USH-Enews for February 19 , 2009 Print Only Edition

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Family Potluck Supper and Games Night - Friday February 20th at the Meeting House 6 - 9 PM
Bring food for yourselves and some to share. Bring your kids, neighbors and friends. Bring wine, if you like. Bring you favorite games or join in games here. Call the office 233-9897. Food-bearing walk-ins welcome! $4 per family

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.

Sunday - 22 Feb. - Building The World We Dream About - The service is led by Rev. BJ and our BTWWDA program, the members of which have been engaged for the last year in "BTWWDA" a UUA sponsored program which supports our dream of a denomination and congregation that is is anti-racist, anti-sexist, and multicultural.

After the 11:15 Service - Celebrating the World We Dream About - Our "Building the World We Dream About" program has been together for nearly a year now, and they will be sharing something of that dream with us on Sunday. The program author, Mark Hicks, will be joining Rev BJ in the pulpit, and will join BTWWDA and YOU for conversation after the 11:15 service. If you want to catch the spark of that dream, plan to stay after coffee hour, join BTWWDA folks, Rev. BJ and Mark for some dream time. More

REflections on Children's Programming -

Religious Education Classes

Spirit Play: The Mountains of Tibet
Second & Third Grade: Mardi Gras
Fourth & Fifth Grade: We Believe: It's a Small World
Sixth, Seventh & Eighth Grade: Creativity and Nature
Youth Group Activities: Off Site Activity

Coming of Age Program Registration - The Coming of Age program will be offered for eighth grade students during the regular 9:45 Religious Education period beginning March 1, 2009. Using a Small Group Ministry format, the students will engage in discussions about the "Big Questions" and their personal theologies. Facilitated by Marye Gail Harrison and other members of our SGM team, the program is sure to be enlightening for all. Please contact Gail at: DRE(@symbol)ushartford.com if your child wishes to be part of this rite of passage.

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. More

SILENT AUCTION - Pledge season is upon us, and the members of the Stewardship Committee recognize that some folks may be finding it more difficult than ever this year to increase their pledges or even to continue to contribute at their previous levels. That’s why this year’s pledge event, The Greening of the Meeting House, will include a silent auction of services. The silent auction is for folks who have services to offer—home maintenance, accounting, painting, you name it—to contribute services instead of cash.

Here’s how it will work.

Service donors may visit a table in Fellowship Hall on Sundays to sign up to perform their services. Bidders on donated services may also write in their bids at that time. Bidding will remain open on the evening of March 7th. That evening, the donated services will be posted on a table, and participants will be able to write in their bids throughout the evening. The services go to the highest bidder, who then pays the winning bid amount to the Unitarian Society of Hartford. The winning bid amount is considered a contribution from the donor of the services.

March Services

1 March - Why We Go to Church - Rev. BJ’s sermons in March will resonate with themes being discussed among several of our "pocket gardens" of smaller groups of people that are reflecting on the gifts and responsibilities of membership, and on the maintenance and transformation of our USH "spirit and service" greenhouse environment.

8 March - The Power of Wishing - Rev. BJ

15 March - Celebration of Children - Join the members of the Religious Education Sub-Council for this joyful celebration of the children in our congregation. This multigenerational service will include a dedication of children and a recognition of those who nurture the spiritual life of our congregation by teaching our children. Gail Syring, DRE

22 March - Effecting Change/Achieving Peace - Rev.BJ

29 March - Doing Dialogue; Living Life Together - The speaker, Dr. Heidi Hadsell, is President of Hartford Seminary in Hartford, CT. She came to the Seminary from the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches, Bossey, Switzerland, where she served as Director.

Dr. Hadsell has taught at the Federal University of Santa Catarina, Florianopolis, Brazil; the University of Southern California; and McCormick Theological Seminary in Chicago, where she also served as Dean. A resident of West Hartford, she has published on a number of subjects including ecumenism, environmental ethics, inter-religious relations and the public role of religion in society.

Music for March - represents composers from our past (some of them the very recent past) and our future. Our immediate musical future is opening up in exciting ways. A search team has been formed to find our next Music Associate who will play organ and piano and assist in directing singing. Our newest singing group, Joyfuul Noise, debuted in February and is excited to be learning and singing with gusto. They’d be thrilled to welcome YOU to join them. The Family Choir continues exploring new musical territory; the children’s classes are singing regularly; and of course our Chancel Choir sings practically every Sunday of the month.

March 1 – Our Organist Emeritus Tom Schmutzler composed several pieces especially for our choir and our Meeting House. “Surely the Lord is in This Place” opens the service, and “Love is the spirit of this church” closes it, enfolding us in the depth that our “composer in residence” felt for sacred music in our sacred space. In between the choir sings the rousing spiritual arrangement, “I’m gonna sing when the spirit says Sing!”

March 8 – As we bravely plan, individually and collectively, for a new year of challenges and new beginnings, what better message than UU composer Adolphus Hailstork’s “I’ll Trust in the Lord and Do the Best I Can!”

March 15 – Joyfuul Noise raise their voices and inspire all in the pews to raise our voices and spirits too. Please join in the congregational anthem with glad hearts and make a joyful noise together.

March 22 – Our wonderful soprano Katie LaPorta leads the choir in a touchingly beautiful solo and chorus. Felix Mendelssohn was a child prodigy who had a sterling career as composer, pianist, organist, conductor and all-around brilliant musician…until his untimely death at the age of 38. This musical prayer speaks for the aching wishes of many: O for the wings of a dove! Far away would I rove. In the wilderness build me a nest and remain there for ever at rest.

March 29 – On Saturday evening March 28th, the 9th Annual Women Composers’ Festival of Hartford will have its final concert of the 2009 season. Sponsored by UPA, the “Concert Pro Femina” takes place at 7:30 at the Meeting House and presents remarkable performances of music by women composers. The services the following morning continue with women composers, closing the Festival with a worship service. Please welcome any new visitors who will be discovering our Meeting House through this Festival.

* * *
Don’t forget John Jesensky’s rockin’ rock concert on Sat. Feb. 28th at 8:00 featuring the cutting-edge band Forget Paris. They’ll bring the house down – don’t miss them. Proceeds from the concert will benefit USH and My Sister’s Place, and non-perishable donations will be collected for the Bushnell Food Pantry. It’s a great set of causes and a great night out!

CSAI - Ethical Eating: Food and Environmental Justice for 2008 - 2012
Congregational Study/ Action Issue (CSAI)

Issue
Religious organizations throughout the world have discussed the production, distribution, and use of food. Some people enjoy many food choices while others remain hungry. The food industry produces wealth, but small farmers and farm workers are often poor. Food production and transportation contribute to many environmental problems.

Background and Reasons for Study
Congregations can develop effective strategies to address two of the world's biggest problems: social inequality and environmental destruction. This Congregational Study/Action Issue is inspired by the work of the several Unitarian Universalist (UU) affiliate and associate organizations that work with congregations in support of environmental justice.

Hunger is both a community problem and an international problem that can be approached in a variety of ways. There is a need for political advocacy in support of government programs that try to feed the hungry. There is a need also for involvement with service programs that deliver food to individuals and families - for example, Meals on Wheels programs.

Significance to Unitarian Universalism
Unitarian Universalists have a vision of environmental justice. One of our principles acknowledges "the interdependent web." Others affirm the importance of human rights. Together our principles form one holistic statement that helps to define liberal religion.

Possible Study Topics

An Act Concerning Discrimination - Connecticut has no explicit law protecting individuals from discrimination based on transgender identity or expression in employment, housing, public accommodations, lending or education. An Act Concerning Discrimination, a bill awaiting action at the state legislature, would add the phrase "gender identity or expression" to Connecticut's existing non-discrimination law.
Should this bill pass, Connecticut will join 13 other states and Washington, D.C. in protecting its residents from this kind of discrimination. The bill, if signed into law, would give the Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities (CHRO) the authority to investigate complaints of discrimination on the basis of gender identity or expression in employment, education, housing, public accommodations, and the extension of credit and order appropriate remedies.

For more information on how you can help advance the cause, visit www.lmfct.org

The 3rd Annual Transgender Lives: Health and Law Conference will be held on April 18th at UCONN Health Center in Farmington, CT.
Visit www.transadvocacy.com for more information. - Gregory Nickett

Make a Joyfuul Noise - The Hebrew sacred text reads, “Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, all ye lands. Serve the Lord with gladness, come into his presence with thanksgiving, and into his courts with praise.”

What would it be like if we decided to celebrate, appreciate, and practice being glad? What if the primary way that we serve God, serve each other, and serve ourselves is by being glad, thankful, and praising?

We’ve spoken often about thankfulness and gratitude as a discipline of the spirit. What if we added gladness to the attitudes and attributes and values which we find of ultimate worth?

When I meet someone who smiles at me, I like it. When I see something a little quirky or whimsical, like our “nutcracker doll” altar art for the first three weeks of February, I chuckle at the various responses such an installation is likely to evoke! When I see small children, and a friend after long absence, I am glad. When I hear a loved ones voice on the phone, or the purr of a cat, or the reflective silence at the end of a worship service I feel glad. (Thank you for joining us in a season of refraining from applause at the end of the postlude.)

What makes you glad? What things might you do in a day to increase the chances that you will be glad that day?

Among the many things that make me glad at USH are what I’m now calling ‘pocket gardens’—small groups of people who gather for respite and revitalization in tiny nooks where there is no admission fee or competence level required, nothing beyond a desire to share something which we find pleasure in.

Joyfuul Noise is one such pocket garden. We met to review our first "pilot month" after the service on Sunday, where we sang at both services.

The 10 members and two or three staff report what fun it is to get to know a bunch of folks who are VERY diverse---in age, theology, length of USH membership, gender preference, etc…AND who share one joy making experience—singing!

We hope that YOU will consider joining us for March. On the 1st at 1 PM we do a brown bag and interactive lesson with John on Latin music (not Latin as in Rome, but as in South America!) and conclude with a "sing-a-long." On Thursday the 12th, from 7:30 – 8:30 PM we continue singing together, with focus on one song from the genre which we’ll be sharing with the congregation, at both services on the 15th. At 1 PM that day we continue "making gladness" with a shared lunch at Rev. BJs house.

Won’t you come sing with us? Some of us can’t carry a tune, or keep time. Others of us have been singing with accomplished choirs for many years. It’s all about the joy of learning about music, of making closer connections by singing together, and of sharing our joy with our worshipping community.

Serve the Lord with gladness-- nurture your wise inner teacher, tend the light within, find rest and revitalization by practicing gladness with Joyfuul Noise! Contact revbj@ushartford.com. - Rev bj

Food Pantry Donations Still Welcome - We will accept checks on Sunday for the Food Pantry, made out to USH with Horace Bushnell Food Pantry in the memo line. Your contribution will be increased by the Feinstein Challenge. Any checks so designated on Sunday will be added to last week's special collection.

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? - Not the way this year’s bumbling Meeting House Players go about it! See what happens when the green sanctuary carbon footprint sub sub sub council announces that they’ve hired an environmental assessment professional to size up the greenness of our building and practices. Come with him on a live tour of things you never knew about our beloved tent-shaped Meeting House. Hear from our green sanctuary carbon footprint sub sub sub council. And, find out what that woman is doing on that exercise machine.

All this at

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
Win a basket of goodies!
Please bring your favorite dessert or hors d’oeuvre to share

Child care and transportation will be provided upon request – if you’ll need either, please call the office now at 233-9897.

And RSVP today, to the office, or in person this Sunday.

February Display in Fellowship Hall - How to Dispose of Pharmaceutical Medicines

Sat. Feb 21st from 6:30-8:00 PM Simsbury Film Night at Simsmore Square Alchemy 2 Kilowatt Ours: a Plan to Re-energize America (2006) A timely, solutions-oriented look at one of America's most pressing environmental challenges: energy. The film explores the source of our electricity and the problems caused by energy production including mountain top removal, childhood asthma and global warming.
www.growinggreencoop.com

Sign Up Now for Spring Small Group Ministry -Groups start next week for spring Small Group Ministry, so you need to sign up now for SGM, 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 Canevale. 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.

New this spring is a Mini-SGM consisting of four sessions. The shorter program is a good way for newcomers to SGM to try it out, or for those with busy schedules to get their “SGM fix.” This group (2 openings left) will convene at the USH Meeting House on Wednesday evenings starting March 11, and is facilitated by DRE Gail Syring. 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.

Interested persons are encouraged to identify accessibility concerns (including assisted listening devices or allergies) to Mike Roy so we can address these concerns to the best of our ability. You may consult the upcoming Adult Programs Catalogue for more information. Please sign up at the Adult Programs table on Sunday, February 22, or by contacting the church office. - Mike Roy

Adult Programs - It is not too early to make plans to attend the Spring Spirituality Retreat, Friday, April 3 - Sunday, April 5. 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. 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.

photo

Collage with Paper and Found Objects

Paper Collage, two Saturdays, Feb. 21, 28, 10:00 AM - 2:00 PM. Learn to tear paper and create something new with it, such as the collage above. 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.

Don't miss the Sunday Afternoon Program, Feb. 22, 1 PM. The US Capital - the choice of its location revealed! Find out the real reason the US Capital is located in Washington, DC. History buff, Dick Edwards, will share his knowledge and readings to lend a new perspective on our country's heritage. Registration not required.

Ember Days in February - We’ll explore the possibility that prayer is everything we do "come Sunday" at the Meeting House.
On 2/25 Wednesday 12-2 PM, we’ll hear from one of Rev. BJ’s seminary teachers, Roberta Bondi, whose scholarship regarding the monastics leads her to believe that prayer is our everyday life.
On 2/27 Friday 6-8 PM, we’ll hear from Stephen Mitchell, translator of many of the world’s sacred texts, and a spirited lover of the mystery, who opines that prayer need not be religious at all.
On 2/28 Saturday 6-7 PM, we’ll imagine sound as prayer, as presented by sitar player and composer Anoushka Shankar, daughter of Ravi Shankar, and half sister to Norah Jones! We’ll then break in time to enjoy the concert brought to us by our music associate John Jesensky — you can buy your ticket to the concert early on the spot!

Spring Spirituality Retreat, Friday, April 3-Sunday, April 5. This retreat, facilitated by Susan and Charles Huntington, will center around Mind-Body Spiritual Healing. Participants will be able to experience different techniques to elicit the relaxation response and associated spiritual energy force. Please check page 12 in the catalog or contact the Huntingtons for more information.

Dr. Mark A. Hicks (see item after service description) is associate professor of educational transformation at George Mason University, Arlington, Virginia. In September 2009, he will hold the endowed Angus MacLean Professorship of Religious Education at Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. He earned a doctorate degree in philosophy and education and a master’s degree in adult development in higher education, both from Columbia University in New York City.

Drawing on his experience as a teacher, scholar, musician, university administrator and advocate for social change, he consults nationally with schools, universities, government and non-profit organizations on building inclusive, democratically-minded, multi-racial, multicultural learning communities. His scholarship and innovative teaching practices have been nationally recognized as creating supportive spaces for growth and development. He is a JUUST Change Consultant for the UUA, a former chair of the RSCC, and lay leader at All Souls Church, Unitarian in Washington, D.C. Visit his website at: http://web.mac.com/mhicks3.

Dr. Mark A. Hicks
Incoming MacLean Professor of Religious Education & Director, Fahs Center for Religious Education, Meadville Lombard Theological School, Chicago

External Events and Educational Notes

Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)

A Matter of Opinion:

Caring Network - Simple pleasures are the last healthy refuge in a complex world. - Oscar Wilde

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.

On the Calendar

Thursday, February 19
5:30 pm NVC Gathering, Minister’s Study
7:00 pm BTWWDA, Library

Friday, February 20
6:00 pm Potluck Supper & Games, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, February 21
10:00 am Paper Collage Workshop, Servetus
7:00 pm Jesensky Concert rehearsal, Sanctuary

Sunday, February 22
9:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:30 am Great Decisions, David’s Den
9:45 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
10:45 am Coffee, Fellowship Hall
10:45 am Music rehearsal, Chapel
11:15 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:15 pm Coffee, Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm Youth Choir Rehearsal, Chapel
1:00 pm History of US Capital Location, Library
1:00 pm Council on Social Justice, Servetus
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Tuesday, February 24
4:30 pm Living a Sustainable Life, Murray
7:30 pm Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, February 25
12:00 pm Ember Days, Emerson
5:45 pm Meditation and Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:15 pm NVC Practice Group, Emerson
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, February 26
5:30 pm NVC Gathering, Minister’s Study

Friday, February 27
6:00 pm Ember Days, Emerson

Saturday, February 28
10:00 am Paper Collage Workshop, Servetus
10:30 am Rental, Chapel
11:00 am Membership Sub-Council, Library
6:00 pm Ember Days, Emerson
8:00 pm John Jesensky Rock Concert, Sanctuary

Sunday, March 1
9:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:30 am Great Decisions, Library
9:45 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
10:45 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:45 am Coffee, Fellowship Hall
11:15 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:15 pm Coffee, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Italicized 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!

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