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Unitarian Universalist Ocean County Congregation |
Services are held on Sundays starting at 10:30 am, through to about 12:00 Noon, at 734 Route 37 West, Toms River, NJ, 08755. (directions).
Dress is generally business casual to casual.
Available are handicap parking with a handicap ramp to the front door; restrooms are not yet handicap accessible.
Child care and a Children's Religious Education program are available each Sunday.
Because our services offer a variety of opinions and practices that reflect our tradition of a free pulpit, you may want to attend a few of them; our forthcoming services programs appears below, as are overviews of some recent services. You may also want to listen to some recent services audios to get a sense of the range of approaches.
Please join us after the service for a hospitality time with beverages and light refreshments, so that we may get to know one another, and support you on your faith journey!
Mrs. Hanaford’s biographical dictionary, Daughters of America, included her fascinating history and led to my research. I began in Jersey City and found her front-page news as a Universalist Pastor in trouble with her congregation. New Jersey Universalist archives of this era were lost in a fire. Other archives are in the Andover-Harvard Theological Library where I learned about 19th century Universalism including Rev. Hanaford’s career in New Haven. From there I met Rev. Sarah Barber-Braun.
Loretta Cody co-authored A Mighty Social Force with Rev. Sarah Barber-Braun; the first biography of Universalist Rev. Phebe Hanaford. Loretta served Muslim women in Pakistan for 16 years. On her return to the States in 1975 she worked as a pediatric nurse in Sloan-Kettering Memorial Hospital in Manhattan. In time she asked herself “Why are American women different? Who gave us our rights and privileges? This led to a private study of women’s history where she discovered that traditional religions hampered women’s rights. After getting a Masters degree in Theology she resumed her study of America women.
Imam Chebli seeks to explain Islam to Americans. He is a tower of strength to the Islamic community in central New Jersey and beyond. As a member of the North and South Brunswick Diversity Committee and the South Brunswick Clergy Association Imam Chebli is a regular visitor to the local churches, synagogues, public schools and town hall meetings, promoting unity through diversity.
Imam Chebli is the “Imam,” or ‘religious leader,’ of the ISCJ. He grew up in Lebanon, and attended one of the most the prestigious Islamic institutions in the world, Al-Azhar University in Cairo, Egypt. Imam Chebli received his Masters in Islamic Canonical Law from Al-Azhar University.
He has been the face of the ISCJ since 1986, when he was appointed the Imam. Over the years he has become an indispensible part of interfaith dialogue throughout central New Jersey and beyond.
In recognition of his contribution to interfaith dialogue and diversity throughout New Jersey, the Governor of New Jersey appointed Imam Chebli to the Governor’s Leadership Summit on Diversity.
Traveling to a developing country, and a part of the world from which her personal heritage springs, was an indelible experience for her heart, mind, soul, and body.
The Reverend Linda Goonewardene has degrees in Psychology and Sociology from Carleton University and McMaster University. She was born in England, grew up in Canada, and has been living in New Jersey for the last 23 years. Here she has parented two children and graduated from Drew University with a Masters in Divinity. Since 2002, Linda has worked with Integrity House, a non-profit agency that provides substance abuse treatment programs in Newark and
Secaucus for people from every part of the state. She is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor. As a community minister, Linda is affiliated with the UU Congregation at Montclair. She lives in Secaucus with her partner, David Barker, and her son, Max.
Phil recently traveled to Mali, West Africa. His short film presents a different view of Africa: instead of starvation and suffering, we'll see smiling faces and the beauty of a simple way of life. He'll also play an African musical instrument used for meditation, and bring a Malian folktale for all ages.
Phil Passantino is an ordained minister who has spoken in UU Fellowships from the Poconos to Ireland. He has spoken at our congregational services several times. He officiates unique and meaningful weddings, baptisms and funerals for people of all faith backgrounds. He's also a singer and guitarist. His website is www.AmazingCeremonies.com.
While Unitarian Universalists generally do not view Jesus as a supernatural being, many of us, in the tradition of Thomas Jefferson and the Jefferson Bible, honor Jesus as an exemplar, a master teacher who, in the line of Jewish prophets and teachers, pointed the way to redemptive love and in whose spirit anyone may live generously and abundantly. This service explores these teachings and ways we can apply the principles of Jesus’ parables and teachings to the spirit of generosity and love in our daily lives.
Charlie Versfelt is a former member and frequent visitor and lay-leader at UUOCC since around 2002. His services often focus on Unitarian Universalist history. He currently serves as the head of Worship Associates in the UU Congregation of Somerset Hills, was raised in a Protestant Christian home, although his father was an agnostic, and he has a great interest in history and liberal theology.
For a number of years he's been writing a book called “The Jefferson Bible Code”, and recently had two short stories published in an anthology.
He lives
in Raritan New Jersey with his wife Doreen, his daughter Kayla and stepdaughter Melissa.
How will we confront this very divisive issue? Our Social Action Committee joins with our Program Committee to develop this presentation. At this time it’s a work in progress. Come join us to learn and perhaps have your own voice heard as well. During the next two or three weeks turn on your email program and send us your ideas. Let’s think “Solutions.”
While we frequently oppose our nation’s engagement in wars, or decry its social policies that we view as inconsistent with our UU principles, can we (and should we) nonetheless endorse or participate in acts of “patriotism?” Is patriotism inherently contrary to the idea of the oneness of humanity because it promotes separateness and highlights group differences? Some ideas to consider on another Fourth of July.
Richard Grzywinski is married to Cynthi and they have four children. They have six grandchildren aged 6 months to 15 years. Richard is currently enrolled at Meadville Lombard Theological Schoo, and he is a member of Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the South Jersey Shore, http://www.UUCSJS.org.
According to Sharon Salzberg, a Buddhist, “Forgiveness has the power to ripen forces of purity such as love, and affirms the qualities of patience and compassion. It creates the space for renewal, and a life free of bondage to the past.”
The world’s wisdom traditions have all devoted effort to instructing their followers about the place of forgiveness in their paths. Psychologists have taken up the cause and also affirmed the value of forgiveness as a path toward healing. What is at the heart of these teachings in the fact that getting to forgiveness is work. Joan will explore both the wisdom paths and the psychological work as it is relevant in our lives today.
Rev. Joan Alevras is ordained through One Spirit Interfaith Seminary, New York City, New York, and she is a mentor to students in both their first and second year programs. She is Chaplain for A More Perfect Union, a not-for-profit organization in New York City. She is a pastoral care intern at St Joseph’s Regional Medical Center, Paterson, New Jersey. Rev. Alevras had served as Associate Minister with All Faith Chapel, Moorestown, New Jersey.
Rev. Alevras is a lay minister at Morristown Unitarian Fellowship, Morristown, New Jersey. She is currently working with others to establish covenant circles in the congregation, a small group ministry initiative. Rev Alevras has been teaching as an adjunct professor of psychology at William Paterson University, Wayne, New Jersey, for over 12 years.
She has over twenty-five years of consulting experience as an organizational specialist with Fortune 500 corporations, professional and public sector organizations. She specialized in conflict resolution, multicultural diversity, team building, and staff and management development. She has a private practice in counseling and spiritual direction.
Joan Alevras has a BA in Education and English and an MA in Human Organizational Processes from Montclair State College, Montclair, New Jersey, with a concentration in individual and group counseling. She is certified from One Spirit Interfaith Seminary in Spiritual Counseling. She is a trained hospice volunteer. Rev Alevras has had extensive training in interfaith trauma response and crisis intervention for faith leaders though Church World Services.She has completed her first unit toward chaplain certification with Dr. Cesar Espineda. She is a long time Unitarian.
Congregations exist because people work together to create them. Some people volunteer out of a sense of duty, but most do so because it satisfies a need: to be of use, to be part of the community, or to grow and learn. Through service in my congregation, in the District, and in the larger UUA, I have found fulfillment and expanded my horizons. This service is a reflection on congregational service as an element of spiritual growth, including my personal history and lessons learned.
John Hawkins is a member of the First Unitarian Society of Plainfield since 1992, where he has served in many different positions including congregational Board President. He also served as Secretary and Trustee for the Board of the Unitarian Universalist District of Metropolitan New York from 2005-09. John has found fulfillment through service in his congregation and the District, and currently serves as the Metro District Trustee to the UUA Board.
Hurricane Katrina in 1975 devastated New Orleans and the Gulf Coast. This presentation reviews the challenges of rebuilding, policy and advocacy issues, workers rights, race and class questions, and the importance of neighbors. Now there is the more recent disaster of the Deepwater Horizon oil blowout and the risk that another hurricane could paint the Gulf Coast black. The job of rebuilding may get lots bigger. What to do?