All Blog Posts (276)

Small Steps Towards Big Change

With the season of light behind us, the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah, the Christian celebration of Christmas, Diwali, the Indian festival of lights, and the African American celebration of Kwanzaa, once more the New Year offers us the opportunity for beginning again. The New Year provides space for wiping…

     The Caring Ministry Team would appreciate your aid in the form of acquiring some medical equipment to establish an inventory for congregants to borrow in time of need. Often during a medical situation there is a need for medical equipment on a short time basis; such as, a cane, walker, wheelchair, crutches, etc. Recognizing that some of this expensively purchased equipment is set aside unused once the medical situation has been mitigated; your donation of same…

Salary Range $16,500 – $18,500 at 25 hr/wk

Flexible Hours, Health Benefits & Two-Weeks Paid Vacation

The First Unitarian Church is a dynamic and growing Congregation &…

'Tis The Season To Be Joyful

It seems like only yesterday that we were planning picnics and pool parties, yet the time for tinsel and gift wrapping is right around the corner as the holiday season rapidly approaches. Beholding the joy of the
season may seem easy because of new relationships, additions to the family circle with the birth of a child, or employment after a long dry…

We are 4 months into our fiscal year (July – October).  Because the summer months are “off season” and historically slow financially, it is still a little early to gauge how we are doing financially when compared with our revised budget.  However, there are some trends that are starting to emerge that we will be monitoring very closely over the next few months.

Finance Working Group (FWG)

The FWG reviews the cash flow in and out of our checking account on a monthly basis…

A $45 donation for a floral arrangement beautifies the Sanctuary on Sunday and is a wonderful way to celebrate an occasion or to remember a loved one. To reserve a date, contact Judy at thejudybird@gmail.com or call the church office at 215-563-3980. You can make your tax-deductible donation online at www.philauu.org or send a…

Social Justice Goals for the 2011-2012 Church Year

• Education/Literacy Theme
  • School Supply Drive – Complete and Successful!
  • Holiday New Book Drive – It’s coming! …

The Property Ministry Team is looking for a volunteer to write a grant for the Truss Stabilization of our church home. If you can serve our community in this way, please contact Property Ministry Team Chair, Ginni Stiles (ginni.stiles@gmail.com). 

Thank you!

by Iris Marie Bloom

It’s about time…. With a vote now expected to open the Delaware River Basin to fracking on November 21st, it’s high time the City of Philadelphia joins in with New York’s Attorney General, Delaware Riverkeeper Network, Damascus Citizens for Sustainability and others suing the Delaware River Basin Commission (DRBC) to forbid fracking at least until a Basin-specific study of cumulative impacts is completed, along with the EPA study on…

Keeping it real” has become one of those overused phrases from pop culture.  Earlier on another popular phrase with the same meaning, “telling it like it is,” was overused. For the most part, I’ve observed that both of these phrases usually followed the deliverance of “truth” that the recipient found unpleasant to hear. People who keep it real share their authentic selves fully, presenting themselves, as they truly are, the good parts and the parts most of us would rather hide.…

October 8^th and 9^th bring us two amazing opportunities to celebrate the inherent worth and dignity of every person. From marching to help promote trans* awareness to making a strong showing at Outfest, we can really bring our welcoming congregation status to the forefront. 

On October 8^th, Philadelphia will host its first-ever Trans* March, beginning at 3pm in Love…

AUGUST SCHOOL SUPPLY DRIVE – For the second year in a row First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia helped the Andrew Jackson School at 12^th and Federal Streets kick off the school year with a delivery of about 2500 school supply items.   Pretty amazing!  Many THANKS to all who contributed and supported the drive.  A special thanks to Ranwa Hammamy for taking the lead on this project!

ADULT EDUCATION  – Check out the Adult Education brochure for…

Unifying Heart and Mind

Once again, it’s the end of summer and a new church year is just waiting to be filled. As we move through the year, please make note that as Community…

Michael Paul Christian (Hawrylyschyn), a faithful volunteer at the First Unitarian Church died suddenly Friday, August 5, 2011. He was 59.   

Mike was a loyal helper of Sexton Jim Devenney for over two decades. We found Mike to be hospitable, kind, generous and funny. On behalf of the entire 1stU family we will miss him very much.

Born in Germany, Michael was…

In my last post, I promised to explain why the iron gates have been removed from the south porch.  The short answer is that some masonry repairs could not be done with them in place.  Of course, if were that simple there would be little to write about!  Read on to learn more about some of the complications we…

Masonry restoration of the south porch is nearing completion!

My last update showed how spalls are prepared for patching.  Here is what happens next.  Patching compound, mixed to match the color of the limestone, is packed into the cavity and mounded above the adjacent surfaces (left).  Once it has partially dried, a mason carefully carves the excess away to give a textured surface which matches the original…

     The Rev. Victor H. Carpenter, minister emeritus of the First Church in Belmont, Mass. & one time minister of the First Unitarian Church of Philadelphia, received the Distinguished Service Award, which is given annually to a lay or professional leader who, over a period of time, is deemed by the UUA Board of Trustees to have made extraordinary contributions to the strength of the Association, and who exemplifies the values of our shared…

Restoration of the south porch masonry is finally underway!

A Call from Sister Mary Scullion to

Defeat the Sidewalk Behavior Amendment Bill

Sister Mary Scullion, RSM is a Philadelphia-based American Roman Catholic nun and activist,

ranked in 2009 as one of the"World's Most Influential People" by Time…