Home Page-Link Central November 2005 November Services 06 November - Do We Have A Faith? Hell Yes! - Rev. Arline C. Sutherland 13 November -  Transitions!  Transitions! Rev. Arline C. Sutherland 20 November  - Let Us Give Thanks! Bread Communion       Intergenerational Service Adult & Children’s Choirs Rev. Arline C. Sutherland 27 November - Marye Gail Harrison Board  of  Directors’  Message: The  Decision  to  Move  to  Two  Services      At our October 11 Board meeting, the Board of Directors of The Unitarian Society of Hartford voted to have two Sunday-morning worship services starting no later than March 2006. This was not an easy decision, but one that was made with much thought. As leaders, we take our responsibilities very seriously and seek always to do what is best for the congregation both now and for the future. The decision to add an additional worship service, along with the other changes it implies for religious education and other Sunday morning activities, was made after earnest deliberation.      The idea of adding a worship service has been batted around the Meeting House and examined for many years. The concept was both intriguing and scary. How would we manage such a change? What would the two services look like? How would the music be handled? The religious education? Coffee hour? Could we handle the changing demands on staff and volunteers? What about any near-term financial implications?      On the other side of the debate, we knew that UU congregations around the country that were growing offered more than one worship service. This is true for our neighboring UU congregations in West Hartford and Manchester, who have been having two services for four and nine years, respectively.  We knew that the most dynamic and sought-after Ministers were attracted to congregations with multiple services, and we’re doing a ministerial search right now. We also knew that an increasing number of people like having options for their worship and their schedules, and that we have a great and important message about our faith that we want to share with the larger community.      After much deliberation and research, the Board voted unanimously to add a second service.  This decision was fully supported by the Council Chairs and Reverend Sutherland. We know that this will change us and our congregation. We understand the myriad of details to be decided upon. We are excited about the influx of energy, new faces and new ideas that this will bring.       Please come and participate in one of the talkbacks scheduled. Join the Implementation Task Force. Talk with any of the Board Members or any of the Council Chairs. Share your ideas and your concerns. Most of all, join us in celebrating our future and your place in it! Board of Directors                                      Rebecca Judd, President                    Charles Huntington, President Elect  Bill Young, Treasurer                   Diane Cadrain, Secretary                Shai Cassell, At Large for Social Justice Marye Gail Harrison, At Large for Spiritual Life Nancy Mandly, At Large for Community Within Council Chairs David Newton, Chair Administration Mike Winterfield, Chair Social Justice Nina Elgo, Chair Spiritual Life Margaret Leicach, Chair Community Within A Place at the Table There are still some places left for three Welcome Meals in November. They are: Sunday November 6 at 1 pm. Brunch in Hartford (not far from the Meeting House). Hosted by Nancy Mandly and Ken Bartschi, with delicious mimosas and a surprise brunch menu. Donation to the USH, $20. Saturday November 12 at 7 pm. Mediterranean Pot Luck. Bring one dish, eat a full course meal and donate $10 to the USH. This will take place at the home of Jane and Mike Winterfield in West Hartford. Jane will coordinate the dishes that guests plan to bring. Spirited conversation, casual dress. Sunday November 20 at 2 pm. Reverend Arline Sutherland and Louise Schmoll are co-hosting Sunday afternoon tea at the Meeting House. The menu will include tea sandwiches, cookies, cake, tea and coffee. Donation to the USH, $10. You can sign up for one of these events by calling Edith Savage at 232-5603 or email at esavage@snet.net to reserve a place (then mail her a check) or you can register at the Welcome Meals table in Fellowship Hall after Sunday services Wait-Persons Wanted For “Lunch Counter” Can you volunteer an hour or two to make sandwiches once a month? Can you staff the “lunch counter” at coffee hour once a month? By doing either, you will be providing a valuable community-building opportunity for our members and guests while helping to support the congregation financially. Please contact Margaret Leicach at 674-8284 or mbleicach@comcast.net to join a fun group of volunteers. Among Ourselves Condolences Our sympathies go out to Liz Garmise and her family on the death of her father. Reverend Sutherland conducted a memorial for Jamie Egan on October 1. Jamie grew up in a house on Kenyon Street and her family wanted the service at the USH because of neighborhood and UU connections. Congratulations On September 30, Reverend Sutherland married Rebecca Susan Caper and Raymond Henry LeBoutheller. She also joined four couples in a service of Holy and Civil Union last month: Jeffrey John Blanchette and Randy Neal Sharp (October 1); Suzanne Mary Rogers and Barbara Ann Upton (October 1); James Leonard Dlugokinski and James Joseph Fazzio (October 8); Larry Baxter and Dan Rosenthal (October 16). Bulletin Board Update The next project for the Effectuation Committee (now that the downstairs painting is finished) will be the construction of movable standing bulletin boards in Fellowship Hall to be used by USH’s various sub-councils. Until then, to expand the space currently available, the committee will use temporary bulletin boards in a variety of sizes. Once the standing bulletin boards are in Fellowship Hall, some of the material now displayed in the lower lobby will be located there, making it our “USH Program Center.” Bulletin boards in the lower lobby will continue to contain material of interest to visitors with information about our members, friends, and leaders plus items of interest from outside our church community. Anne Bailey Caring Network Offers “Final Wishes”   George Bickford, an expert on elder law, will lead a “Final Wishes” program after services on Sunday November 6.  His talk will cover setting up special trusts and related matters.    Members are invited for a light lunch and discussion with Mr. Bickford.  Sponsored by the Caring Network, this event should be lively, interesting and informative. An Insider’s Thoughts on The SGM Experience    Following are excerpts from Carol Davidson’s Community Testimonial on Small Group Ministry.  Carol has been facilitating SGMs for over a year and will begin leading a new group this fall.   “When I finally got my courage up and joined a group, it was as though doors opened.   I found it to be a place where we are encouraged to speak from a deeper level, a chance to get to know each other through our spoken truths…The topics have been challenging and the conversations lively and thoughtful.   “I listen to my own words and sometimes find them to be no longer true. I hear others speak their truth for this moment, and sometimes from that I find a way for me to search for a new meaning in my own beliefs.   “We speak in turn without interruption and without commenting on each other’s sharing.  It feels as though each of us in turn is in the center of our own universe, with our own emotions, and our own truths; individuals sharing different experiences on the same topic.    “For me, it’s a chance to empty out my spiritual pockets and consider the contents without judgment, and sometimes to reach even deeper into those pockets.”Rev. Sutherland Offers Some Words to Live By   Once in about every 30 years the Jewish High Holy Days and the Muslim month of Ramadan occur at the same time.  This is one of those years, Reverend Sutherland said during her “Brothers and Sisters, Let Us Repent Together” October 9 sermon.   Stories in the Koran and in the Hebrew scriptures have the same roots, she said.  It is important during these special times that we examine our conscience, confess our sins and forgive others.  “The power of repentance,” she suggested, “permits us to re-create.”   Fasting is important during both holidays.  Reverend Sutherland said she plans to participate in an October 13 country-wide fast by those not Jewish or Muslim to show solidarity. The sermon’s key words included repentance, forgiveness, atonement, compassion, transformation, renunciation.           K. C.Bring A Check to Church On Sunday November 13   On that day, the special monthly collection during the service will be donated to Center City Churches (CCC), an organization the USH joined and made a financial commitment to some 15 years ago.     Among the many activities supported by CCC is Peter’s Retreat, a place for solace, fellowship and medical support for men and women with HIV and AIDS.  Peter’s Retreat was featured in the October 9 Hartford Courant Northeast magazine.  It opened in 1994; USH members helped furnish one of its 24 rooms.  According to the Courant article, “Peter’s Retreat has become the healthy family many residents have never known.” ICEJ Sponsors November 10 Forum on Racism        Challenging the Structures of Racism in Public Education, Health Care and Immigration is the focus of a public forum Thursday November 10 beginning at 6 pm at the Learning Corridor Theater of the Performing Arts, 359 Washington Street, Hartford. Sponsored by the Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (ICEJ), the forum will begin with a presentation by John Powell, author, activist and policy analyst.    A panel response and discussion will be moderated by Rev. Roger Floyd, United Methodist Church of Hartford.  Response panelists include Rev. Edwin Ayala, Christian Activities Council; John Foley, community leader and trainer in Manchester, CT; Joyce Hamilton, Democracy Works; Rev. Dr. Alvan N. Johnson Jr., Bethel AME Church; Dr. Mark Mitchell, Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice; Rev. Michael Williams, Area Director for the Hartford Office for the Department of Children and Families, Hartford School Board.    The evening’s program begins with registration at 6 pm, worship at 6:30 and the forum at 7.    The USH is a member of ICEJ, a faith-based community of some 35 congregations  in the Greater Hartford region.  As a member, the Society also has a financial commitment; some special Sunday contributions are earmarked for ICEJ.  The September collection was $750.  The collection in December will also be for ICEJ.    *         *          *          *          * Shai’s Marathon Benefits ICEJ    Shai Cassell, USH Board member and staff person for ICEJ, did a good deed for herself and her organization when she ran in the October 10 marathon in the pouring rain.     Shai had the satisfaction of completing the 13.1-mile race (whew!) and also raising more than $1000 for ICEJ. Something for Everyone In November Choir Music    November 6.  Who knew?  “In the Sweet By and By” was published in the Universalist hymnal and was a mainstay of our musical heritage.  The choir moves back a century to a sweeter, gentler musical time.    November 13.  Jazz developed from deeply felt, rhythmically syncopated African-American spiritual traditions.  The men of the choir are at their a cappella best in an arrangement of “Wade in de Wadduh” by Unitarian composer Adolphus Hailstork, and the full choir wails on Jester Hairston’s driving “Elijah Rock.”    November 20.  The children’s choir makes its debut singing “Didn’t My Lord Deliver Daniel” for our intergenerational Thanksgiving service.  The children also join the adult choir on Tom Schmutzler”s “Psalm 150.”       It is thrilling to have our talented young people adding their beautiful voices to our worship, and it’s rewarding for them to develop their talents in service to the congregation.    November 27 To be announced. Mattie Banzhaf   To Make You Smile    “By the time a man is wise enough to watch his step, he’s too old to go anywhere.” - Billy Crystal REflections      Everyone involved in the Religious Education (RE) program—children, youth and adults—is enthusiastic about the start of the program.  Children in one family who have been going elsewhere this fall asked their parents to come back to the Meeting House. I would like to thank all of the teachers and volunteers for the work they have put in, and will put in, this church year.     There are some exciting changes on the way.  This coming March, we will be going to two services.  The RE committee and I have been working on a program to begin at that time.  We propose having children’s worship during each service for the pre-kindergarten through fifth graders.  They will the break into groups for discussion and activities. This will be a modified form of Spirit Play that we have introduced to the lower grades.  Stay tuned for further details!      We feel that the middle school group and the senior high school groups should stay together since the groups are bonding.  Given the diurnal rhythms of adolescents, we suspect they will choose to meet during the second service.  The nursery will be open and staffed at both services.     This will be an exciting time with new experiences and wonderful possibilities.  I am looking forward to seeing these changes. If you would like to help out by leading or assisting with our current classes or with the new format in March, please contact me at the church at 860-233-9897 or my e-mail address: ksilbermanbunn(at symbol)ushartford.com     Ken Silberman-Bunn, Director of Religious Education How Do We Communicate at the USH?      Just how do we communicate at the Unitarian Society of Hartford?  Why do we have a Messenger?  Why is there Enews?  What should they communicate?  Who decides the contents?  How long should a newsletter be?  What is the fiscally responsible policy?    An Editorial Policy group has been meeting to take a look at the USH communications and to seek answers to the questions above.    Many organizations that formerly printed and mailed their newsletters are posting them online. There are many reasons for this, which include the environmental impact and rising monetary costs.    We, of course, already do this.  Each issue of the monthly Meetinghouse Messenger is also posted on the Society’s web site, www.ushartford.com.     But we don’t know how many of our members are willing to read the newsletter online.  So we plan soon to send out an email each month as the current issue is posted together with a link you can select to go directly there.     As you tell us, “Yes! Stop sending me the paper copy, I’ll read it online,” we’ll accommodate you.    We will continue to produce paper copies of the newsletter, in the Meeting House office, for those who prefer it that way.  We will also make copies available to pick up at the Meeting House.    It is important that you let us know what you think about these choices.  Please call the office at 233-9897 or email editorialpolicy@ushartford.com Thanksgiving Service At The Meeting House   We will celebrate Thanksgiving with a compelling and inspirational intergenerational service on Sunday November 20.  Our children’s choir will sing an anthem and will also join the adult choir.   Once again, we will share breads from our traditions as a way of acknowledging that we are all pilgrims on our life journeys.     If you can bring bread to share (in some families, the tradition is to purchase the bread), please contact Reverend Sutherland, at 995-5900 or ASutherland (at symbol) USHartford.com, Board Business    The Board of Directors and Council Chairs approved a motion to go to two services on Sundays, heard a progress report from the Chair of the Ministerial Search Committee, and discussed a new policy for designated gifts during their regular monthly board meeting on Oct. 11.   The two-service recommendation was the result of work by members representing RE, worship, staff, Welcoming Sub Council, Board, music department and Second Service Task Force. (Please see articles by the minister, the Board President and the RE director elsewhere in this newsletter.)   Mike Roy, Chair of the Ministerial Search Committee, used a UUA Congregational Record form to remind Board members of the information they will need to supply to complete the form, including salary for clergy and staff, health and retirement plans, operating expenditures, pledge income and sources of operating income.  By mid-November, a large packet containing all this information plus brochures and pictures will be completed.   The Board discussed a draft recommendation from the Stewardship Committee which would allow the USH to accept durable goods or cash for specified purposes, following approval by the appropriate Council and the Board of Directors.  The proposal will be sent back to the Stewardship Committee for clarification and will be discussed again at the November meeting. “Effectuation” Is Working Well   What in the world is an “Effectuation Committee”?  It is a group of 15 hard-working members of the Society.  It started humbly with the modest aim of improving bulletin boards in Fellowship Hall (See related article in this newsletter).  It grew and grew until its many completed projects have greatly improved the visual and comfort quality of life at the USH.   This group has painted and installed new molding in Fellowship Hall, arranged for light plates, purchased some new tables, supported purchase of other new furniture under an aesthetic vision and even resolved the David’s Den messy situation and refurnished it with the agreement of everyone involved.     The group also painted the kitchen, labeled and painted the cabinets, worked out the lighting arrangements, and drew in architects and other B&G members for advice and assistance.    Members of the Effectuation Committee are Chair Anne Bailey, Ron and Carol Sexton, Hugh Schweitzer, Roy Cook, Carolyn Soutter, Sylvia Barclay, Nancy Reed, Bill and Louise Willett, Peter Magistri, Stuart Spence, Louise Schmoll, David Newton and Ed Sax.  D.N & K.C.                               One Busy Sunday at the USH Meeting House   So much was going on in church Sunday October 15 (the first dry day since our “monsoon”).  I began with the 9 am monthly meeting of the Comfort Shawl Ministry.  We knit, talk, share.  But we were several members short; some knitters were busy at other early meetings—the Disabilities Sub Council or the Council on Community Within.  Building and Grounds was also meeting at 9:30, although I don’t think we have many knitters on that.  All this before the 10:30 Worship Service.    Arline said her sermon, “Our Humanist Heritage,” was designed to show one of the sources our Unitarian Universalist tradition draws on.  She described a 1933 Humanist Manifesto, signed primarily by Unitarians, which proclaimed that the universe is self existing, not created, and those who believe this seek development of human life in the here and now and feel intelligence and will are most important.     Unitarians have been “accused” of believing that human reason and responsibility are important, Arline said.  She called humanism “one of the major sources of our way of being religious” and feels that humanism and theism don’t have to be at odds with each other.  We need to be more pro-active in dispersing the message of Unitarianism.    What we in the congregation need now, she suggested, is to find language that speaks to the heart and mind.  We should respect, care for and “hold tenderly” each other’s point of view without arguing or trying to convert, recognizing the power and depth in one another.    The sermon was good food for thought, but since my day wasn’t nearly over, I needed some food for the body.  So I grabbed a delicious freshly-made turkey and cheese sandwich at the new “Sunday Lunch at the Meeting House” table. Great choices, reasonable prices ($3 for most sandwiches, $.50 for fruit, chips, cookies), plenty of tables and chairs to make it easy.  Lunch will be available this month on November 6 and 13.    Now came another problem—two meetings I wanted to attend, both at the same time.  The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (ICEJ) was presenting a discussion forum in the library to explain the issues they are working on and their plans for the year ahead.  But the last of the “Living Room” meetings to tell the Search Committee what we want in a new minister was taking place next door in Servetus.  I chose the latter, since I could get ICEJ information at next Sunday’s Social Justice Fair in Fellowship Hall after the service.  There would be information on all activities under the Council on Social Justice.     In the “living room,” some 15 of us, many long-time members, talked about what brought us to the Meeting House, what keeps us here, what are the problems we see, what we’d like in our next minister.  The ideal minister, according to this particular group, would be compassionate, caring, have a sense of humor, be experienced, give good sermons, have the courage to speak the truth, be a strong leader and have the ability to balance a diverse congregation.    We tried to keep our voices down since, in the sanctuary, Arline was conducting a civil union between our own Daniel Benjamin Rosenthal and Lawrence Patrick Baxter.  The sanctuary was nearly filled with their friends and relatives.  I arrived in the sanctuary just in time to join in the final hymn, where we gather in peace, gather in love, gather in friendship…once again.                                Kayla Costenoble Would You Like to Help Lead a Worship Service?      We all seek ways to give to our community.  For some it is editing a newsletter, for others it is welcoming newcomers to the Meeting House, still others teach Sunday School.  Others watch the minister and say, “I could do that.  I would like to do that.”       If you would enjoy thinking about worship and learning how to lead services, consider becoming a Worship Associate.  Having more than one voice in a service adds texture and dimension.  The Community Testimonials, for instance, are a great addition to the service.  Once a month the congregation invites guests to preach.  We need people to lead the other parts of the service: the invocation, the prayer, and sometimes tell the story.  If you already have experience and would like to be considered part of this group, please let me know.      I will lead a training session on Tuesday December 6 from 7 to 8:30 pm.  If that date doesn’t work for you, perhaps you could come to a repeat session on Sunday December 11 from noon until 1:30 pm.  Please let the office know if you plan to attend  (233-9897) or firstunitarian@USHartford.com.  Also feel free to contact me with questions or for more information. Call me at 995-5900 or email at ASutherland@USHartford.com.                                              Reverend Arline Sutherland Women’s Alliance Schedules Holiday Baking, Party   The Baking    Members of the Women’s Alliance will be found in the Meeting House kitchen beginning at 9 am on Wednesday November 3 as they begin preparations for their annual December bake sale.  A variety of holiday goodies will be baked and offered during the eagerly-anticipated and always-sold-out event.    A cabinet meeting of the Alliance will begin at 10:30, while things are in the oven.  Please call baking coordinator Louise Schmoll with questions (242-2953).  The Party    Alliance members and guests will gather in the Meeting House library on Thursday December 1 at 4 pm to celebrate the season and share a potluck supper.     In addition to food, attendees are asked to bring a poem to read or a memory to share from some holiday in the past or describe their favorite gift as a child or their favorite holiday food.    Those coming to the party are also asked to bring gifts and supplies for children at Hartford’s Interval House.  Sign up on the bulletin board in the lower lobby by Sunday November 27.    Tom Schmutzler Reflects on his 25 Years at the US    Kayla asked me to write some “reflections” on my 25 years as Meeting House organist.  One thing is certain, I “reflect” more now than I did when I started.  Would you believe I had hair then?    Like the gun-slingers of the Old West, I have many notches carved on the console:  three for the ministers who had to put up with me (Nat, John and Terasa), two for interims (Peter Samson and Joan Kahn-Snyder), and three for choir directors prior to Mattie (Bill Willett, Paul Flight and David Katz).  Now Mattie can start carving notches on her music stand for organists!     I have seen at least a thousand surveys on who we are and what we want.  We never have any money, and this will fix the roof once and for all and we hope the furnace doesn’t blow in the meantime.    Our hymnal Hymns for the Celebration of Life was replaced by Singing the Living Tradition in  1993, which considerably stretched the traditional definition of a hymn in several places, making some almost impossible to play on the organ and even less accessible to a singing congregation.  But wait,  I hear they are working on another hymnal!    The interim minister between Nat and John (Peter Samson) was aghast that there was no sound system in the church and grumbled that he felt like he was giving the Sermon on the Mount every Sunday.  I managed to get a 4-channel PA system wholesale from a musician friend and we have progressed to our current state-of-the-art Bose system.     And can you imagine that the light hanging from the ceiling in the middle of the sanctuary didn’t come with the church?  Maybe it was on back-order or someone thought there would be glow-in-the-dark hymnals invented.  Cloudy Sunday mornings were always a special treat until somebody decided to throw a little light on the subject in the early 90’s.  Christmas Eve candlelight services were a necessity.       I have seen choir members come and go.  If they all came back we could have our own version of the Mormon Tabernacle Choir!  We never seemed to be able to break the over 25 or 30 members barrier, however.  Could it be that it looks like we have no place for them?  (Hint, hint)  Over the years the choir has presented choral music from great sacred masterpieces to, well, let’s just say I had to play a log!  (Some music degrees just don’t prepare you for everything!)  No one can accuse us of not being diverse and covering the spectrum.    Speaking of choirs…in the course of my tenure I have composed at least a dozen anthems, mostly for special occasions at the Meeting House.  Also seven pieces for organ, a sonata for organ and violin, a suite for clarinet and piano and other miscellaneous pieces.  I think it is safe to say that none of these would have been written had it not been that the talent was in residence at the Meeting House to assure at least one performance before they ended up in the piano bench.  Having a full time day job made it very difficult for me to get things done and writing “for the fun of it” was not an option.     I have played memorial services for many friends and acquaintances and have seen little kids suddenly going off to college.  The wedding business has dropped off considerably and has become a victim of modern technology.  Unlike the “old days,” the majority of weddings these days take place without my knowledge.  Nine out of ten are what I call “drive-by” weddings (“Oh look, that place looks nice.  Let’s rent it!”)  Most couples come armed with their favorite CD (some even bring their own boom-box) and don’t even consider having an organist—lest it seem like church or something.    We once had a sexton who insisted on vacuuming whenever I tried to practice so I could back him up in case anybody accused him of not doing his job.  And he had his dog with him who would come up to the front of the chancel and howl!  Oh, the indignity!  I think the vacuum was a B flat Hoover.    And now we finally have the upgraded organ.  Before I knew I would be leaving, our organ technician said, “I don’t know what it is, but it seems every time I am involved in a new installation, the organist leaves shortly thereafter.” I replied, “That’s because it takes churches so long to get anything done that by the time it is completed the organist is either retired or dead!  It usually ends up being an excuse to pave the way for the future and the next guy.”    So that’s about it.  It has been wonderful and I will miss everything about the Meeting House and the people.  Sorry if I ever played too loud or too soft, too slow or too fast, too dissonant or too tuneful, too much Bach or not enough…it was all in my job description.                Tom Schmutzler  Ministerial Musings . . . Reverend Arline C. Sutherland      The Unitarian Society of Hartford has made a bold decision to embrace change, to move forward into the future with courage and zest!  You have decided to change your habitual ways, many of which are precious, and take the risk of going to two services on Sunday mornings.  You are trusting that this shift will make more room in the pews and the parking lot for newcomers.  You are opening your doors, your hearts and your minds to those who are not yet here.  As one who has made this shift before, I can tell you, “ We worried too.  But be of good courage. It was nowhere near as hard as we feared.  And the results are more than worth it!”  Change is most often perceived as hard.  I’m reminded of a Thanksgiving a few years ago when a two-year-old sobbed as his parents left him with me for some well-deserved time as a couple. I held him and tried to soothe him, by acknowledging that his feelings were legitimate and could be named.  “Change is hard, Skylar.  It’s hard to change from being with your Mom and Dad to being only with Granny.  I know.  It’s hard.”  “Oh Granny,” he wailed, “Change really is hard!”  His anguish touched another daughter-in-law who said, only half jokingly, “I think he understands my pain.  It’s hard to change from living in New York with my family and friends to living in L.A. where the only one I know is my husband.  Change is hard.  I know.”  A few minutes later having blown noses and washed faces, we all went out for a walk.  Embrace change; welcome it, say the experts.  Life is change.  Transformation is possible only when we open ourselves to the new.  Young and not as young, we learn that moving through change allows us to expand our world and stretch ourselves.  Of course we need to grieve the endings, and we need to spend time in between, while we are being drawn onward into unknown regions. I am thrilled to be working with you as together we navigate this significant move and commitment to growth.  Growth means so many things.  I often use the image of a tree whose branches can stretch out only as far as its roots reach deep and wide.  I trust that we will be doing all of the above, going deeper and wider as well as farther out.  When I contemplate why I am so passionate about Unitarian Universalism, I find myself saying things like: it has given me a way to talk about and understand the world and my place in it; it has saved my life.  I want to spread this message far and wide. Shout it from the rooftops.   Our faith, our way of being religious has much to offer our nation and world.  Let us be about it!  Blessings,  Arline Current calendar

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