Messenger Content April 2005

Sunday Services

April 3, 2005 - “The Tree of Knowledge” - Service Leader: The Rev. Terasa G. Cooley - Terasa will consider why knowledge has often been deemed a dangerous thing, stemming from the earliest biblical stories. Is this still a current theme or subtheme? What does is mean for Unitarian Universalists to be a religion that actively seeks after new knowledge?

April 10 - Dreaming the Future - Worship Leaders: Rev. Arline Conan Sutherland and Rev. Dr. Terasa Cooley - On this financial canvass Sunday we take time to talk about where we have been, where we hope to go as a congregation, and how we can support these dreams. Join us as Terasa talks about how far we have come and Arline challenges us to dream the future that could be in this time of being in-between.

April 17 - When In Our Music - Worship Leader: The Rev. Arline Conan Sutherland - As we rededicate our organ, Tom and the choir will join in demonstrating the new capacities we have to glorify God through music. Arline will speak about the power of music to undergird and uplift our worship. Join the celebration!

April 24, - “In Good Company” - Service Leader: The Rev. Terasa G. Cooley - As part of our initiative for congregational growth, Terasa will share more of the concepts she learned at the UUA’s Large Church Conference about growing congregations, and more importantly, what meaning growth can have for this congregation. Following the service will be a special workshop led by Terasa and Peg Horne, Chair of the Growth & Membership Subcouncil.

May 1 Reflections on Social Justice - A Conversational Styled Sermon regarding Social Justice Ministry and Our Responsibility to it. Service Leader Bishop John Selders, Jr. Pastor, Amistad UCC and Presider of The Inter Denominational Conference of Liberation Congregations and Ministries

CONNECTIONS

Reverend Dr. Terasa G. Cooley

A few weeks ago, I attended a Large Church Conference in Boston sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Association. The Board asked me to go, hoping I would gain added insight to help them with their focus on growth.

The theme speaker of the conference was Don Cohen, who co-authored, with Robert Putnam (author of Bowling Alone), a book called Better Together. Cohen and Putnam talk about the issue of “social capital” which they define as the “network of relationships in which there are norms of generalized reciprocity formed in service of a greater purpose.” In other words, people forming communities and relationships in order to give something and to gain something, even when those things don’t match up exactly. Sounds like church, doesn’t it? Don was looking at what they’ve learned about social capital and how it applies to those of us who think that we might meet these very important cultural needs through congregations.

What they realize, and what we all know at some level, is that social capital is a precious commodity these days: opportunities for meaningful interactions seem fewer and farther between, and that this is damaging to the whole culture. As Don said, they are realizing that “poverty is not deprivation, poverty is isolation,” in the sense that people get cut off from the networks that can help bring about a better life.

As an example that shows us what people are looking for, Cohen went to visit the Saddleback Church, a 48,000 member non-denominational congregation that is led by Rick Warren, author of the best-seller The Purpose-Driven Life. In his experiences there, he learned some things that were surprising and perhaps useful to us in thinking about this issue.

Warren talks about how there are a multitude of stages in which people interact with a church: they begin as a member of the crowd, then move to a member of the congregation, and then hopefully become a part of a committed core. Neglecting people at any stage of this progression means losing people who could have found something more meaningful with you. But, he says, “people don’t need a friendly church; they need friends.” So they create a multitude of small-group opportunities and ways for people to become connected to those with whom they have something in common.

A constant theme with Warren is that he is not interested in gaining members in order to fill committees or fulfill budgets; he’s interested in gaining members so that they can find a place of purpose and meaning in their lives – in other words to fulfill the mission of the congregation, not to attract warm bodies.

While we may never be a 48,000-member congregation, I think there are some interesting and provocative things to learn from these groups and the thinking about social capital in general. Don’t we have an interest in providing groups for religiously liberal people who need connections and want to find community? I would hope so.

Come to church on April 24 to hear more about this in my sermon, and join us for the workshop following the service.

Terasa

All I Want is . . . Music, Music, Music

April is an awesome month—a time of awakenings, purple and yellow crocuses, new beginnings and a Meeting House alive with wonderful musical sounds.

April 3. Jane West, our newest section leader, sings a beautiful song by Schubert about nature and the coming of spring. The choir complements it with a gentle anthem, Thomas Tallis’ “Hear the Voice and Prayer.”

April 10. A glorious anthem by Randall Thompson, “The Last Words of David,” displays the power and beauty of choral singing. Leonard Bernstein’s “Gloria Tibi” is an unusual setting for tenor solo and women’s voices.

April 17. Organ Sunday at the Meeting House gives us a chance to hear the full range of our newly enhanced organ, both alone and with the choir. This will be the “official” dedication of the newly-enlarged and enhanced Austin/Walker pipe organ and an acknowledgement of the people who made it happen.

Along with an array of magnificent organ music, the anthem, “Sing Unto the Lord” by Stanley York, relates the functions of music in worship services in a splendid merger of organ and voices.

(Note: please see the accompanying article on the rest of April 17’s musical happenings and other events).

April 24. Music to be announced.

Mattie Banzhaf, Music Director

Public Invited to Tom Schmutzler’s Special Organ Recital April 17

Plan to spend some extra special time at the Meeting House on Sunday, April 17 to hear and learn about the Society’s enhanced Austin/Walker pipe organ.

Long-time USH organist Tom Schmutzler will, as usual, play during the regular 10:30 am service.

Immediately following the service, at 11:45, Tom will give a demonstration of the inner workings of the organ. Attendees will learn about the original Austin pipes (extra precious following the recent news that the Austin factory has closed), the refurbished 3-manual Austin console rescued from the First Church in Wethersfield, and Walker digital stops.

At 1 pm, Tom will present an organ recital.

High School Group Offers Lunch Between Music Events

If you’re planning to stay at the Meeting House to take advantage of all the music being offered on April 17, you might also help hold body and soul together by taking advantage of a light lunch being offered by the High School Youth Group at 12:15 pm in Fellowship Hall.

For $5, you can have soup, good bread, cookies and fellowship. Proceeds from the lunch sale fund raiser will be used for the various activities of the Youth Group, such as their monthly soup-making activity for Hartford shelters.

SPRING ADULT PROGRAM OFFERINGS FOR APRIL AND MAY

Some interesting programs remain for the spring term, including one back by popular request, Leadership and Personality. Why not stop by the registration table on Sundays during coffee hour or call the office at 233-9897 to enroll for any of the following programs? Planning for the fall term will begin soon, so if you have an idea for a program, please submit a proposal form available in the office.

Friday Dinner and Movie, 5:30-10:30 pm, April 8. Join others for a night out and enjoy beverages and popcorn followed by a catered candlelight dinner, dessert and coffee.

The featured film on the big screen TV will be "The Fog of War.” "Whether or not you agree with his politics, Robert McNamara is a fascinating man. It's a compelling documentary that may scare you a little and will certainly make you think,’ says one review.

Eventide, Monday, 6:30-9:30 pm, April 18. Kent Haruf’s new novel, "Eventide,” takes place in the same windswept, high plains town of Holt, Colorado, as his earlier book, "Plainsong.” With spring appearing around us, let’s talk about the moments of salvation that thaw us between our hard frosts. This group discussion led by Reverend Arline Sutherland will take place over a potluck dinner.

Leadership and Personality, 3 Thursdays, 7-9 pm, April 21, 28, May 5. Most theorists in leadership say that any personality type may make a good leader, but we need to be aware of our motivations and automatic tendencies in order to be a good leader. Reverend Terasa Cooley will use the personality type system of the Enneagram to help participants identify their growing edges in leadership situations.

First Sunday Program, Unitarian Universalism as a Democratic Faith, noon-1:30 pm, May 1. Learn how Unitarian Universalists organize themselves in order to live out their faith and be a force for good in the world. Demystify initials such as UUA, CBD, and others. Find out why there is so much excitement when our members and delegates return from General Assembly.

Nancy Reed

Used Book Sales Begin at USH on April 10

Satisfy your literary hunger at bargain prices beginning on Sunday, April 10 during coffee hour.

Bring your dollar bills and tote bag (in which to carry your loot, of course) and watch for the sales tables in Fellowship Hall.

Fiction, non-fiction, do-it-yourself, cooking—they’re all there. Get there early for the best selection.

We’ve Come a Long Way, Baby

There are still some of us old-timers who remember way back when there was no (gasp) Sunday Collection taken at the Unitarian Society of Hartford. Asking for weekly contributions came during the reign of Jon Luopa.

And progress has been significant. Not only do these collections—always accompanied by a wonderful Choir anthem—financially benefit the Meeting House but they have also, over the years, benefited many additional worthwhile organizations.

When an announcement from the pulpit lets attendees know that a special group will get that Sunday’s collection, attendees respond, big time.

During the past few years, groups that have been recipients of a Sunday collection include My Sister’s Place (cash plus sheets, towels, blankets and toiletries), Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry (cash plus cans of food), Romanian Partner Church, ICEJ (Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice) and CUREJ (Congregations United for Racial Equality).

Beyond the Sunday collection plate, members have donated to and participated in the Walk Against Hunger, the Walk to d’Feet ALS and the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s drive to raise money for the tsunami victims.

Beyond this, active UUH groups raise money and donate to other causes. The Women’s Alliance uses money from member’s dues, bake sale proceeds and calendar sales to donate to My Sister’s Place, Interval House, Planned Parenthood, Peter’s Retreat and offers a yearly educational grant to mature women who need help to support their studies. The Men’s Luncheon Group collects donations to help support the South Park Inn men’s transitional living program. Perhaps the most recent donations are the 50-60 sandwiches contributed weekly by USH members and taken to Christ Church Cathedral in Harford for their new Sunday lunch program for hungry persons.

Kayla Costenoble

USH Women’s Alliance April Events: Education Grant and Annual Lunch, Meeting and Program

Application Deadline for the annual Women’s Alliance educational grant is Friday, April 13. Applicants should be studying at a post high school level; priority is given to those with no other sources of loans or scholarship aid.

These small grants—usually $100 to $300—may be used for expenses such as tuition, books, childcare, transportation. Affiliation with the USH is not required, but will be considered.

Applications are on the Alliance bulletin board outside Fellowship Hall. They must be submitted with a letter of recommendation from the student’s professor. Questions? Call 693-4269.

The Alliance annual meeting will be held in Fellowship Hall on Sunday, April 10, beginning with a cold pot luck lunch at 12:15 pm, followed by the annual meeting, and concluding with a travel video of the Schmolls’ trip to Machu Piccu and the Galapagos.

A call to this meeting will be mailed to all members of the Alliance. Guests are welcome. Friends who would like to attend and learn more about the USH Women’s Alliance may sign up by calling Louise Schmoll at 242-2953.

Enter, Rejoice, and Come In…

…and if you have any special seating needs or problems you can, as of Sunday, March 13, sit almost anywhere in the Meeting House Sanctuary, thanks to the successful realization of the Pew Cut Project.

A pair of pews has been shortened on each side of the Sanctuary to provide five new seating choices for wheelchairs and scooters and also to offer substantial chairs for those who need higher seats and firm arm rests.

During the very busy March 13 Bring-A-Friend Sunday morning service (before-church activities included the Real Men Are Unitarians pancake breakfast plus meetings of the Great Decisions and Comfort Shawl Ministry groups), Reverend Arline Sutherland called the pew cuts part of the “incredible effort we have made to make the Sanctuary and the entire building welcoming.”

Many persons were involved in this effort, including Carolyn Cartland and her Disabilities Sub-Council and architect Hugh Schweitzer from the Building and Grounds (B&G) Sub-Council, who sought bids for the work following current regulations governing such seating. B&G provided financial support ($1500) using some of the Endowment Committee’s Small-Projects money.

In lauding this work, Disabilities Sub-Council Chair Cartland said, “Now everyone has a choice of seating in the Sanctuary. No longer are those of us in wheelchairs and scooters relegated to ‘the back of the bus’; we can all sit where we want. This is a significant accomplishment—a social justice victory of inclusion and integration.”

Center City Churches Sub-Council Formed; Seeks New Members

The Council on Social Justice is looking for a few good women and men to revitalize our commitment to Center City Churches. This is an enduring Hartford organization whose goal is to help people in Hartford meet basic needs for food, shelter and learning.

Volunteers are a big part of the Center City Churches’ programs. In the past, the Meeting House has provided volunteers for tutoring, field days, hikes, meal preparation and food delivery. USH members have also taken part in Center City Churches’ “Walk Against Hunger”
fund-raising event.

A sub-council is being formed to act as a liaison between Center City Churches and the Meeting House. It will be responsible for: 1) keeping members aware of Center City Churches’ needs, 2) channeling volunteers to their areas of interest and 3) helping organize one-time events.

In addition, the sub-council will provide forums for volunteer feedback and opportunities for volunteers to share their experiences.

If you are interested in helping us bring new life to our commitment to Center City Churches, please contact Paul Hansen by phone (293-0616) or by email.

If you are currently volunteering for Center City Churches, please contact me to let me know in what capacity you are serving.

Paul Hansen

Musings . . . Reverend Arline C. Sutherland

My colleague Calvin Dame writes from Augusta Maine, “Last week I hung buckets on our maple trees, thirty-nine taps in fifteen trees, some of them planted in 1837, the year after our house was built. We have already boiled twice, making two gallons of syrup thus far. We usually make six or seven gallons, though last year we did not tap in order to give the trees time to recover from the damage of a severe ice storm.

“But, cold nights and warm days are here and the sap has been running wicked good. … Sap is running faster than we can keep up, but we have three gallons so far and another ten days or so of season. It is a lot of work, and you can buy a gallon of syrup almost anywhere, but you can’t buy a day of sugaring at any price.”

Although I have never spent a day sugaring, I’m entranced with the idea. Perhaps because I’ve never done the work, I’m romanticizing, but it seems to me that sugaring must be a lot like turning over the garden for planting. It’s the kind of hard work that satisfies body and soul that connects us to the rhythms of the land and the seasons.

For me, work like that has become a leisure activity, something I do in between or around the edges of the “real” work of my life. Most days I’m happy enough about this arrangement. I’ve never really depended on my garden for sustenance. Yes, it has fed my family but if it failed or was wiped out by hail, or if it was inconvenient for me to plant that crop, I just went to the supermarket instead. I don’t yearn to return to the land either. I’m more of an urban person at heart.

But, in these cold nights and warm days of early spring when, my friend Calvin tells me, the sap is running wicked good, I find it impossible not to work the metaphor!

Where in your lives is the sap running well this year? How can you tap into it? With whom are you going to share it? Is this one of the years when you’ve decided not to tap in order to give yourself time to recover? Where is the sap running dry?

Good questions to ponder in these warm days and cold nights of early spring. I would enjoy hearing your answers. Give me a call so we can set up some time together.

Arline

Council on Social Justice Chair Mike Winterfield Reports on ICEJ’s Impact on State Legislature

The Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice is having a growing impact at the State Legislature. ICEJ leaders are speaking out for legislative changes on the education, health care, immigration and tax equity fronts. USH members Shai Cassell, Joan and Tom Kemble, Carol Shoemaker and Mike Winterfield have been meeting with numerous legislators and forging liaisons with other groups pushing for economic and social justice.

Carol Shoemaker (Education Task Force Co-Chair) and other EFT members testified before the Education Committee on March 4 on universal pre-kindergarten access. The EFT wants 4000 additional pre-K slots in priority districts by September 2006. Representative Andy Fleischmann, Education Committee Co-Chair, asked the EFT to assist with the drafting of more extensive pre-school legislation.

Mike Winterfield (Tax Task Force Co-Chair) testified before the Education and Planning and Development Committees on progressive income tax increases to support public education and reduce reliance on local property taxes. The potential revenue increase is $500 million. More than 1000 ICEJ members, including 135 from USH, have signed Mike’s Progressive Tax Petition. ICEJ will hold a press conference on April 15 to rally additional support.

On the power of personal testimonials, Mike notes, “Our personal testimonials made a big difference at the March 4 hearing. The Education Committee honed in because they knew that all of us were sharing our personal experiences and values. ICEJ has helped us feel more comfortable doing just that.”

Shai Cassell wrote,“It was a stellar day for ICEJ and made me proud to sit there and watch you all in action.”

USH Annual Passover Sedar Set for April 16

Passover Sedars at the Meeting House are an anticipated annual event. This year’s Sedar will start at 5 pm on Saturday, April 16. Deadline for signing is Sunday, April 10. The cost is a food contribution plus $3 per adult over 18 to cover plates, utensils and fruit juice. Participants may bring their own wine. Contact Ira Greenbaum (870-4409) or by email.

Interaction is the Theme

Making a connection between Reverend Cooley’s recent attendance at a UUA Large Church Conference and Ashley Smith’s amazing seven-hour conversation with accused killer Brian Nichols in Atlanta is not exactly easy.

Each event, however, used The Purpose-Driven Life, a self-help book by Rick Warren. UUs were told that Warren feels churches should offer a place of purpose and meaning in members’ lives and help people become connected and find community. Hostage Ms. Smith read aloud to Nichols from the book, beginning with a passage that challenges readers to think about their talents and purpose in life. She said Nichols asked her to read it a second time. He eventually surrendered without incident to the police.

K. C.

Health Care Summit in Hartford on April 8

Understanding Disparities in Health Care Access and Exploring Solutions is the theme of a Health Care Summit on Friday, April 8 from 8:30 am to 1:30 pm. Sponsored by the Greater Hartford Coalition for Equity and Justice (ICEJ), the summit will take place in the Capital Community College Auditorium, 950 Main Street in Hartford (the old G. Fox building).

The meeting will feature health care access maps (based on healthcare surveys filled out by ICEJ member churches, including USH), with responses by top state officials and health policy experts. Juan Figueroa, President of the Universal Health Care Foundation, will be among the speakers (his family attended the USH before moving away). Other speakers appearing on a panel include Dr. Robert Galvin, Commissioner of CT Public Health, and Nancy Wyman, CT State Comptroller,

This summit should be especially important to clergy, lay leaders, advocates, fund raisers, policy makers and anyone interested in exploring health care access disparities and in helping promote solutions.

Forum on Nuclear Danger

Jonathan Schell, a leader in the anti-nuclear movement, will speak at a free public forum on Tuesday, April 12 at 7 pm in the West Hartford Town Hall. His topic is “The Deepening Shadow of Nuclear Danger.” Sponsors of the event include the American Friends Service Committee, CT Coalition for Peace and Justice, Bookworm, Peoples Action for Clean Energy and Pax Educare.

Board Sets Schedule To Find New USH Minister

Choosing a new minister is a carefully planned process with specific steps and a timeline to follow, set by the Unitarian-Universalist Association.

The general timeline to enable the Unitarian Society of Hartford to select a minister by the fall of 2006 follows.

April-May, 2005. Nominating Committee accepts applications for the Search Committee membership and develops a proposed slate of candidates of the Search Committee.

June 5, 2005. Vote on Search Committee members at the USH Annual Meeting.

June-October, 2005. Develop the search process steps, gather data, interviews and candidate package development.

October 2005. Announce open position and release candidate package.

October 2005-March 2006. Communicate with candidates, conduct interviews, make visits.

April 2006. Final candidate (if ready) and potential ministerial call by the Congregation.

July-August 2006. New minister begins at the USH.

Additional information on the general settlement process is available at

uua.org/programs/ministry/settlement/

Members Respond to Community-Building Survey

The Council on the Community Within has completed a preliminary analysis of responses to its survey on community-building. Respondents indicated that they would, on average, attend two events a month in addition to Sunday services, committee meetings, etc. Here are the results.

More than 80% of the respondents said they would attend a concert open to the public and the Festival of the Season.

More than 60% said they would participate in Sunday morning breakfast or lunch, movie night, an art fair, used book sales, spiritual retreat or potluck meals in members’ homes.

Fewer than 20% would attend a family or men’s retreat; March Madness, Super Bowl or St. Patrick’s Day party; weekday lunch or dinner; Saturday breakfast; volley ball, tennis, golf or bridge; Kwanza or birthday celebration.

Between 20% and 59% of respondents said they would attend each of the other events on the survey

A more detailed analysis will be published at a later date. If you still want your voice to be heard, send in your survey by the end of the first week in April and your information will be added to the tally.

Opinions were asked on nine major areas, all of which had many specific events under them. The major areas were arts and cultural events, congregational retreats, holiday and seasonal celebrations, large-scale events, potluck meals, prepared or catered meals, social events in support of an associated activity, sports and recreation, and tours and trips.

We received many excellent suggestions, all of which will eventually be published. Samples include: Offer less expensive senior citizens’ and family tickets for events. Have a program associated with evening meals. Offer special programs, such as retreats, for area college students. Include catered meals for families that are over-scheduled and for whom potlucks pose a hardship. Margaret Leicach

Pizza Party Scheduled to Plan Next Year’s Programs For Community Building

If you want to hear more about these survey results and have some input into next year’s programs, you are invited to join members of the Council on the Community Within for pizza and planning on Wednesday, April 6 from 6:30 to 8 pm in the Meeting House library.

Please RSVP to Margaret Leicach (674-8284) or by email or call the Society office at 233-9897 so the right amount of pizza can be ordered.

Get Ready for June in Texas

Ministering to Families in Today’s World is the theme for General Assembly 2005 to be held in Fort Worth, Texas, from Thursday, June 23 to Monday, June 27.

The Family Matters Task Force will be sponsoring a number of workshops on the theme of speaking and living our family values, families’ faith stories, reproductive technology, violence, terrorism, aging parents, special needs, interfaith families, adoption, and intergenerational worship.

For more information on the GA, email www.uua.org/ga/. To register for the GA, email www.uua.org/ga/reghtml.

President’s Message

Spring Cleaning . . . Some Things Never Change

I hope that this finds you well and enjoying spring! It is so refreshing to do “spring cleaning” each year. In our home that doesn’t actually include much housecleaning, but it does mean having our bikes tuned up at the corner bicycle shop, planting seeds in empty yogurt containers, swapping sleds for beach toys and flannel sheets for worn cotton ones. I relish those seasonal changes. New hopes spring eternal with each flip flop that makes its way out of the container from the back of the closet.

At the Unitarian Society of Hartford, we see many similar activities. Summer One Room Schoolhouse programs for our Religious Education are being planned, the memorial garden is beginning to share its buds as the winter mulch is cleared away, festivities for annual Youth Sunday are well underway and B&G is planning workdays. Life is good when old traditions continue, always a bit new each year.

At the same time, we continue to move through the transition of Reverend Cooley’s departure. The Board most recently voted for the congregation to begin our search for a new settled Senior Minister who will start in the fall of 2006. The unanimous vote of the Board came in response to what we heard at this winter’s talkbacks to have Reverend Sutherland stay and serve as our Acting Senior Minister, after which we will select a new Senior Minister. This opinion of the congregation was supported by the Settlement Director from the UUA.

The first step in the search process is creating the Search Committee. This is an incredibly important commitment made by nine members of our congregation. They will need the full support of the Board and of every one of us in order to best represent us. Although it is our intention to call a settled Minister for the fall of 2006, it is important that the fit be right. If we are unable to find the right person, then we will continue to search until the right person is found.

At the same time, the Religious Education Sub-Council is busy looking for the right person to direct our Religious Education program between this June and at least the fall of 2006. Much gratitude is due to all of the members of the sub-council who have been working so hard to make this transition as smooth as possible for all of our children.

In all of this, the Stewardship Sub-Council has been putting together an amazing canvass. This year, all members and friends will be invited to small gatherings at private homes where we will celebrate the accomplishments of our past year and share together in our vision for our future. You won’t want to miss these great events.

What I find most rejuvenating about my “spring cleaning” rituals is that they ground me in the reassurance that some things never change. May we all soak up that same reassurance and rejuvenation about our Meeting House community.

Rebecca Judd

Current Calendar =>

Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 3/25/05)