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50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333
Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com
Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD
USH-Enews For January 31, 2008
Jump to: Calendar; What's happening; A matter of opinion; External events; Further Down the Road; Did You Know?; Lay Listener of the Week
Marye Gail Harrison and Chancel Display - What do these things mean?
photo by Anne BaileyThe USH-Enews is a weekly email newsletter produced for members and friends of the Unitarian Society of Hartford. The USH web address is: http://www.ushartford.com/ Check at the end of this USH-Enews for information on submissions, subscriptions and escape from the mailing list. And, to read the monthly Meetinghouse Messenger (newsletter) on the web or to find past issues of the weekly USH-Enews click here.
Office hours: Rev. Jamestone: Phone: 860 233-9897; Email: RevBJ@USHartford.com - Rev. BJ office hours by appointment.
Worshipping Together Since 1830 - Services at 9 & 11 AM
Sunday - 3 February - Tapestry – Saving the Environment Beginning with You - We must begin with one - person, deed, family, neighborhood, church, town, state, nation and planet while recognizing this is both a spiritual and societal endeavor. Service put on by the Music Committee, Peter Magistri and Andy Bauer; exemplary workers in the “green” movement.
Music - The Music Committee, led by Edith Savage, has crafted a service around, The Environment, and the music evokes environmental problems and solutions. Drawn from musicians such as Holly Near, Floyd Westerman, Sally Rogers, Billy Edd Wheeler and even Randall Thompson, the music powerfully inspires us to get out there and fix it! A highlight of this service is “La tierra es mi madre” (“The Earth is our mother”) jointly sung by the children’s and adult choruses.
Soup and bake goods will be on sale by youth in support of youth Spirituality Retreat and Dentura School System outhouse project in Ghana, West Africa
1 PM, Chapel. George Gombossy, Hartford Courant Watchdog Correspondent, will talk on Consumer Awareness. More
REflections on Children's Programming
Family Programming
On Sunday, February 10th, we will be enjoying a Celebration of the Family: Experience it's Many Forms! Bring the whole family to lunch and this marvelous program of story telling, community building, and merriment! The celebration will begin in the Spirit Play classroom at 12:30 PM. Please R.S.V.P. to Gail at: dre@ushartford.com so we can provide lunch.
Coming of Age
Our eighth and ninth grade students are invited to participate in our Coming of Age program, starting this Sunday, February 3, 2008. Classes will be held at 10 AM in Fuller. Please contact Gail at: dre@ushartford.com with questions on registering and volunteering to assist with the program.
Humane Society Bake Sale
The fourth and fifth grade students will be raising funds for the Humane Society by holding a bake sale on Sunday, February 17th after the 11 AM service. Please encourage this introduction to social justice for our children as they work to support the ethical treatment of animals.
What Else is Happening & AnnouncementsSoulful Sundown, This Friday, February 1, at 5:30 PM. A celebration of the mystery and wonder of life using music, inspirational readings, and congregational participation.
Family Retreat Considered for the first weekend in June - Planning session scheduled for February 7th at the Meeting House at 7 PM. Consider attending for planning and fun. - Traci Hardison
Attention all High School Aged Youth: The annual Skiing and Spirituality Retreat is scheduled for February 8th, 9th, and 10th.
We will meet at the Meeting House parking lot on Friday at 6:30 PM, then travel up to Otis Ridge. We will return by 12:30 PM Sunday afternoon.
The weekend will include games, discussions, worships, justice work, community building and skiing. For more information see Denise Ackeifi or any of the Youth Group members.
Updated 2007-2008 Photo Directories - will be available in the Meeting House office in early February. Please let Business Manager Brian Mullen (bmullen@ushartford.com) know of any errors or omissions in the existing directory copy.
From the Adult Programs Sub-Council: Thanks to all of you, the Programs Fair was a big success! You can continue to register
on Sundays during the coffee hours. If you haven't picked up your copy of the Programs Catalog please do - they are available at the Visitors Table and the Registration Table in Fellowship Hall. See catalog on the web.
Among the February offerings:
Eat by Choice, Not by Habit, beginning February 3, 1:30-2:30 PM, Servetus. Explore the underlying needs behind your eating habits and body image with a like-minded informal group.
Friday Dinner and Movie, February 8. Join others for a friendly movie night including a catered candlelight dinner, dessert, and coffee. The featured movie will be "My Beautiful Laundrettte". Please reserve by Monday, February 4. Special fee for the remaining season of 5 movies. More
The Haiku Path: A Writing Workshop, Saturday, February 9, 10-3 PM. Stanford M. Forrester is a past president of the Haiku Society of America and founder and editor of bottle rockets: a collection of short verse. He is one of the leading poets in the American spiritual haiku movement and has been a Buddhist practitioner for over 20 years. Participants will learn the skills necessary to compose, revise, and recite haiku through various exercises and methods. Everyone is welcome--no experience necessary.
Paper Collage, Saturday, February 9, 10-2 PM. Hannah Libman, whose award-winning work has been widely exhibited, returns to USH to teach paper collage.
Great Decisions, 8 Sundays, starting February 10, 9:30-10:45 AM. A popular long running series with lively, thoughtful discussions of foreign affairs issues, based on readings provided by the Foreign Policy Association.
The Great Turning. Peacemaking: A Congregational Study-Action Issue, Mondays,February 11, 25, & March 3, 7:30 - 9 PM.A lecture/discussion series facilitated by Tom Kemble using the book The Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community by David C. Korten. More
Friday Dinner and Movie, February 8 - My Beautiful Laundrette - Can a rundown laundrette be a stepping stone to financial success in a Pakistani community in South London in the ‘80s?
The innovative Stephen Frears sets a story of love, respect, and social-climbing in a hostile political and cultural climate. There are plenty of conflicts between generations, races, and classes, as well as straight and gay characters.
Will it all come clean in the wash? The converted laundrette will feature an aquarium, video games, plants, and classical music, with a bit of romantic action, too.
in a slight switch of the schedule. The movie initially planned for February 8, “Avenue Montaigne”, will be shown on April 11. Reservations may be made at the coffee hour registration table on Sundays or by calling the office at 233-9897 with your credit card. Please reserve by Monday, February 4.
Sign Up Now for Spring Small Group Ministry - Groups are starting to fill up, so you should sign up this Sunday for spring Small Group Ministry, where small groups meet to share meaningful life experiences.To encourage participation in SGM by all segments of people at USH, we are offering a special SGM group that is open to everyone, but will especially accommodate parents with children by providing dinner ($10 per adult total fee) and childcare. It follows the same SGM format and uses the same topics, and it meets on Friday evenings at the fully accessible Meeting House, facilitated by RE Director Gail Syring.
You may also choose a Tuesday evening group in Simsbury facilitated by Bev Prager (just 1 opening left), a Wednesday evening group in West Hartford facilitated by Bill Shoemaker and hosted by Rebecca Schweitzer (3 openings), or a Thursday evening group in Hartford facilitated by Carol Davidson and hosted by Bruce Robbins (6 openings).
An afternoon group will meet on Tuesdays in Glastonbury facilitated by Barbara Fraher and hosted by Kathy Herzog (1 opening). Interested persons can identify accessibility concerns (including assisted listening devices or allergies) with Mike Roy (561-4061) so we can address them to the best of our ability. Please sign up this Sunday in Fellowship Hall or by contacting the church office.
Watching Your Spending? Afraid you're Getting Ripped Off? Come to hear Hartford Courant Watchdog Correspondent George Gombossy talk on Consumer Awareness.
You've probably read his hard-hitting investigative columns on duplicitous websites, bait-and-switch selling, and other local maladies.
His talk will be at 1 PM on Sunday, February 3, free and open to all, without registration. It is another in the series sponsored by the UAMW, known as the Alliance.
The Youth Group will be selling soup during the noon coffee hour preceding the talk; you could also bring a sandwich from home to eat then.
An Evening of Heart and Soul at USH - On February 16, 2008, the Welcoming Congregation/Interweave Chapter at the Unitarian Society of Hartford will be hosting a Valentine's Dinner and Dance. More
Caring Network - When all is said and done, more is said than done. - Lou Holtz - You are the ears of the Caring Network. Diana Heymann is the Chair of the Caring Network. Please tell Diana (heydiana(at symbol)comcast.net) 860.461.0908, or call the office when you learn of any of our members enduring the stresses of life so we can reach out to those in need. - Offer your services. A wide range of community services are available to help you. Call InfoLine at 211.
A Matter of Opinion: (space for comment on USH issues from members and friends) - Editor retains the right to make minor changes – letters should be issue oriented)
Invite Somebody to Sunday Service - Ever wonder what to say to someone to invite them to the Meeting House? Here is a suggestion from the UUA:
"You know, we have a community of liberal religious people you might like to meet, and I really think you might enjoy our services - would you like to come with me next Sunday? "
I'd be interested in the result if you try it.
Marye Gail Harrison, member of the USH Board for Spiritual LifeDid You Know? - 500,000 trees could be saved from being cut down if every family in the United States recycled their newspaper.
Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)
Time for a New Round of Circle Dinners - Next Round of Dates : February 29, April 5, and May 10. - Enjoy being with old friends and meeting new ones. More
Trans Plantations at the Hartford Stage - March 19th Buy Your Tickets NOW! - More
Humanist Seminar – March Adult Education program - Meeting dates: March 2, 9, 16, 30 at 1:00 PM at the Meetinghouse, room TBA. More
Thursday, January 31
5:30 pm Coucnil on Spiritual Life, Servetus
7:00 pm NVC Practice, Emerson
Friday, February 1
9:00 am Audio Task Force, Library
5:30 pm Soulful Sundown, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, February 3
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Youth Group Soup Making, Kitchen
10:00 am Coming of Age, Fuller
10:00 am Youth Choir, Chapel
10:15 am Children’s Choir, Chapel
10:00 am Environmental Representatives, Fellowship Hall
10:30 am Building the World We Dream About, Library
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm Environmental Representatives, Fellowship Hall
12:30 pm Building the World We Dream About, Sanctuary
1:00 pm Consumer Affairs Talk w/George Gombossy, Chapel
1:30 pm Eat by Choice, Not by Habit, Servetus
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
5:30 pm UU Singles Potluck, Library
Monday, February 4
1:00 pm Adult Programs Sub-council, Servetus
6:00 pm Information & Advocacy, Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Workship Arts Sub-council, Ballou
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Fuller
Tuesday, February 5
6:30 pm Stewardship Sub-council, Library
7:00 pm NVC for Families, Emerson
7:00 pm Religious Education Sub-council, Servetus
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, February 6
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
7:30 pm NVC practice group, Emerson
Thursday, February 7
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
6:30 pm UPA, Clocher home
7:00 pm NVC Practice, David
Friday, February 8
5:30 pm Friday Dinner & Movie, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, February 9
10:00 am Paper Collage Workshop, Servetus
10:00 am Haiku Workshop, Library
10:00 am Rental, Chapel
Sunday, February 10
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
9:30 am Great Decisions, Library
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Building & Grounds Sub-council, Murray
10:00 am Comfort Shawl, Lower Lobby
10:00 am Coming of Age, Fuller
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:30 pm Celebration of Family, Spirit Play Room
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel, then Fellowship Hall
5:00 pm Evensong for Families, ServetusItalicized entries are non-USH events.
Please notify Brian Mullen of all additions or changes to the calendar. Follow this Link to all our scheduled events!External Events and Educational Notes
From the Editor:
This Week’s Feature Articles
Green Actions Indeed
What do you know about the Adult Programs Sub-Council?
More about last Week's Chance Art
What do you know about the Adult Programs Sub-Council? - Our mission is: The Adult Programs Sub-Council strives to provide lectures, classes, workshops and other offerings for continued spiritual growth, religious learning and community fellowship. Programs are intended to be of broad appeal while meeting the needs of particular groups where practical and appropriate.
What does that mean for the USH community? - On Sunday, January 20 the new Winter/Spring Programs catalog was available for you to pick up. There are still copies at the Programs Table. If you don’t have one, stop by at either Coffee Hour! The catalog contains information about over 30 programs that will be happening at USH during the next few months. What better way to await the first signs of spring than to join your fellow USHers in one or more of these events?
As many of you know, last Sunday, Fellowship Hall was alive with the Programs Fair. Two Fairs are held each year, in September and January. There were many folks available to share materials and information about the offerings in the new catalog. You may register for these courses at the Programs Table during Coffee Hours, by calling the Office or by competing a registration form found on the USH website (from the Spiritual Life menu, select Adult Programs and click on “registration form”) and mailing or taking the completed form, with the fee, if any, to the USH office.
The members of the Adult Programs Sub-Council staff the Programs Table at both Coffee Hours almost every Sunday from September through June. We solicit and review program proposals from members and friends of USH as well as community members. We then have to schedule the program for a time that is available on the calendar and is advantageous to USH and the facilitator. After this is all set, the proposals go to Rosie (who works many hours on our behalf) for inclusion in the catalog. We proofread the catalog copy and it is then printed in its final form and is ready to be distributed to you. As soon as the catalog is completed, we begin looking and listening to find programs for the next catalog, all the while promoting and registering for the current semester’s events.
Now you know what we do, what can you do? - We always welcome additional members. We only meet when necessary. I can tell you that the folks on the AP Sub-Council are wonderful folks with whom to work. So, if this sounds like a way you would like to be involved, please stop by the Programs Table and talk us! We would be delighted to have you join us. You can also help by suggesting courses you would like to see offered (specific topics and facilitator(s), please). And, most importantly, we would like to hear from you about how you feel the Adult Programs Sub-Council is doing in its mission to enrich and support continued spiritual growth, religious learning and community fellowship. We need your input and your help. How could we do it better? Lastly, just stop by the Programs Table on Sundays to chat and bring any visitors along!! - Janice Newton, Chair, Adult Programs Sub-Council
Green Actions Indeed - This week we focus on planetary concerns. The neat thing about the green revolution surrounding us is that we can all participate, and such participation is good for us, our communities and the world. Further, there are things an individual can do in this situation and those things do make a difference. A few years ago there were no hybrid vehicles, compact fluorescent bulbs and energy star appliances. Now there are.
We at the Newton residence look out the window each morning as we arise and speculate on the possible amount of sunlight for the day. You see we have an 8.58 K photovoltaic system on our roof, a system patiently awaiting the light each day and quietly converting sunlight into kilowatts of electricity; no coal, natural gas, or atomic energy required. In fact, no combustion products added to the atmosphere at all.
Any excess electricity is pumped out into the grid for use elsewhere when it is needed most on hot sunny days. Our exports and imports are traded and we pay only the residual excess of imports over exports, as necessary. With care, it appears we will run a positive net electrical export for a "solar" year. Is this the least expensive way to generate power today? No. Will it have been a good investment after 20 years? Probably yes. Does it make a difference to the atmosphere today? Yes. What would happen if almost every US roof were covered with photovoltaic cells? Would we have as large a balance of payments problem and would our foreign policy be as heavily influenced by oil imports?
Everyone can participate in the green revolution. It is one of the areas in the modern world were individual decisions do make a difference. We can use compact fluorescent lighting, when we need to replace old appliances we can purchase new energy star rated units. We can recycle at the curb. We can drive an efficient hybrid car, and we can elect leaders who believe in such actions.
You can take pride in our new state of the art green USH boilers, Snap, Crackle and Pop. Our budget projections to the end of this fiscal year show a projected savings over estimated budget of about $9,000.
We can show "..respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part." - And you know where those words came from! - DCN
A Matter of Principles - If you’ve been following the monthly articles about our UU principles, you may recall that our principle for February is acceptance. Let’s take a look at what the UUA website says acceptance means, in words that adults and children can understand.
Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations
We’re free to learn together
What does that mean to you? You might want to think about a time or an event in your life when your acceptance or your lack of acceptance for someone else or for a group of people made a difference. Or perhaps it was the other way around … maybe it was someone else’s acceptance or lack of acceptance for you that stands out in your mind. Who are you thinking about … someone in our church or in your family, or a friend, or possibly even a stranger?
By the way, do you remember our first three principles? Here they are again but this time I’ve added a sentence below each one that expresses a related belief that was part of the precept which guided my life and my behavior even before I became a Unitarian. Frankly, I was amazed when I first came to the Meeting House and discovered that our seven principles and my beliefs were essentially the same. I had found my spiritual home!
- December –Respect - I assume that everybody has a deep and beautiful soul.
- January –Compassion - I feel for everyone else.
- February –Acceptance - I do not assume that everyone else thinks the same way I do.
I’ll share the rest of my beliefs and our principles with you in the coming months, so stay tuned.
It seems to me that the more we think about and practice our principles, the more meaningful they become. They become real. They become part of us. So, join me. Let’s practice them together. - Bill LaPorte-Bryan - Social Justice Chair
More about last Week's Chancel Art - In the photo at the top of this issue you see the symbols. Here is the rest of the story.
Marye Gail says, "The banner symbol has a distinct "E" in it, as did the math formula on the OOS cover representing the process of atoms moving together to form ONE under very cold conditions. A little process theology going on? My vision was to bring the message of the banner down onto the chancel and floor, moving out to all of us - crystalline, white and cold but flowing yet. I didn't know about Bose Einstein Condensate."
About the banner itself, Mattie tells us, "The original version of this banner was a huge silkscreen hanging at the Miho Museum, an extraordinary place in rural Japan. The museum was built on a magical small mountain, with a bridge constructed across the adjacent valley like a passage to Shangri-la, or a journey to a totally different time and place. The artist of the original believed in applying his fine-artist's eye and aesthetic to the crafts of "the people" - clothing, ceramics, book design, wall hangings (common in Japanese homes and shops) etc. This particular piece caught my eye and I couldn't let go of it - I visualized it as a chancel banner. I bought a postcard and gave it to Louise....and within a few months she had created both the large chancel banner and a smaller version, which is hanging in Bellows. I put the artist's name and the meaning of the design on the back of that small piece.
"As you may know, calligraphy is an important art form in China and Japan, and a single character may be used as a work of art. If the calligraphy is deemed exceptionally beautiful this piece might be considered a great treasure. Each Chinese character (used in Japanese as well, though sometimes with different pronunciation or specific significance) has the meaning of a word or concept, not just a sound as with English letters.
"The symbol on our banner is not an actual character but was invented by the artist who called it a "character from heaven" or a "letter from God." In this case "character" or "letter" means something like a letter of the alphabet, although Japanese doesn't use an alphabet, exactly."
And that, as they say, is the rest of the story. - DCN
Getting to Know the Lay Listeners
Carol Davidson, UU since 1970
Member of USH since 1999; Small Group Ministry facilitator; Member Rev. BJ's team of Worship Associates; Founder, along with four magnificent book wranglers (Milly, Virginia, Sue, and Randi), of the USH Sunday used book sale; Native Californian; got to Connecticut by way of North Carolina and Miami, Florida.
Two grown-up kids with two grandchildren and three big dogs; Spent many memorable years in the arts including an art glass/watercolor studio on Miami Beach.
I was drawn to the Lay Listener project because of my desire to connect more deeply with others in our congregation and to take our coffee hour chat to another level perhaps. I believe that personal sharing can become the glue that binds our growing congregation, to make it into more than a gathering for Sunday services.
Last week we began this short series about lay listeners will Paul Quin. Here is his picture!
Nuts and Bolts: The member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association covenant to affirm and promote: the inherent worth and dignity of every person; justice, equity, and compassion in human relations; acceptance of one another and encouragement of spiritual growth in our congregations; a free and responsible search for truth and meaning; the right of conscience and the use of the democratic process, within our congregations and in society at large; the goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all; respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.
Generally, USH-Enews will be posted on Thursday. Send email related to the USH-Enews to dcnewton at ushartford.com If you have announcements or articles you wish to be published, send them along with the subject line USH-Enews by 4:30 PM Wednesday evening. Comments are always welcome. If you wish to have your name removed from the distribution list or have learned of the electronic publication and wish to have your email address added, just ask. © Unitarian Society of HartfordLet us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 01/31/08 5:12 PM)
