Fourth Universalist Society in the City of New York

The annual 4th U Retreat is upon us again! As always, we go up the Friday of Memorial Day weekend, and return on Sunday. Spend the weekend reacquainting yourself with other members of the 4th U community in the tranquility of the woods in Connecticut. Hike through the woods, swim in the lake, or just sit and read. Forms will be available for the next three Sundays. Payment must be made in full at the time you submit your form. We would like to cut costs by renting a van for the whole weekend instead of a bus for just the return trip. We hope many of you will drive up and take as many with you as you can. The cost of the trip will be determined by Sunday, April 27. Bring your checkbooks to church (payment by credit card will also be possible). This is one of the highlights of the 4th U year, so we hope you can make it! For additional information, call or email Matt Gilbert (646-209-0033, matt_gilbert@world.oberlin.edu).

The whole idea of compassion is based on a keen awareness of the interdependence of all these living beings, which are all part of one another, and all involved in one another.
-Thomas Merton

If I had to pick a favorite principle, it would probably be the seventh, the interdependent web of life. Everything we do comes down to realizing that we, people, animals and nature, are connected to each other in such a way that whatever we do will affect something or someone else.

The same can be said for congregational life. Even if you are not a parent, how much you contribute to the congregation financially and through volunteering will effect how much can be invested in the religious education program. If you are a parent, how much you invest both financially and through volunteering will affect how much the congregation can support its ministry as a whole.
It is important to think about the congregation as a whole when making decisions about contributing your time and money. You may not think you want to spend your time teaching when you could be getting your spiritual nourishment from listening to the sermon. I would ask that you consider that you would also be getting spiritual learning and nourishment of a different kind. By being on the journey with our children and youth, you will see the world through their eyes. My favorite part of working with children and youth is that they have not yet been tainted with the cynicism of adulthood. They are free to think and believe what they want. When my daughter was about five years old she asked me how the world started. I spent a couple of minutes thinking about my response. I was torn between giving her the full big bang theory to simply and more easily saying that I am actually not sure but scientists and the very fundamentalists religious people disagree. While I was debating in my head, she answered herself saying, “I know Mommy, first there was a seed and that seed grew and grew until there were trees, and animals and the sun and sky and humans.” I looked at her and said, “That’s right honey, that is exactly how it happened.” At five years old, it seemed plausible to her and it so closely resembled the big bang theory in my mind that I saw no reason to complicate her understanding.

When I was teaching a Sunday school class a couple of years ago, I had an eight year old ask me, “If God is supposed to be all love and kindness, why is the bible full of violence and gore?” From out of the mouths of babes…

I encourage those of you who have never taught Sunday school to consider joining a teaching team.The RE committee will be recruiting people throughout the spring to commit to teaching next fall. You will work with a group of three or four other people and your schedule would be worked out among the group.

Think about how much you can learn, grow and laugh, by going on this search for truth and meaning with the members of our congregation who are our most precious asset, our children and youth.

If you are interested in teaching, please contact me at Aisha@4thu.org.

In Faith and Peace,
Aisha Hauser, DRE

It’s time to dust off your dice and get ready for a little relaxation and fun!  On Friday, March 21, from 6:30-9:00 PM, please join your fellow Fourth Uers, friends and family for our next game night. We will be playing games of every stripe — board games, card games, party games — you name it, we’ll play it! Many games are provided and feel free to bring your favorites as well. All are welcome, so please invite your friends and remember to bring the kids for this intergenerational evening of fun and laughter. Refreshments will be served and donations for pizza are encouraged. Childcare will be provided. Please contact Jennifer Jackson at jenncjack@mac.com or 718.783.8757 for more information.

As I look back at the time since I arrived here at the Fourth Universalist Society, I have realized that one of the items I would like to make a cornerstone of my ministry is creating a safe space for adults, youth and children to come together and have an open dialogue of their beliefs about religion, parenting, God, spirituality and social justice. Having an open dialogue in a faith with no creed and a set of principles that we agree to affirm means that inevitably people will have differing points of view. That is okay and healthy for a growing community.

Unitarian Universalism is a place where refugees from other, more conservative religions have come to meet at the higher ground of acceptance. They rely on the notion that the free and open exchange of ideas that come from freedom of speech and freedom of expression will lead to a universal truth.  As Unitarian Universalists, we must be especially careful not to turn the underlying principle of Unitarian Universalism on its head by trying to change the opinion of people who have a different, sometimes, completely opposite point of view from our own. If we make this mistake, we run the risk of subverting the very principles that attracted us to this accepting religion, and causing others to feel the same way that our native, conservative religions caused us to feel when we fled them. One of the many reasons that I fled the religion of my childhood for Unitarian Universalism was the very fact that I would not be accepted if I was too open about what I believed about God and religion. Now I am free from those pre-judgments and restraints, and there is a spirituality to be found in that freedom. Let’s try not to mistake specific differences of opinion with the more important principle of freedom of speech/expression.

If we look hard enough, we can always find something that would be offensive to someone in our denomination. Our common goal as Unitarian Universalists should be to accept the fact that each of our beliefs is not always held in agreement with everyone else’s. One of the joys of being part of this faith is that we have the opportunity to model tolerance and acceptance by being in community even when we disagree.

Aisha Hauser, DRE

The annual dance party hosted by the Narwhals will take place in the sanctuary at Fourth U on March 15 at 8:00 PM. The band provides munchies, soft drinks and, best of all, live music for your dancing and listening pleasure. Adult beverages are BYOB. To cover the cost of renting this terrific venue, there is a suggested donation of $10 for each person 13 and over. Kids are welcome, so feel free to bring the entire family. For more information, contact Lois Coleman at lois.coleman@gmail.com.

Elementary Our Whole Lives for 4th-5th Grade will be offered beginning March 2.  Please let Aisha know if you are interested in enrolling your child. There is a mandatory orientation for both the parent and child.  The date will be either February 24 after the service or the evening of February 29.  I will let you know which date is chosen.  If you have a preference for the orientation date, please contact Aisha at aisha@4thu.org.

Due to the President’s Day holiday, there will not be the scheduled classes on Sunday. Reni and Daniel will be available for the children to play downstairs during the service. If you have any questions please e-mail Aisha at aisha@4thu.org. However, Spencer Salzberg will be providing the For Children of All Ages story and leading Children’s chapel downstairs before the supervised play. He’s bringing his perspective as a professional environmentalist with him, and as a kind of extended chapel, will include a viewing of the Lorax.

People have expressed an interest in having a once-a-month parenting class. If you are interested in this, please email Aisha Hauser at aisha@4thu.org. The options are: once a month, either on a Sunday after service, or a Friday night.