafted international educational, media and Public Service Announcement campaigns, launched the Karama program in the Middle East, reopened shelters, and funded over 6000 community-based anti-violence programs and safe houses in Democratic Republic Of Congo, Haiti, Kenya, South Dakota, Egypt and Iraq.

We will be donating all profits from our event to our own local organizations – Day One and The NiteStar Program. Day One educates, advocates, and provides support services and leadership development to youth to end dating abuse and domestic violence. Funding has recently been cut to Day One’s peer leader program, and they are in great need of financial support. Also facing recent budget cuts, The NiteStar Program provides a positive and creative learning environment through their interactive performances. NiteStar’s productions are designed to diffuse myths, provide HIV/AIDS awareness, pregnancy, substance abuse and relationship violence prevention, help youth to make informed decisions, provide options for changing attitudes and prejudices, and create opportunities for behavioral change. Since we hope to donate as much money to these organizations as possible, we will need to cover the few expenses we will incur in staging such an event and still have money left over to give away. We hope that we can depend on you for financial support.
(Download the flier here so that you can help us to publicize the event.)

Women and men of all ages are invited to participate! Auditions are over, so we are no longer looking for actors, but if you would like to be involved, please download the application form here and submit it by e-mail to Deborah Roth at dsrothny@aol.com, or give her the hard copy at church. Questions? Call Deborah at 212-665-9660.

We’re looking forward to seeing you on Saturday, April 4th:

7:00pm — Come join us for our pre-performance VAGINA FAIR — a celebration of female anatomy that features music, games, and tables providing information on our local beneficiaries and sponsors. You’ll also be able to create or buy your very own V-Day bracelet and munch on fabulous V-goodies, including our hand-made, delectable chocolate Vagina-pops!

8:00pm — THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES!

Check out www.vday.org for more information about the V-Day movement, and the page about our production.

LIGHT &  LOOT!

 Live Auction with Professional Auctioneer!

Bid and Bump!

Coupon Draw!

Fund-a-wish!

Sumptuous Dinner!   Lots of Drink!     Friends!    Fun!

In the current economic climate it’s hard to think about more ways we can support Fourth U financially. With income stagnant and costs rising, many of us have to give greater consideration to how we spend our money. What I would like us to do is think creatively about how we give to Fourth U. In many models of giving to churches, consultants look at financial contributions by the congregation as a measure of the health of a church, but at a recent leadership workshop, a speaker suggested that we should look beyond that. She gave as an example a single mother with a very tight budget: while she was unable to give as much as she would have liked, she volunteered to answer phone calls to the church on Sundays. A penny saved is a penny earned. Think about ways to give your time – and your talent – to Fourth U; the leadership will do the same.

Please make sure that our annual auction is on your calendar. Many people have contributed their time and talent to this spectacular affair. Bring your family and bring your friends. Let them get to know the people of Fourth U at this important event. There is still time to make donations; the deadline is November 14th. Stewardship is the responsibility of every member, and together we can get Fourth U through these hard times.

Matt Gilbert