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USH-Enews February 12, 2009
Photo
Ambulatory Light Project Underway
New "green" efficient T-8 fluorescent light tubes are being installed in the existing valances of the Ambulatory lights, some 44 in total. Shown above, Stu Spence modestly hiding behind reflector material in Ed Sax's hand, and Peter Magistri and Ed replacing a fixture. The new fixtures will use much less electricity, while also removing the flashing and buzzing of the older types of lights. Using volunteer labor and shop parts to refurbish the fixtures has saved USH a vast amount of money and conserved existing materials through reuse. As the saying goes, Use it up, wear it out, make it do, or do without. In this case we are far better with the replacement system and have all the conservation benefits resulting from our smart, talented and clever members. Photos by Anne Bailey, with some adjustments - DCN
The 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. |
Stewardship
Confessional The
nation’s economy is trembling, teeth-chatteringly,
at its worst levels in years, and that situation
tends to focus my nervous attention on my family’s
economic circumstances. As thousands of
Americans separate from their sources of income,
in whole or in part, am I vulnerable? Is
my husband? And if some of our income goes
away, what then? Child care and transportation will be provided upon request. Download a Silent Auction Form (a Word Document).
Worshipping
Together Since 1830 Sunday - 15 Feb. - “Revitalizing America? Anthropologist Anthony Wallace is well known for his model of “revitalization” for understanding significant and far reaching transformations of a society. Karl Peters will use this concept to explore how we might be in the midst of a revitalization movement in our own society. He also will try to get us thinking about how we are contributing to and can further encourage the revitalizing of America. This sermon will give Karl the opportunity to begin writing a chapter on “Societal Transformation” that he wanted to include in his book Spiritual Transformations but was unable to accomplish two years ago. Karl Peters is professor emeritus of philosophy and religion, Rollins College, Winter Park, Florida. He also is co-editor of Zygon: Journal of Religion and Science and author to two books: Dancing with the Sacred: Evolution, Ecology, and God and Spiritual Transformations: Science, Religion, and Human Becoming. He has been a member of USH for ten years and lives in Granby with his wife the Rev. Marjorie Davis, a minister of the United Church of Christ (Congregationalist), who has influenced his conscience toward more social activism. Soup this week after the service. Music
- The
Family Choir will sing a rousing bit of Americana
called He Is There! in conjunction
with the theme of "Revitalizing America?" The
Choir is off on Feb. 15th, and at first I
questioned whether the Family Choir could
learn a piece by the notoriously fiendish
composer Charles Ives. But a couple of brave
volunteers proved that the Family Choir is
up to the task, plus the piece is so catchy
they insisted on doing it. You may
find yourself tapping your toes. REflections
on Children's Programming - UU Middle School Youth Rally: All Middle School Youth are invited to attend the 13th Annual UU Middle School Youth Rally on Saturday, March 7, 2009 from 9:00 AM – 4:30 PM. This year the rally will be held at the 1st Unitarian Church of Worcester. Come together for a day of fun and fellowship! Middle School Youth in all the congregations in the Clara Barton District are invited. Everyone will have the chance to participate in two workshops. Past workshops included yoga, drama, origami, games, balloon animals, juggling pasta making, and many more. The cost is $15 per person. A parent authorization form will be required for each participant. We are required to provide one adult advisor/chaperone for every five youth, so we are also looking for adults who would be interested in joining us. We hope to carpool to the event. The snow date is March 14th. To sign up or for additional information, contact Sheila Ward. - Gail M. Syring, DRE From the Editor: Suggestions for Contributors.
This Week’s Feature Articles New
Ambulatory Lights
The topic of discussion at the Facilitator’s Small Group Ministry this week was wishes, and Jiminy Cricket has been singing soulfully in my head ever since. What is the nature of wishes? Does wishing for something create the capacity to manifest what you desire? Is there a transcendent force working with you to make your wish come true? The varied responses from the group were both thoughtful and thought-provoking. With the assumption that being able to articulate a wish is the first step to fulfilling it, I turn my mind to our Religious Education program. What do we wish for our children? If you could design the RE program of your dreams, choosing each element and lesson to meet the needs of your family, what would it look like? What topics would be covered? What materials would be available? How would the lessons be taught? Visualize a space and time and curriculum that would be ideal for your children. What pieces of our current program match the vision in your heart and mind? What might be altered or eliminated to bring our program closer to your wish? What do you yearn for that you cannot even imagine receiving? As the next step of our Strategic Plan review, the members of the Religious Education Sub-Council would like to engage your imaginations in a congregational conversation about our RE program, from the nursery to the youth group. In the coming weeks more information will be available in the Enews and Meeting House Weekly. Together we can imagine and manifest our heart’s desire! - Gaim M. Syring, DRE Layers
and Litter - “Live
in the layers, not on the litter” -
lines in the late poet laureate Stanley Kunitz’ poem, The
Layers—were the basis of guest
speaker Janet Bush’s sermon last Sunday. Interweave (formerly Welcoming Congregation) Meeting -- Are you interested in learning more about the LGBT community? All are welcome to attend our next meeting on Sunday, March 8th at 1:00 PM in the Library, here at USH. Our main agenda item is to plan worship services for Sunday, June 14th – when the special offerings will go to True Colors to support their work with LGBT youth. February
8th through 14th is Freedom to Marry Week! According
to freedomtomarry.org, having conversations is
the single most important way that you can help
achieve marriage equality nationwide. Each day
of Freedom to Marry Week, UUA’s social
justice blog will feature a different Unitarian
Universlist perspective on marriage equality.
Check it out at uuasocialjustice.blogspot.com What Else is Happening & Announcements Sunday Feb 15 the special collection will be for Horace Bushnell Children's Food Pantry. Because of the Feinstein Foundation Challenge our donation will count for more. The
Food Pantry also accepts good, used clothing
and bedding. - Joan for IASC Rock the Meeting House - Master vocalist and keyboard artist John Jesensky (sometimes appearing in the guise of our mild-mannered Music Associate) will bring his sizzling song stylings to the music of Billy Joel and Elton John on Saturday, February 28th, 8:00 PM, at the Unitarian Society of Hartford's Meeting House. More, PDF Flyer Is it Easy Being Green? Aren’t you glad that our USH congregation is really getting serious about getting green? In fact, to see how far we’ve progressed, come to The Greening of the Meeting House on March 7th 2009 where you’ll see a pseudo environmental assessment professional answer questions you never knew you had about our beloved tent-shaped building. Help our carbon footprint sub sub council trim that carbon footprint, or at least its toenails. And find out what that woman is doing on that exercise machine. The Greening of the Meeting House - In partnership with the USH Green Sanctuary Sub-Council - Saturday March 7th - 7-10 PM - Silent auction - Music - Zany entertainment - Food, drink and merriment. Child care and transportation will be provided upon request. Social
Justice vote - The recent
vote guiding the Social Justice folks in
backing Annual Meeting consideration of,
Peacemaking Statement of Conscience, was
approved by a vote of 31 yes to 2 no. Fifteen
votes were received by email. Adult
Programs -
Be sure to note that the following programs*
require registration by Monday,
Feb 16. You can sign-up this Sunday
in Fellowship Hall following both
services or by phoning the office (860
233-9897) and paying with a credit card.
Please read about the workshop Improv
of Integrity, Feb. 28 and
the Sunday Afternoon Program, Feb.
22. The 2009 Winter & Spring
Programs Catalog is available
on the web or you can pick up your copy
on Sunday at the Welcome Table in the lobby
or the Registration Table in Fellowship
Hall. *Paper
Collage, two Saturdays, Feb.
21, 28, 10 AM-2
PM. Returning guest Hannah Libman will
teach the creation of collage from torn
paper during the first session and how
to use tissue paper and found objects in
a collage during the second session. Fee
for the two sessions is $55.00 per person.
A materials list will be provided. Participants
may bring their own materials or pay a
modest fee to the instructor. (more) Beat
the Winter Doldrums with Spring Small
Group Ministry - Welcome
spring early by signing up for spring
Small Group Ministry, where small groups
meet to share meaningful life experiences.
We are excited to offer an affinity SGM
for LGBT folks. This group will
meet on Monday evenings in Simsbury starting
March 2, facilitated by Fran Carnevale
and hosted by Ann Farmer. The family-friendly
SGM is now full, but we will accept more
registrants on a waiting list and try
to create a second group. This
SGM will meet on Friday evenings at the
Meeting House starting March 6, facilitated
by Bill Shoemaker. This group
will accommodate families by meeting
only six times (from 5:30 to 8:00 PM)
and providing dinner (cost shared by
participants) and childcare. The
Monday evening group in Farmington is now
full, but you may choose a Thursday evening
group (3 openings) in Hartford starting March
5, facilitated by Carol Davidson and hosted
by Bruce Robbins. An afternoon group
will meet on Mondays (3 openings) in East
Hartford starting March 23, facilitated by
Barbara Fraher and hosted by Dick Edwards. Each
group at the first meeting sets the future
meeting dates. Did You Know? - Green Sanctuary Sub-Council - Newsletter
from the Department of Environmental Protection. Reference
while current. Caring Network - Lakota Instructions for Living Friend
do it this way - that is, And
if you do it that way, When
one sits in the Hoop Of The People, If
you do it that way - that is, passed down from White Buffalo Calf Woman 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. 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. |
