The Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry of New Jersey is a coalition of all of the congregations in NJ working to affect public policy by advocating for the seven principles of our faith in Trenton. Officially created in February 2009, social justice leaders from various congregations have been meeting over the last three years to organize and focus on our important issues. In the summer of 2008, UU members were polled and identified economic justice, environmental justice, and health care as main areas of concern. Please join us to learn more about the work of the UULMNJ.

Isn’t it fun when you discover you had something in common with an acquaintance? Let’s celebrate the similarities between us.

In her June 6th sermon, Reverend Tracy spoke about establishing connections with the broader community. Jody and Kathy will talk about their time in the small African country of Malawi, and some of the connections they experienced there.

These are words Sophia Fahs spoke some years ago and are apropos as we meet today. Some beliefs lift us and others up, while others depress or diminish us and others. It truly matters what we accept, value, and cherish in our lives.

The Rev. Crestwell is minister of Davies Memorial UU Church in Camp Springs, MD. Davies Memorial, a multicultural congregation, was cited by the UUA as a "Breakthrough Congregation" in 2007.

If our non-English speaking forefathers learned English without special classes and did just fine in life, why are immigrant students failing today? Why can’t immigrants learn English? Why are we teaching students in Spanish in Plainfield and other cities and towns? Bilingual teacher Melissa Logan will explain the history of bilingual education in the United States, and the pedagogy behind effective modern bilingual and immigrant education programs.

Everyone gets lost every once in awhile. Even a whole nation can be lost. In the frustration of getting lost, what can we find about faith?

Rev. Tracy will begin taking appointments as our new settled minister after August 1. However, if you would like to email her your stories and thoughts about being lost, she will use these as she prepares her sermon. Her email address is revtsj@gmail.com

Randy Pausch was chosen by Beliefnet as their “Most Inspiring Person of 2008.” He was a Political Science Professor at Carnegie Mellon University and . . . a UU. His “The Last Lecture” became an internet sensation, seen by more than 20 million people and was later turned into a book. When you hear his story, you, too, will find it very hard not to be inspired (and proud).

This morning we take a look at America’s favorite past-time, baseball. We will hear some stories about baseball and meet a few players you might not know about. Some say baseball is a religion. We will explore why it just might be true. You need not like baseball to get something out of this sermon!