Messenger Newsletter Content for March 2005

Services

March 6, 2005 Joy - Fruitless or Fruitful? - Service Leader: Rebecca Judd - What is joy and how do we cultivate it? How important is joy to our Unitarian faith? Join Rebecca Judd, Society President, in exploring the meaning of joy and the place that it holds in our lives.

March 13, 2005 The Flaming Chalice - Service Leader: Rev. Terasa Cooley We light a chalice every Sunday for worship, and often at the beginning of our meetings and gatherings. We use the chalice as the very symbol of our Unitarian Universalist faith, but many do not know the source of this symbol, and what it means within the history of our tradition. Is it more than just a symbol?

March 20: The Problem of Easter - As Easter approaches Arline will explore various meanings and new interpretations of this holyday that can be so problematic for Unitarian Universalists.

March 27: Practice Resurrection - On this Easter Sunday we will hold an intergenerational service in celebration of the great Christian Spring Festival. Terasa and Arline will lead a service in which children will sing, and we will tell stories of just how we can practice resurrection.

President’s Message

A Matter of Choice

I’ll never forget the day that our daughter Ginger, then 4 years old, got into our car as I picked her up at nursery school and asked me, “Mom, why do I have to be vegetarian, Unitarian and go to a Montessori school!?” I shared with her why these things were meaningful to us and how important the choices that we make are.

Today at age 11, those same things make Ginger quite cool and the envy of many of her friends. They want to eat tofu and have a mom who can wear jeans to work and a dad who picks them up after school. They ask her quite often about her religion and what it means to be a Unitarian. Our son Jacob (age 6), on the other hand, is extremely irritated that he can’t have a Game Boy or watch TV after school. Ah… the joys of being a parent.

Funny as Ginger’s words were, they have reverberated within me all of these years. How do we make the choices that we do? How do we make sense of the world? What does our Unitarian faith have to do with these things? In my world – a whole lot.

I remember as a child being confused by what I saw as the disparity between religion on Sunday morning and the way that I saw many people living their daily lives. Many of the people who attended church every week were the same people that I saw outside of church focused only on themselves. They would seem to hurt the ones they professed to love.

Our lives give us plenty of opportunity every day to make choices about how we live. Do we respond with self righteousness and all knowing, or do we listen and learn? Are we too busy, or is there time to be there for one another? Do we smile with openness or look stern and fretful?

Someone once asked me – “What are the most important things in your life?” My answer was my children, my family, doing my part to make the world a better place, self reflection. She then asked me; “If I was to follow you around for a week, would I be able to guess those priorities from the way that you spend your time?”

Would someone be able to know by watching you for a week what was really important to you and what you believe? What a rewarding challenge it is to try to make our lives a portrait of our deepest held values.

May your spring be filled with new beginnings and perennial joy.

Rebecca Judd

New Fund Raising Group For Long-Range Planning

A new sub-council is being formed to develop outside sources of revenue for the Unitarian Society of Hartford. The hope is that this group will develop longer-range plans such as public concerts, crafts fairs or tag sales that rent space to vendors, and grant writing.

Most of these will take some development to reach their maximum financial benefit, but we hope that work on these and other avenues can start this spring and begin to reap benefits early next fiscal year.

Do you have skills in event planning, catering, small business management or similar fields? If so, the Council on the Community Within may have just the ministry for you. Please contact Margaret Leicach

The new sub-council will be separate from the present FUNraisers Sub-Council, which was formed almost two years ago, with the daunting challenge to design and conduct community-building events that would raise additional revenue from our members and friends and from the larger community. Under Diane Cadrain’s inspiring leadership, they have provided us with new, exciting and creative opportunities for community building and have, in the process, raised $11,254 last fiscal year and nearly $5000 in the first half of this fiscal year alone.

Creation of the new sub-council will allow the FUNraisers to focus totally on community-building, social, hospitality-type activities and to be responsible for only part of the revenue generation.

Their success plus the superb work of Treasurer Bill Young, Administrator Brian Mullen, and the Finance Committee has brought us to a stable financial state. While pledge income will continue to be our single largest source of operating funds, we now have some breathing room to focus on longer-range opportunities to generate revenue significantly less dependent on the pocketbooks of our members.

Margaret Leicach

Niagara Falls? Alaska? Special Trips This July

UU churches and fellowships are inviting UUs from around the country to join them this July on trips to Niagara Falls and Alaska.

The UU Church of Niagara will run a four-day up-close encounter with the Falls from July 17 to 20, including riding beneath a tethered balloon. This is a chance to experience the wonders of Niagara and great educational opportunities while in the company of UUs. Visit www.uunex.net, call (716) 791-4453 or email info@uunex.net.

Five Alaska Fellowships invite UUSs to stay at homes in Seward, Fairbanks, Juneau and Sitka, enjoying discussions and dinners with Alaska UUs. Promised sights include whales, bears, moose, caribou, Denali’s Mr. McKinley and Kenai’s fjords and glaciers. Reverend Dick and Mary Weston-Jones are leaders. Reservations are due April 1. Visit website www.wuurld.org; email dick@wuuld.org or phone toll-free

1-888-998-8753 for a brochure.

“Old” FUNraisers Involved in Community-Building

Expanding community-building opportunities is the evolving charge of the USH FUNraisers. For the July 2005—June 2006 fiscal year they are considering welcome meals, raffling the special parking space, arts and crafts shows, a chili cook-off and a Super Bowl party. Possibilities for the remainder of this year include a pancake breakfast, a strawberry shortcake festival and offering used books for sale.

The FUNraisers would like to know how many community-building programs and activities you would be likely to attend at the USH.

So please fill out the easy-to-complete survey. Since neither your time nor your financial resources are unlimited, the survey asks you to estimate how much time you would be likely to spend in such activities, how much you would be willing to pay to attend and whether you would need any special accommodations in order to participate.

Your responses to the survey will surely expand the menu of possibilities. However, in order to act on what you tell them, the FUNraisers need some new volunteers. If you like brainstorming ideas and planning, join the FUNraisers Sub-Council. If you enjoy creating fun events but hate committee business meetings, join an event team. If you have organizational and team-building skills, consider chairing the FUNraisers Sub-Council.

An important part of the mission of the Council on the Community Within is to “deepen the sense of connection and commitment of USH members and friends.” A few of the community-building opportunities offered by the USH include Women’s Alliance retreats, the Festival of the Seasons, Movie Nights and Thanksgiving dinners.

FUNraisers, which started in the spring of 2004, added the Kidding and Bidding Auction, welcome meals and the Festival of Frights, all of which were fun and also raised funds to support the Society’s operating budget.

Margaret Leicach

March Musical Notes

March 6. For International Women’s Day (March 8), the women of the Choir will sing two beautiful treble-voice pieces. “Creo en Dios” by Francisco Nunez is a moving expression of faith, and lets our own Edith Savage enjoy a flamenco style. Connecticut composer Gwyneth Walker’s “Bethesda Evensong” sets the Prayer of St. Francis, echoing Rebecca Judd’s theme of joy.

March 13. The men of the Choir sing a beautiful men’s duet from the Wedding Cantata of J.S. Bach, “May God Bless Us.” The solo and organ music also celebrate Bach’s birthday, March 21, on the 225th anniversary of his death in 1750.

March 20. Music TBA.

March 27, On Easter Sunday the adult Choir will be joined by the return of the children’s choirs. The choirs will offer their gifts of music separately and also combine their voices with the anthem “Hosanna” by Roberta Bitgood.

Mattie Banzhaf

USH Committee Asks Members to Sign Petition to Abolish Death Penalty

Compelling testimony favoring an end to the death penalty in Connecticut was heard early last month at the Legislative Judiciary Committee. At that time, committee members heard from 73 opponents of the death penalty.

USH member Joan Kemble, under the auspices of the Information and Advocacy Sub-Council of the Council on Social Justice, is circulating a petition to support the bill. As of newsletter deadline, there are 80 signatures.
The public hearing was on Senate Bill 127 to abolish the death penalty as an acceptable form of punishment and to establish a sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole as the maximum sentence.

The next step is for the Judiciary Committee to vote on whether or not to raise the bill—that is, to present it to the entire legislative body for a vote. It dies if it is not raised.

It is urgent that we continue gathering signatures on our petition because we do not know when the Judiciary Committee will take its vote. If the vote is to raise the bill, then we need to present these names and contact senators and representatives.

Please see me after Sunday services to sign up and to learn the names of Judiciary Committee members and your legislators.

Connecticut Network to Abolish the Death Penalty, a non-profit group, is leading the effort to outlaw executions. Their website, www.cndap.org can provide further information.

Joan Kemble

Breakfast Club Members Attend Sunday Services At Bethel AME Church

This year, our sixth and seventh graders—known as the Breakfast Club—are studying neighboring faiths. Earlier in the year, we learned about Judaism and Paganism. Recently, eight of us went on a Sunday morning to visit our sister church, the Bethel African Methodist Church (AME).

We were warmly greeted by many happy faces; everyone seemed genuinely happy to see us. When we entered the sanctuary, it didn’t look much different from ours except for the crosses hanging on the walls.

The people in the service had a lot of energy and were excited in their worship. They seemed like “cheerleaders for God.” They made us feel happy, warm and welcome.

Reverend Alvan Johnson asked all of us to come forward, thanked us for coming and asked to see us again. We think that going to visit other churches like AME is very valuable, teaches you to respect and understand other faiths.

Ginger Furey and Ben Garmise

Knitters Meet March 13

The monthly knitting meeting of the Comfort Shawl Ministry will take place Sunday March 13 from 9 to 10:15 am in the Meeting House library.

There are so many reasons to knit these warm and wonderful shawls (70 of which have already been given away). The most recent one we’ve heard is that it gives you something to do when you don’t have a ready answer during a meeting of your Small Group Ministry.

Newcomers and anyone who wants to learn to knit are always welcome.

CONNECTIONS

Reverend Dr. Terasa G. Cooley

Transitioning leadership in organizations is always a challenging enterprise. Transitioning ministerial leadership becomes even more complicated, because we are not simply an “organization” with “leaders” – we are a religious community, and ministry involves a complex of relationships with personal, spiritual and practical dimensions. It is very gratifying to me that this community has begun the process of transitioning from my ministry to Arline’s with thoughtful reflection and recognition of the multiple levels of feelings and concerns involved.

As you have read in your letter from Rebecca, the Board has tried to be deliberate about recognizing the changing roles of both Arline and me, and we are all trying to make this as clear and helpful a process as we can so that you can say both goodbye and hello in a way that will still help advance the mission of this congregation.

In regards to my role, the Board has asked me to help Arline begin to take on more administrative oversight, as is appropriate as you move forward. My responsibilities will become more focused on spiritual development and providing resources for the growth initiative that has become of paramount importance.

For example, by the time you read this, I will have attended the UUA Large Church Conference in Boston last month so that I can learn, and then pass on to you, what the UUA has to teach us about what might help the congregation gain from moving toward growth. You’ll hear my report about this in our April newsletter. As well, I’ll be offering a special workshop after the service on April 24sharing with you my research that I conducted this last fall about what makes growing congregations vital and sustaining to everyone. I hope you’ll join us for this to share your thoughts as well.

I hope you have also heard already about my desire to make myself available for individual appointments with any of you who wish to visit with me about any concerns you may have--personal, spiritual or institutional--before I go. Please feel free to sign up for a time on the list of available times that is posted outside my office, or call or email me for a time.

And, by popular request, I will offer another adult education class on the Enneagram personality system, which will be on April 21, 28 and May 5, particularly focused on using the system to understand your personal leadership style and how you may strengthen your leadership potential.

Arline and I have worked out a worship schedule for my remaining weeks that will allow me some time to meet with our Religious Education classes as well.

I wish to say again how thankful I am for your support and understanding of this change in my calling, and hope you know how much I still respect and appreciate the love and skill of this congregation and its leadership. Please do call me with any concerns or conversations you wish to have.

Terasa

Adult Programs Offer Something for Everyone

If you haven't attended any classes, movies or programs, why not try one of the following offerings? You may register on Sundays during coffee hour or by calling the office, 233-9897. Planning for the Fall term will begin soon, so if you have an idea for a program, please pick up a proposal form in the office.

Humanism, 4 Sundays, noon-2 pm, March 6-March 27. Join Ed Savage and others to examine the popularity cycles of American Humanism and Evangelicalism in our history. This is a good time to reflect on and reconstitute our basic principles even though we are currently at a low point for Humanism. Bring a snack or contact Ed regarding ordering out. Beverages will be provided.

First Sunday Program, Unitarian Universalist Denominational History, noon-1:30 pm, March 6. Learn more about the broad history of Unitarianism and Universalism - what stirred the early beginnings of these movements and when and why these faith movements merged. One of the Core Curriculum sessions designed not only for prospective members and new members, but also for current members of any age who want to learn more about Unitarian Universalism.

Lenten Bible Study, 4 Tuesdays, noon-1:30 pm, March 8-March 29. Join Reverend Arline Sutherland to reflect on our lives, examine how we have failed to meet our aspirations, and imagine how we might return to the path. Selected texts from the Judeo-Christian scriptures will be read as we explore what they might mean in our contemporary religiouslives. Bring a bag lunch.

Friday Dinner and Movie, 5:30-10:30 pm, March 11. After the catered candlelight dinner, the feature film will be "Pi" (π). An independent science fiction thriller that combines questions about God and infinity with the personal struggle of one man to regain control of his life.

Unitarian Universalism's Prophetic Imperative, 5 Wednesdays, 7:30-9 pm, March 30-April 27. Religious social responsibility will be explored with depth and discipline. The congregation’s role in social justice issues will be examined and its programs will be critiqued. The book “The Prophetic Imperative: Social Gospel in Theory and Practice” will be used. UU history, theology and ethics will be studied using questions for silent reflection followed by group discussion.

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.

Nancy Reed

USH Members Attend Hearing to Support Gay Marriage, Raise Almost $3,400 at “Love Makes a Family” Concert

Many USH members attended a packed public hearing last month before the State Judiciary Committee on the Marriage Equality Bill. Testimony by 19-year-old Emily Horne (Peg’s daughter) in support of the bill was met with a round of applause (usually not allowed) and an “applause well deserved, Emily” comment from Representative Michael Lawler. Emily told the committee members, “I have two moms. My moms are my role models…When I was younger, I felt that maybe there was something wrong with my family because my moms could not get married. As I have gotten older, I know there is nothing wrong with my family. There is something wrong with laws that deny my parents equal rights.”

One USH member who attended said she was “very impressed with the way in which the hearings were conducted and the way the Committee behaved. Very respectful, reflective and gracious to all those doing presentations.”

Two days before the hearing, an estimated 200 persons attended a benefit concert for Love Makes a Family at the Meeting House. The Emerson Brass Quintet and our own Tom Schmutzler on the enhanced organ provided stirring music. The free will offering totaled $3,349.20.

10 Sandwiches for Hartford’s Hungry

There’s not an awful lot to do on Sunday in Hartford. There’s also not much available in free food programs. That was true until the beginning of this year. That was when Christ Church Cathedral in downtown Hartford began a program to provide a bowl of soup to Sunday’s hungry people. After a few short weeks, more than 100 persons are showing up for the church’s free lunch.

This inspired a USH member to begin a program last month designed to enhance the church’s menu by providing 50 sandwiches each Sunday until the end of winter. Each Sunday, five people bring 10 sandwiches each to church; they are then taken downtown. Information is provided on bright yellow sign-up sheets which contain exact and simple directions on amounts, types and delivery of the needed sandwiches. Sign-up sheets are available in Fellowship Hall after services. Questions can be addressed to the USH office at 233-9807. Do it! K. C.

Good News for Readers

Previously-read books will soon be on sale at the USH. Before the grand opening, however, a book cart, book shelves, or a book case on wheels (preferably, able to be closed) is needed. Contact Carol Davidson with offers and/or questions.

Good News for Eaters

Tired of nightly cooking or eating out alone? Join members of the Women’s Alliance on Wednesday March 9 at 5:30 pm at the Meeting House for a light R&R supper, relaxed conversation and friendship. No reservations are necessary; a small donation is accepted to help pay for the food and drinks.

Hartford Magnet School Head Speaks in Windsor

Suburban parents who attended a community forum on Hartford’s magnet schools in Windsor last month heard Edward Linehan, Executive Director of the magnet school program, explain why there are now waiting lists for the existing ten Hartford interdistrict regional magnet schools.

The forum, hopefully the first of several to be held throughout the Hartford region, was organized by ICEJ (Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice). USH members active in ICEJ played a prominent role.

Carol Shoemaker, co-chair of the ICEJ Educational Task Force, told attendees that ICEJ’s goal is to “lift up those in the community who have been victimized.” She felt that magnet schools could help reduce the “great disparity” among communities.

Shai Cassell, USH member and ICEJ employee, said “equity” is ICEJ’s core value, and its educational commitment includes helping communities gain a greater understanding of magnet schools, clearing up misunderstandings, and increasing access to preschool education.

Asked by a retired Hartford magnet school teacher why no suburban students could be persuaded to attend his school years ago, but are now on waiting lists, Mr. Linehan responded that “aggressive advertising,” including direct mailing of colorful brochures, radio and public access TV advertisements, web sites, billboards, visits to schools and word-of-mouth has made the difference. Our belief, he said, was that “if we built it, they would come…”

In his first year, nine students from suburban schools went to the two existing magnet schools In year two, there were 1017 applications overall for five schools. This year, year three, there are 3000 applicants for ten schools, which translates to three applications for every seat. When the plan is fully implemented, there should be a total of 4800 students in the magnet schools. Mr. Linehan said having a waiting list gives leverage to create more schools.

The director, who worked in starting and running magnet schools in New Haven for many years, said one of his biggest challenges in Hartford has been attitude—dealing with the “it can’t be done here” feeling on many levels.

Magnet schools are Hartford’s response to the Sheff vs. O’Neill court case which demanded racial diversity for Hartford students and challenged a system that was failing too many. Mr. Linehan said magnet schools must be for all students, not just the academically-gifted and, theoretically, there should be open enrollment with no special criteria.

Kayla Costenoble

April 15 is Deadline For Women’s Alliance Annual Education Grant

For more than 30 years, the USH Women’s Alliance has offered financial aid to mature women students. This comes in the form of grants which may be used for tuition or other education-related expenses. The grants are modest usually between $300 and $500.

Application forms are available on the Alliance bulletin board. They must be submitted with a letter of recommen- dation from the student’s professor.

April 15 is deadline for submissions, which should be returned to the Alliance mail slot in the USH office.

Do You Recognize This Place? Subtitle: There’s a New Look Coming

The use and look of the Meeting House’s common spaces—library, David’s Den, downstairs lounge and Fellowship Hall—are being studied by a new Display Task Force. It all began, innocently enough, with adding benches and plants to the lobby and removing the standing bulletin board. Here’s what is being considered.

Library. The archive files and bookcases have been moved to the right wall of the library; Archivist Margaret Sax (who thanks all who helped make the move) will need some time to do another major reorganization. We will also consider different ways of serving food, most probably using small tables.

David’s Den will become an “adult parlor,” and a good part of the lending library will be shelved there. It will also be available for use by older students in RE and small gatherings.

Downstairs lounge has already begun to have a new look, thanks to a couch donated by Maryegail Harrison and a table donated by Gwen Childs. Further improvements will include painting the back wall, bulletin boards and lavatory doors a richer complementing color. Folding shoji screens and silk plants will turn this space into a cozy reception area.

Fellowship Hall will get its share of changes. We hope to paint the white walls another rich color to complement the wood and install wall lighting. We plan to remove all the old bulletin boards and centralize the coffee service more into the middle of the room.

We are also thinking of replacing the bulletin boards in Fellowship Hall, with new ways to keep our information display timely, temporary and fresh. All groups involved will be part of the discussions on display options.

Anne Bailey

An Opportunity to Honor and Remember

In support of our plans to create better looking, more comfortable Meeting House spaces, we are hoping some members of the Society will donate needed items in honor of an important someone they want to remember.

For example, right now, we wonder if someone would like to help us purchase at least two wooden benches to go on the long walls of the lounge downstairs. They cost about $200 each. And there will be many more needs.

There is a long history of honoring special people at the Meeting House. Nearly every hymnal is dedicated to some special person. The altar flowers are almost always given in memory of a loved one. The timeline panels were named for those who contributed a substantial sum towards their creation.

The outdoor bench was given to the Society by the Women’s Alliance, while the bench downstairs in Fellowship Hall was given in memory of Freeman and Mary Myer. You would notice that even the Commemorative Quilt, were you to have a chance to view the back, has been embroidered with the names of those who contributed to its creation.

Display Task Force members Anne Bailey, Nancy Reed, Carol Sexton and Carolyn Soutter are excited about these plans and would love to talk to others about them. Please contact us.

Carolyn Soutter

Musings . . . What About RE?

Reverend Arline C. Sutherland

As the shift in ministerial responsibilities takes place this spring, great attention is being paid to how to keep our Ministry to Youth and Children on course. The Religious Education Sub-Council is in the midst of setting up a search for a Director of Religious Education. We plan to have the position filled by the end of June. Details will follow soon.

In the meantime, I will continue to hold responsibility for this ministry. I am, however, turning over huge chunks of the day-to-day work to Nina Binin-Berg. Nina’s duties will include:

Meeting the weekly needs for each class. She will check the curricula and contact the teachers about what they need for materials.
Ensure that there are enough copies of curricula, etc.
Send letters out to classes as needed.
Record keeping: attendance, permission slips, etc.
Ensure that systems are in place to get supplies and that the supply room is organized and accessible.
Supervise the nursery providers and teen aides.
Work with the staff and especially the sexton and B & G folks to maintain the classrooms – cleanliness and aesthetics.
Manage the budget.

A significant addition to our programming this year has been the introduction of Spirit Play. A team of highly qualified people has been leading this thrust: Jesse Richter, Nina Elgo, Mitzi Oppenheim and Karen Humphries. Randi Wuertz has agreed to join the team and to gradually take over some administrative responsibilities for the program.

Laurie Kelliher and Andy Obelnicki have just concluded leading Our Whole Lives with our seventh and eighth graders. Laurie and Andy have given an amazing gift to the young people and to all of us! Thank you. As you encounter them around the Meeting House, please tell them of your gratitude.

Ed and Kelly Lyman are going to be guiding a Coming of Age Program for our OWL graduates staring March 6. This program will culminate in a ceremony sometime in late May or early June.

Denise Ackeifi and Andrew Millard will continue their outstanding work with the Youth Group. The Youth Service is scheduled for May 22. Mark your calendars now! We are blessed to have dedicated volunteers! My experience in this congregation suggests that this is not at all unusual, but I am here to tell you that this is not always the case in other congregations.

Blessings, Arline

Currrent Calendar =>>

Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 3/12/05)