50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105 Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333 Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD

Home Page- Link Central Questions and Comments	USH-Enews February 11, 2010 Jump to: Sunday Service; Calendar; What's Happening; Feature Articles; External Events; Further Down the Road; Social Justice Journeys; Green Topics ; A Matter of Opinion Text only Printer Friendly Format
	Hope for Spring! (The cat's name is Hope) 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 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. Out of Work - A victim of the economy, or a chance to identify who we are, and who we want to become? The numbers are frightening.  Ten percent of the American workforce is considered unemployed, which means not working and still looking for a job.  This does not include those who were looking, but have given up on finding anything.  I know from personal experience that even though you can receive unemployment benefits, or a severance, it is still a challenging place to be financially, emotionally, professionally, and spiritually.     I was more fortunate than many Americans, as I got to choose my method and time of departure.  My employer, through a restructuring, offered severance agreements that were far more generous than others receive. I felt satisfied that I had made a positive contribution to the organization and left on good terms. I formed friendships with people there that have continued long after my name was taken out of the company directory. The severance period would give me ample time to find a new job, or even career path. And, while I was employed, I had been working on what I viewed as part two of my working life.  I worked on and completed a PhD to make a possible a transition to academia in some sort of capacity.   Even with these perceived advantages, getting back into the workforce was not as easy or straightforward as I had hoped.     First, job openings that look like they are good fits for you does not mean they are not a better fit for someone else. This does not mean that they are better qualified, but may mean that they are already living in the area, part of the organization (e.g. the federal service system), or know someone in charge of hiring.  It is a bias for hiring managers to take the route of least resistance.  And, having been a manager with those responsibilities in the past, I understand exactly how and why those dynamics come into play.  This doesn’t mean you stop applying.     The second difficult lesson I learned is that just because you believe your life is headed in a certain direction (I was convinced that the severance package and PhD was a message from the universe that my wife and I would be headed south), doesn’t mean it is going in the direction you expect.  Life is full of surprises, and getting back into the job market certainly proved this adage. I went on job interviews in VA, NC, and phone interviews in MA and DC.  I met and/or exceeded the requirements for every position but did not receive any offers.     Emotionally, it was challenging to stay motivated and treat the job search as a full time job. I found solace in developing a new hobby, cooking, to offset my less than successful efforts in the job market. Spiritually, this time off allowed me to look critically at what I done in the past for a career and seriously think about what I wanted to do for the future.  What were my main motivations for pursuing different postings?  It was invaluable and allowed me to conclude that I really did want to transition out of what can be a very tumultuous and stressful field, tribal administration.  This realization shifted my search away from numerous postings in this area in WA, CA, and other states west of the Mississippi to more academic related positions on the eastern seaboard.  I also reconnected with my family in NC and other parts of the US in ways that I had not done since leaving the state in 1992. I was able to assist while my father went through treatment for cancer, something I could not have done if employed full time.      It was when I had made this shift in what types of jobs I was looking for that I had a conversation with a long time friend from the region.  This conversation led to an offer for a position that needed to be filled on an interim basis. It was exactly the kind of job I dreamed of and I could apply for the permanent position if I so desired. I said “Yes!” and am there today as (interim) Director of the Institute for New England Native American Studies at UMASS Boston.   What I have learned through this process is that persistence counts, and connections count even more. Use your networks, professional, familial, and in my case, tribal, to put out to the world who you are in addition to what you can do.  I believe who you are (values, philosophy, personhood) gets you in the door more times than what you can do.  While it was a somewhat harrowing experience, my time away from work gave me time to be with my family, my chosen circle of friends, and most importantly, with myself. - Cedric Woods
	Worshipping Together Since 1830 One Service 10:30 AM  Sunday 14 February Drama Service - On Valentine’s Day, treat yourself to this moving and exciting service based on the power of theater and drama to reach the spirit. Jacques Lamarre, who has worked with a number of theaters in the area, including Hartford Stage and Theatreworks, brings his experiences to us in the form of a “Drama Service” -- a service carefully crafted to lift us and illuminate those dramatic moments that can sometimes only be touched on in a performance setting.  Professional actors will present classic scenes from Doubt and Metamorphosis.  The service will also include powerful and touching tunes from Godspell, Hair, The King and I, Rent, and other memorable Broadway shows, sung by the section leaders and by Patrice Fitzgerald and Richard Leslie. The choir as well as the congregation will have a chance to sing along with some well-loved melodies. - Don’t miss this one.  It’s going to be a hit. Next year, we may sell tickets! Some changes at the Sanctuary Door: What’s With the"Sign?" - Concern has been expressed about the number of people arriving late on Sundays for the service, as this is a disruption to those who are already seated and have settled into a reflective or meditative state.  Based on recommendations from the Membership Committee, Welcoming Volunteers are trying a new procedure on Sundays: Folks who arrive after the opening welcome from the pulpit has begun, will be asked to wait at the back of the Sanctuary until after the Invocation and Chalice Lighting, before finding seats. An usher will hold up a sign explaining this, as the service begins. The glass doors to the sanctuary will remain open to allow sufficient space for latecomers to stand there, as well as at the back of the Sanctuary, and still be included in the service. We would very much appreciate folks making every effort to be seated by the time the service begins. This shows respect for those speaking or playing music early in the service, as well as enhancing the sanctity of the service and making our usher’s jobs easier – who knows, they might find they don’t even need to use the sign!     Lets ALL try to be aware of the clock and get to our seats on time! - Anne Bailey, Membership Chair Board Minutes for January 12 are available on the web. REflections on Children's Programming Religious Education Classes Spirit Play: Orange Promise: Charlie Anderson Second & Third Grade: Heart Talk: Peace & Contribution Fourth & Fifth Grade: Toolbox of Faith: Resiliency Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Grade: Hinduism Youth Group Activities: Discussion/Participation in Worship    CASTING CALL The Religious Education Sub-Council is seeking enthusiastic actors to participate in our 2/21 multigenerational service.  Thespians of all ages who love the story of The Velveteen Rabbit are encouraged to contact Gail at: dre@ushartford.com for details.- Gail M. Syring DRE Things You Can Do For USH In spare moments, you can GOOGLE "hartford unitarian-universalist" then scroll to the 3rd page or so, and click the link which says  'Hartford UU Meeting House selections on podcast alley."  This will move our link to our podcasts forward in the listing and maybe right up to the first page, just under the FIRST listing, which is...guess who?  and guess how we got the link there?" . (see article). What Else is Happening The USH Men's Luncheon Group meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month, at Carmen Anthony's Restaurant, located on Route 44 in Avon.    The speaker for the meeting on Tuesday, February 16, will be Tom Kemble. Tom's topic will be "Solving the CT Budget Crisis" Donate Baked Items - If you would like to donate a baked item on Feb. 14th, please send an email to Julie Smith, moles30(at symbol)hotmail.com Julie and the USH Interweave Group plan to sell cookies, brownies, etc. to USH members and visitors during coffee hour after worship on 2/14/10. All proceeds will be donated to True Colors. Holy Places of Asian Religions or Shifting Sands of Pilgrimage - There is a special opportunity coming up on Sunday, Feb. 21 at 12:15 in Fellowship Hall: Rev Bj will present a slide show: "Shifting Sands of Pilgrimage." BJ has made pilgrimages to many sites holy to the world’s religions and will focus on the holy places of Asian religions. Specifically she will cover the pilgrimage to Western Tibet, to Mt. Kailash (most sacred spot for Tibetan Buddhism and Hinduism). Further, she will show slides of important sites in the life of Buddah in Northern India. His birthplace is the site of his enlightenment, his first teaching location, and the site of his Paranirvana, or death. Bring a sandwich or buy soup from the youth group ~ lemonade and popcorn served during the show Sponsored by the Alliance Ministry to Women ALL are welcome! Kingian Non-Violence Training at USH - Rev BJ’s sermon last Sunday referred to the philosophy of “Kingian Non-violence.”  Further, this will be topic for personal reflection and application at our February Ember Days (24th, 26th, 27th). Finally, if you are encouraged by these principles and steps that change is possible in our own lives and community, please consider this training, to be held Saturdays April 17 and 24 at USH. More NEW! Eat Better, Feel Better, Live, Better: Vegetarianism and its impact on physical health, spiritual health, and planetary health. Mondays, March 8, 15, 22, and 29, 6:30 - 8 PM. Fee $15. Join nutritionist, lifestyle educator, and cookbook author Maribeth Abrams for an inspirational, interactive, and informative course on the power of vegetarianism on personal, planetary and societal evolution. Discover the impact of animal agriculture on natural resources and on living in alignment with one's values, and get inspired to make delicious improvements on your dinner plate. Maribeth Abrams is a certified nutritionist and lifestyle educator, writer, corporate chef for a large natural food company, and spokesperson for the North American Vegetarian Society. She is the author of the cookbook Tofu 1-2-3, the forthcoming 4-ingredient Vegan, and the column "Ask Maribeth" in Vegetarian Voice. Register on Sundays at the Programs Table or by calling Janice Newton at 860.677.1121. Adult Programs Stop by the Programs table during coffee hour to ask any questions you may have about any of  the programs in the Adults and Families 2010 Winter/Spring Notebooks. You may also see the complete listing of classes, programs, and events on the web. . Registrations are now in progress for all of the Winter/Spring programs. Please, if at all possible, register for programs in person during coffee hours on Sundays. If you cannot register in person, please email Janice Newton dcnewton(at symbol)snet.net and note registration in the subject line, or call 860.677.1121 and leave a message (if we are not home) rather than calling the office. This procedure will be followed for all programs including Small Group Ministry. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated. February and March offerings: Our Chosen Faith, February 24, 7 PM. Join Rev. Jamestone for an introduction and discussion of Chapters 1 and 2 of Our Chosen Faith. If you have the book, please try to read the chapters before the class. This provocative handbook is a dialogue between two great Unitarian Universalist ministers based on the six sources of our living UU tradition. For more information about the program, go to the listing on the web. Ember Days, Wednesday February 24, 12 - 2 PM and Friday and Saturday February 26, 27, 6 - 8 PM NEW! Eat Better, 4 Mondays, March 8, 15, 22, 29, 6:30 - 8 PM. (More) Friday Night Dinner and Movie, March 12. The featured movie will be Good Will Hunting. Don’t Miss Out On Small Group Ministry - Tired of being cooped up inside the house as the snow flies?  You should try Small Group Ministry, where you get to know other members and friends better while discussing spiritual and life topics openly and in depth. But, you should register now for Small Group Ministry as space is filling up for this spring. For a description of how SGM works, click here. We recently added an LGBT affinity group for LGBT folks and straight supportive friends, facilitated by Julie Smith. Register on Sunday or by calling Janice Newton at 860. 677.1121. These six new groups will begin in February and March 2010.   Start Dates/Locations: 1.  Monday evenings (7:00-9:00 pm), February 22, Farmington (Group is Full; sign up for waiting list) - Facilitator Bev Prager, Hosts Janice & David Newton   2.  Tuesday evenings (7:00-9:00 pm), March 2, West Hartford (one spaces left) - Facilitator Heather Ferguson-Hull, Host Betsy Mahaffey   3.  Thursday evenings (7:00-9:00 pm), March 18, Hartford (five spaces left) - Facilitator Carol Davidson, Host Bruce Robbins - This Mini-SGM is limited to four sessions, with the option for more sessions at the group’s discretion.   4.  Friday evenings (5:30-8:00 pm), March 19, USH Meeting House (three spaces left)- This Family-Friendly group is open to everyone, but will especially accommodate adult members and friends with younger children.  Format changes are:     • Six meetings, instead of the usual eight     • Dinner of pizza and salad for adults and        kids, costs shared by all     • USH provides childcare at no charge     • Dinner from 5:30-6:30 pm; SGM from        6:30-8:00 pm     • Meet on Friday evening (no school        next day!) We welcome participation by parents, whether single or partnered.  Both spouses or partners can choose to participate, or just one spouse or partner may participate.  Facilitated by Hugh Schweitzer.   5.  Wednesday afternoons (2:00-4:00 pm), March 3, West Hartford (three spaces left) - Facilitator Esther McKone, Host Linda Ericson-Ebel 6.  Wednesday evenings (7:00-9:00 pm), March 10, Canton (six spaces left)- Facilitator Julie Smith, Host Debbie Nardi - This SGM is an LGBT affinity group, with straight and supportive friends welcome. Sound Squad—Pease Join Us - If you were in church this past Sunday, you saw me sitting on the left end of the chancel.  You may have wondered what I was doing there.  I was monitoring the box that controls our sound system.  I was a “gain rider.” The huge black box in the chancel is the sound system for the Sanctuary.  Up to now only the organist, seated at the console, was able to adjust the volume when needed during services.  This was unsatisfactory, partly because it added a distracting task to the busy organist's life. Last week, Stu Spence (Co-Chair of Building and Grounds) turned the box 180°.  This makes it possible for someone else to "ride gain" during the service, adjusting the microphone volume as needed. So now, we need a Sound Squad—Gain Riders. To date we have five volunteers, and we need more. Bill LaPorte Bryan is willing to provide training on the system, which is extremely simple.  I know nothing about sound systems, and I was comfortable doing it after a few minutes of training.   Often nothing will need to be done, but sometimes there will be feedback squeal (turn it down) or someone will speak too quietly (turn it up).  An usher in the back will signal you appropriately. So, who do we need?  We have volunteers from the choir who will ride gain whenever the choir performs.  And we need others when the choir does not sit in the chancel. We're just starting to work on this, so it's not clear yet whether we will have a small number of people in the squad, rotating through the Sundays, or perhaps a larger number signing up for given Sundays. The more people we have on the Sound Squad, the easier for all.  Please join me and others to improve the quality of our sound system.  E-mail me if you would like to volunteer at kpeters396(at symbol)cox.net. - Karl Peters, Chair of Spiritual Life (Thanks to Mattie Banzhaf for an earlier draft of this article that she sent to the choir) Caring Network - We don't receive wisdom; we must discover it for ourselves after a journey that no one can take for us or spare us. - Marcel Proust - If you know of any member experiencing some difficulty, please contact Diana Heymann, Chair of the Caring Network heydiana(at symbol) comcast.net 860.461.0908 or call the office so we can provide some assistance. A wide range of community services is also available to those in need by calling InfoLine at 211. Please contact Diana if you are able to volunteer your services. Further Down The Road (About 30 Days) Green Topics - Did You Know? - Are you aware that Sears, Costco, and Walmart have trade-in programs that allow you to exchange old and working electronic items for store gift cards. Here are the websites: www.sears.gazelle.com www.costco.gazelle.com www.walmart.gazelle.com	From the Editor: Suggestions for Contributors. This Week’s Feature Articles Out of Work! Podcasts Available Now! 2/28 Sermon, Part Two Finding Passion Board Meets Why Do We do What we Do? Spaces Left Small Group Ministry Universal Need for Love Talk Back Join the Sound Squad SGM Testimonial On the Lifting Candles Business Eat Better Our Congregation by the Numbers We are Virtually Broadcasting … not in Facebook or U-Tube, but on I-Tunes Storer and other podcast sites.  As of this week, if you have I-Tunes, select “hartford unitarian" in the I-Tunes store and that pulls us up right away. You can also searh for Barbara Jamestone wieh artist is requested. Check us out! You can also GOOGLE “hartford unitarian-universalist” and find a link to our two podcasts about three pages into the search results for a “Podcast Alley” link. But We Need Your Help.  The Google search will move up in the ranking if people select it. We'd like to get to page one (where our main website happily resides), and your clicks will get us moving up with this new way to give visitors a  UU-Hartford welcoming. Of course, your suggestions for improving the podcasts are welcome. Please send them to edsavage(at symbol)ushartford.com ( Ed prefers to keep this project out of his personal e-mail box). If you are technically curious, another fine UU site from New England answers many of the questions you might have – go to www.ucmh.org and read the details of their audio-recording and podcast effort. (this is the UU church of Marlborough-Hudson). - Ed Savage (Editor's note. Many thanks to Ed for his diligent work taking us on this further excursion into the outer cyber world. You may also find your way to the improved audio service recordings by following the link at the top of the sermons page taking you to podcasts. Finding Passion - Did I ever tell you I played little league?  Very little league.  I frequently missed ground balls and intercepted line drives with my head.  The typical response from the coach was: “Why didn’t you catch it?”  I also played the flute, tap danced, played forward on the basketball team and attempted gymnastics, all with varying degrees of physical or emotional scarring.  It seemed I would never find an after school activity that did not result in public humiliation until I found summer theatre.  I could act, who knew?   The pleasure I experienced participating in every aspect of theatrical production from painting sets to directing cannot be adequately described.  Finally I had found a venue that not only utilized my skills but lifted my spirit, and that passion continues to this day.  Whether I am in the audience weeping at the beauty of a production or tapping into my inner thespian while telling a children’s story on the chancel, I am transported.  Theatre is the best part of me; the most generous part of me, and by it I am forever changed.   This Sunday, USH member Jacques Lamarre is our pulpit guest, and he will be sharing his passion for the theatre throughout the service.  I know this form of worship does not appeal to everyone, but I ask those of you who are reluctant to reconsider attending.  It meant so much to me to have my brothers in attendance at my school plays, just as I (wearing a batter’s helmet, just in case) attended their baseball games.   Come share in the passion of others and see how simply witnessing their transcendence can move you. - Gail M. Syring Board Meets - Highlights from the February 9, 2010 Board of Directors Meeting   At the Board meeting on Tuesday evening, we conducted the following business:   Approved the introduction and implementation of CALM, a small group of USH volunteers willing to help us all live our values to respect and listen to each other. CALM can be a resource in many situations, ranging from large congregational concerns to helping resolve specific conflicts among individuals and small groups as it relates to congregational life. As a group, they will function much as our former “ombudsman” role did many years ago. Endorsed a Kingian Nonviolence Conflict Reconciliation workshop to be hosted by USH. We would provide this workshop in conjunction with the Connecticut Center for Nonviolence on April 17th and 24th. This workshop would be open to the USH and larger community. I encourage our congregation to attend this major event as a public demonstration of our commitment to our larger community and our UU principals. Adopted the proposed Covenant on the Earth, our Environment, and Social Justice drafted by the Green Sanctuary Sub-Council. The Green Sanctuary Sub-Council will monitor progress on the use of the covenant through 2010 and report results and issues to the Board in January, 2011. Discussed and decided to table for further discussion a proposal regarding password protection of various areas of our website. Discussed our current financial and membership results as they impact the up-coming Stewardship campaign, 2010-11 budget creation, and on-going and new initiatives to increase membership. As always, thank you for your on-going commitment to USH. Your Words, Actions, Gifts, Attention, and Touch (WAGAT, as Rev BJ says) make us the caring community we are.  Please email or call me, any of our Board members, or Rev. BJ if you have any questions. - Carolyn Cartland, President Feb. 28   Sermon - - Part 2 “A-theism, Ember Days, and the Love of God” - The core human need which provides our theme for February is  love—as affection and as action. More  **Ember Days - An institutional spiritual practice, Ember Days are 12 minor holidays on ancient Christian calendars, mostly forgotten today.  They were days set aside for prayer and fasting for clarity of vocation, or what persons are called to do and be in the world. We continue that tradition at USH, as a focused  opportunity on 12 days a year, to turn inward and listen to life’s coaxing us toward our fullest humanity through the voice of our ‘Wise Inner Teachers.” There are three Ember Days Sessions in the Meditation Chapel this month:  February 24, (noon-1:30)  26& 27 (6 to 7:30 pm) - Rev. BJ Why do we do what we do? - Some of you may have participated in a service where a priest proceeds ahead of the people, swinging a pot with smoking incense.  What many worshipers do not know is that that ritual act is an anachronism that dates back to the Black Plague. Your opinion solicited - More At  the end of our E-News there is a slot for opinion pieces.  Please submit your thoughts on this ritual  act to our on-line Newsletter Editor for publication. Universal Need for Love - Love comes to us in many ways, Reverend BJ reminded us during the February 7 (one week before Valentine’s Day) service.    “Love finds a way, breaks walls, makes a bridge and carries faith through life and death,” she began.  She continued as she and the children sat on the chancel floor in front of a sign proclaiming WAGAT.  Reverend BJ asked them how dogs show their love, and they came up with the right answer—by wagging their tails. Then, with the help of some judicious questioning, they arrived at the meaning of each letter on the sign to describe “the language of love.”  WAGAT was deciphered to mean Words, Action, Gifts, Attention and Touch (“one of the best ways we can show love,” Reverend BJ told the children—and us).   The kids left, and it was our turn.  Reverend BJ called WAGAT the first phase of love, the “first naivete.” During this phase, the idea of love emphasizes giving and receiving.  Phase two involves “critical distancing.”  Here we scrutinize and analyze the beliefs we’ve been taught since childhood.   In phase three, the “second naivete,” we gain a deeper understanding.  We appreciate the early stuff and “reconnect to what we don’t literally believe.”  To do this requires a high tolerance for contradiction and uncertainty and forces us “to live as if.”  In effect, we take reality apart, then put it back together to “reconstruct our yearnings, hopes and desires,” she said. In this second naivety our ideals are realities that “can exist again, but in another way.”   Reverend BJ’s sermon on our universal need for love was based on James Luther Adams’ book “On Being Human Religiously.”  Adams stressed theological motifs and social engagement.  He felt these were the dual touchstones of all faith and morality.   We need both religious themes and concrete human relations.  Adams was often called upon when social scientists wanted a religious perspective—and vice versa.  He felt the love of God gave life meaning and is the most reliable source of human emotion.   Reverend BJ described a “game” taught to aspiring Unitarian ministers.  Take a roomful of people.  Ask those who consider themselves theists (defined by Reverend BJ as those who “have an idea about God) to stand at one end of the room. Ask those who call themselves a-theists (notice, she said, that this does not mean anti-theists) to stand at the other end of the room.  Most UUs, she suggested, would find themselves “clumped in the middle.” Unitarians have a willingness “to live in the middle” and to try to live with contradictions and uncertainty. But feelings can change and people can be at either end of the spectrum at different times. - Kayla Costenoble Talk Back - Some of you may be familiar with an old tradition common to some of our UU Fellowships which is sometimes called, fondly, Talk Back.  Because UU ministers have “Freedom of the Pulpit”, it is not uncommon for parishioners to hear challenging as well as comforting remarks from the minister.   The “Talk Back” was an occasion for the “quizzing” of the minister toward deeper understanding of the content of the sermon of the day and, perhaps, more importantly it was the occasion for members to interact with the minister and each other.   I recently had an opportunity to meet with a few members who expressed interest in Talk Backs. If you are interest in a post-service dialogue like this, please contact me at RevBJ@USHartford.com .  I hope to hear from y’all! More  - Rev BJ Small Group Ministry on Faith (Testimonial) - Eight of us have been attending the new Small Group Ministry on Faith facilitated by Rev BJ. It will be offered again in the fall. It’s a new addition to our on-going SGM program which has been a long-time success, for members and new-comers alike.  Each series is eight gatherings for sharing thoughts, beliefs and opinions with people that we will get to know better. Groups are small, eight to ten members. Topics to encourage sharing might be like Gratitude, or Shifting Perspective, Listening to Stories and Saving the World, Sports and Camaraderie, Childhood Memories. We talk of family issues, our dreams, hopes and fears, in a small, safe and intimate group. We practice listening without judgment or interrupting, and speaking from the heart with respect for each other as we each take time to talk.   Our new SGM on Faith walks a little further up the path of our spirit.  We look at shadowy and subtle topics like An Alternative to Superstition, or Ancients, Atheists and Availability, Sacred Hunger, God and This Life and the Afterlife, or I Don’t Know Who God Is. There are no right answers or wrong answers; just what is true for each of us. We set aside this time to ruminate and ponder our elusive spiritual facet. We turn over in our minds and share what we find, or maybe not find. And we accept that none of us have the inside track to knowing or understanding our gift of life.   This group on faith has been everything I thought our SGM program can be.  For me it’s not only about spirit, but also about the who or what or if there is God; and how does the who or what feel to me and affect my thinking, my actions toward others, my soul comfort.  - Carol Davidson Social Justice Journeys (From the UUA) And from USH On the Calendar - Please notify Brian Mullen of all additions or changes to the calendar. Follow this link to all our scheduled events A Matter of Opinion Lifting Candles - This is my response to the section of last week's E-News on "Why do we do what we do?," referring to the ritual act of lifting up the chalice candles and soliciting opinions about that act: When the chalice candles are lifted up, I invariably recall a certain ritual act in the Roman Catholic mass.  In the part of the mass describing the Last Supper, the priest lifts up with both hands the communion wafer representing the body of Christ, then does the same with the chalice containing communion wine representing the blood of Christ.  The Catholic congregation then responds to this act with the words, "My Lord and my God."  And so when the USH chalices with candles are lifted up, I automatically think of those words, "My Lord and my God."  This causes mixed feelings in me.  As a negative, this reminds me of my aversion to the weekly repetition and over-ritualizing in the Catholic mass, not to mention that I do not believe in the Catholic versions of "my Lord" and "my God."  But on further reflection I admit that the ritual of lighting candles at USH has taken on real meaning for me, and I feel quite moved by the congregants coming together physically and honoring hopes and memories of loved ones.  Though the words, "My Lord and my God," don't have meaning for me, I can still see a metaphorical connection between the "body and blood of Christ," which symbolizes the universal and interconnected body of all humans, and our chalice of flaming candles, which symbolize the communal aspirations of the interconnected body of USH members. - Mike Roy External Events and Educational Notes Our USH Community Numbers  * Sustaining:  Members (229)    Friends (9)   ** Supporting:  Members   (58) Friends (11)   *** Ministerial Exemptions:         0 Sub -Total: Members (287)    Friends (20) ****Total USH Community   307   *Sustaining members donate more than $250 per year per person, and are reported to UUA. **Supporting members donate from zero to $249 per year per person. ***Exemptions: those who consult with minister and make a service pledge in lieu of financial donation.   **** The total USH community--those who consider USH to be their religious community when they have need of a religious community or minister.   Attendance for Sunday, February 7, 2010 Worship = 132 Average Attendance for January = 114 Religious Education Attendance = 27 Average RE Attendance for January = 32 Visitor forms completed 2/7 = 3 Visitor forms completed January = 6 Offering for 2/7 = $1,588.00 Members Joining January: 3 Adults & 3 Children
	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 Hartford
	Let us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 02/10/10 6:14 PM)