USH-Enews March 15, 2007

USH-Enews For March 15, 2007
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A tip of the cap to our drivers, who help our members without means of transportation reach the Meeting House and various other destinations. (More)

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 line, or past issues of the weekly USH-Enews click here.

Office hours: M-F 9-3 (excluding W 10 -11); Rev. Jamestone: Phone: 860 233-9897; Email: RevBJ@USHartford.com - Rev. BJ office hours: Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday by appointment.

Worshipping Together Since 1830
Services held at 9 and 11 AM

Sunday - 18 March - Covenant and Celebration - Can you recall the great covenant we recite each Sunday morning? Join a congregational reflection on what it promises and what it requires from us.

Music: - Some very special musical offerings: our own symphony violinist Anhared Stowe will play for the services. The choir's 11:00 AM anthem is the spiritual "Ev'ry Time I Feel the Spirit."

RE: MIDDLE SCHOOL PARENTS! A reminder that this Sunday, March 18th the class visit to St. Patrick/St. Anthony Catholic Church in Hartford. Please drop you child directly there at 9:45 AM for the class visit that starts promptly at 10 AM. The church is located at 285 Church Street. There's parking in the lot across the street - just let the attendant know you're going to the Catholic Church. The children will be car pooled back to the Meeting House by the coffee hour after the 11 AM service.

A completed field trip consent form must be on file for a child to participate. Also anyone driving our youth needs to have a copy of their drivers license and current insurance card on file. We also need a signed copy of our Code of Ethics from each chaperone, if this isn't already on file.

Please mail or fax these items to Nina at the Meeting House; the Meeting House fax number is 233 -1333. Your cooperation will ensure that we fulfill our safe congregation responsibilities. Questions? Contact Nina Binin or Ed Lyman.

What Else is Happening & Announcements -

Public Forum Tonight (March 15th) on Governor Rell's Early Education Budget - GHICEJ is co-sponsoring a public forum on Governor Rell's $62 million budget proposal for new investments in preschool education.

The forum is March 15th at The Universalist Church at 433 Fern Street. Refreshments at 6:30 PM, Program from 7-8:30 PM. Learn how parents, providers and towns will be impacted by the Governor's proposals. Representatives Fleischmann, Bye, and Senator Harris will be present to answer questions about the proposals.

For more info contact Shai Cassell 860-930-4278 or Carol Shoemaker 860-231-9440

Saturday Evening March 17 “Bringing in the Green” - March ushers in Spring’s warmth and light and also the “greening” of the Meeting House with our 2007 - 08 Annual Stewardship drive. Be sure to come to the main event at the Meeting House on St. Patrick’s Evening as we are treated to a musical biography of BJ, sample decadent desserts, and pledge our financial support.

Living on $4 A Day? The Hartford Hunger Project:. More Information

Parents Circle - Families Forum - Monday, March 19th - In an earlier notice I had noted that Margaret Steineger-Keyser would participate in the U Hartford presentation at 1 PM. This was wrong. She will be at West Hartford Town Hall Forum at 7PM, along with Susan Campbell. This will be a powerful exchange between a Palestinian and an Israli whose family members have been killed in the war. For more information see the March Meetinghouse Messenger - Joan Kemble

My Sister's Place Volunteers Needed for Upcoming Shelter Move - We could sure use your help! We will be moving our shelter to our Pliny Street address, so we will need packers, cleaners, and painters. If you are available any day between March 16 through March 26, please contact Celia Tvrdik at 860 549-1634, Extension 30.

Connecticut Opposes the War
The Social Justice Council urges mass support for Hartford's March 17th rally at the Old State House against the Iraq War from 3:00 to 4:30 PM. Help tell this administration to stop the carnage. Look for flyers in Fellowship Hall. For more information go to http://www.CTcow.org or talk to Fred Louis, Joan Kemble, Peter Magistri or Hannah Roditi.

On the fourth anniversary of the invasion of Iraq send the message to change our priorities. Make our cities safe, provide health care, education and jobs for all, full financial and medical support for returning troops. - For carpooling meet at the USH parking lot at 2:15 PM. The Rally is scheduled to go from 3 - 4 PM. - Joan Kemble IASC

The Focus On Family Health Worldwide Act HR 1225 - will address the needs of women around the world by authorizing funding for family planning programs implemented by the US Agency for International Development. Additionally, it targets assistance to developing countries with acute family planning and maternal health needs and will increase access to contraceptives for couples. The bill will serve to reduce maternal and child mortality through the implementation of improved coordination between family planning programs and HIV & AIDS prevention programs.

In honor of International Women's Day, please ask your Representative to co-sponsor the Focus on Family Health Worldwide Act today! - Call this Toll free number for your Congressman: (866) 338-1015. - Joan Kemble IASC

Eat, Drink & Be Married! - Champagne Brunch on April 1st and we’re not kidding!

Join us for a cheer-filled celebration and a delightfully delicious spring buffet brunch and help raise funds, raise awareness and raise a glass to marriage equality! Sunday, April 1 from 1 – 3 PM in Fellowship Hall. Come yourself or bring friends (UShers’ and others). Don’t miss out – limited availability. This promises to be an event people will be talking about.

Registration available during coffee hour following the 11:00 service on March 18 and 24 or by contacting Peg Otto at pegotto(at symbol)sbcglobal.net. Donation price. $35 pp. All proceeds to benefit Love Makes a Family (LMF) and the fight for marriage equality

Remember to Sign up for FAMILY CRUISE NIGHT March 24th more information

Save the Date! This year's Unitarian Passover Seder Saturday, March 31 at 5:00 PM in Fellowship Hall. More information

Adult Programs - You can register for the following programs in Fellowship Hall following the 9:00 and 11:00 AM services this Sunday. Payment can be made with credit card, check, or cash. You may also register for programs by calling the USH office at 233-9897.

UU Questions, Tuesday, March 20, 6:30 - 8:30 PM. For newer and any members who want to renew their understanding of UUism. Rev. Jamestone will facilitate the discussion, using the book 100 Questions That Non-Members Ask About UUism, by John Sias.

Tai Chi, 8 Wednesdays, starting March 21, 6:30 - 7:30 PM.

An Amazing Journey - The Universe and Me! Six Thursdays, starting March 22, 7:00 - 9:00 PM. For adults and young adults, the discussions will be based on readings about the evolution of the universe using the writings of Brian Swimme, Thomas Berry and Michael Dowd. An excellent follow-up to An Inconvenient Truth and for those who want to bring change by improving our environment and living in harmony with our planet. Facilitated by Marye Gail Harrison.

Family Cruise Night at USH, Saturday, March 24, 5:30 - 9:00 PM. more information

Caring Network: One of the secrets of a long and fruitful life is to forgive everybody, everything, every night before you go to bed. - Bernard M. Baruch You are the ears of the Caring Network. Tell Janice Newton 677-1121 when you learn 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.

Further Down The Road (About 30 Days Max)

EASTER PLANTS - Would you like to remember a loved one by donating an Easter plant for the Chancel on Easter Sunday, April 8? We will print names (only) of donors and/or loved ones according to your wishes. You may take the plants with you after the Easter service or they may be delivered to our friends who cannot join us for the service. You may choose between Easter lilies and hyacinths. Look for the purple sign up sheets or call Rosie in the office at 233-9897. We must receive your order by April 2.

Lay Worship Associates Training - If you have some liturgical leanings (have had fantasies about wearing a black robe to church!) and would enjoy a short course on the philosophical and historical foundations of UU worship, and you are interested in training toward occasionally being a pulpit voice at USH, either as a speaker of a testimonial, or a lay leader of the service, you are cordially invited to apply to become a Lay Worship Associate for the 07-08 church year, beginning July 1.

There will be an 8 hour training in April, followed by ‘continuing education’ gatherings in the coming year. Any member of USH may receive an application through Rosie, to be returned no later than Friday March 30. Training sessions will be Sunday April 1, 4-6 PM.; Saturday April 7, 10 AM - 2 PM; and Tuesday April 17th, 7-9 PM.

Clara Barton District Spring Conference April 14th 2007 More Information

ON THE CALENDAR:

Thursday, March 15
6:30 pm Stewardship, Servetus

Saturday, March 17
7:00 pm Bringing in the Green Stewardship Event, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 18
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Children’s Choir, Chapel
10:00 am Great Decisions, Library
10:15 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:30 am Chalice Choir, Emerson
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 noon Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm "C3" Cubed, Minister's Study
12:45 pm Past Presidents’ Tea, Library

Monday, March 19
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Murray

Tuesday, March 20
12:00 noon Men’s Luncheon Group, Avon
12:00 noon ICEJ Clergy luncheon, Library
5:00 pm ICEJ task forces, Library, Servetus
6:30 pm UU Questions, Minister’s Study
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, March 21
10:00 – 11:00 am Staff Meeting, Minister’s Study (OFFICE CLOSED)
2:00 pm Aging Resources Ministry, Library
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir, Sanctuary

Thursday, March 22
7:00 pm An Amazing Journey, Library
7:00 pm CUREJ, Servetus

Saturday, March 24
10:00 am Paper Collage Workshop (Artist’s Way), Servetus
5:30 pm Potluck and Family Cruise, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, March 25
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Great Decisions, Library
10:15 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:30 am Chalice Choir, Emerson
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Women Composers Concert, Sanctuary

To get on the calendar, call 233.9897

From the Editor:

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This Week’s Feature Articles

Voices of Stewardship - For those of you who have not been members of the USH since 1976 (unlike your reporter), Sunday’s service on stewardship might not have seemed that unusual. True, Rev. BJ announced that “You may have noticed that the Order of Service is not standard today,” but she didn’t announce that, during the service she and four members of the congregation would be telling the world exactly how much money they would be pledging for the 2007-2008 USH pledge drive. (Back in the “old days,” we didn’t even take a collection on Sundays, and money was something one discussed discretely, behind closed doors!)

The theme began during, A Time for All Ages, as three little munchkins of the Chalice Choir reprised their earlier “Magic Penny” song with its “You end up having more” by “giving it away.” Then Rev. BJ explained the “law of reciprocity” to the large number of children crowded around her on the Chancel floor. “If you give someone something, they feel like paying it back, or forward,” she said, and “this starts a gift chain.” Rev. BJ’s example involved giving and getting cookies. When, at the end of her talk, she asked if any of the children had any questions, a loud and clear kid’s voice asked, “Does it have to be cookies?” and the congregation broke up.

During the meditation, Rev. BJ suggested, “Imagine the cupboard of you being full,” and our eyes went to the Chancel display. Last week’s empty shopping bags were now filled to overflowing and were topped with bright purple, red and yellow tissue paper and garlands. This week’s Begging Bowl was given to Laurie Rollins who, with her daughter, will be living on $4 a day per person this week. Laurie said her daughter had gone shopping for the week and was pleased that she had $3.79 left—but had forgotten to buy tea and coffee.

During her own Stewardship Reflection, Rev. BJ said, “I have always gone to church, and am at home with the word stewardship.” She remarked that life gives each of us the chance to be a good steward of some talent, but today we would be talking about stewardship in relation to the Meeting House finances. Rev. BJ explained that she is increasing her current pledge by 20%, for a total gift of $4,800 per year, “because there are more things we want to do” and she asked her congregation to “consider the stewardship path that is uniquely yours.”

Four USH members, speaking in the order they became USH members, gave heartfelt and moving stories of their own lives and described their personal pledge amounts—in dollars:

Nancy Nelson( nancy.nelson(at symbol)comcast.net) an elementary school teacher, has been a member for 14 years. Her life choices included career, motherhood and becoming a UU because she needed a place where her “kids could make their own choices.” A divorce forced her to look at money in a way she never had before. For many years, she explained, her pledge was small and she gave through being involved in many volunteer projects at the church. Now she is pleased that she is in a place where she can give $100 a month.

Susan Huntington (srhuntington(at symbol)comcast.net )was happy to explain that her “family is now in good times” and that she and her husband Charles (current president of the Society) will be increasing their pledge from $12,000 to $15,000 this year. Many years ago, she said, they decided to concentrate their spending, stop giving many groups small amounts, and make the USH their primary donation because it was “something dear to our hearts…and we could see the money going to work.”

John Bengstson, (jjbengren(at symbol)sbcglobal.net)a member for two years, told us he is “fascinated by the idea of transparency” and considers giving time and money to the USH “a privilege rather than a responsibility.” One of the main reasons he joined, he said, was because of the religious education for children; his children “are learning to ask the right questions.” But he also likes USH’s social justice positions and is “hungry for spiritual action.” The household budget of John's family is around $60,000 and their pledge has grown in recent years from $500 to $800 to $1,000 for the coming year.

Helen David, (helendavid11(at symbol)yahoo.com) the newest member to offer a Voice of Stewardship, felt that “pledging and giving is such a personal thing.” When her husband died last year, she lost his social security income, and his military pension was halved. Her life changed drastically, she admitted, and she had to deal with the “strange trinity” of mind, heart and pocketbook. For the coming USH year, she has settled on the “slightly uncomfortable figure” of $2,000 by cutting back on spending so she has more money to donate. “I have much to be joyous for,” she said of her discovery of the USH. - Kayla Costenoble

A Word From Rev BJ: On Being a Bowl - Recent Ember Days dealt with the theme of hunger, and how it can be both an obstacle and a stepping stone along the path of spiritual growth. We will continue hunger awareness through March with a broader theme of ‘emptying the self’ toward cultivating gratitude. Many thanks to the 62 of you who agreed on Sunday March 4th that you will participate with me in our USH hunger project, in conjunction with the Center City Churches "Food Stamp Project." I will lead brief hunger reflections in my study on Tuesday evenings March 20, and March 27, beginning promptly at 6:30 PM and ending at 7 o’clock. These gatherings are for support and discussion regarding what the hunger project is like for you.

Feel free to attend even if you aren’t participating, but want to hear about the experience of others in eating with awareness and simplicity. May any merit gained from our communal discipline of restraint and awareness this month be shared, in the spiritual realm, with all who are hungry. And may our shared awareness lead us to advocacy and action, in the practical realm, on the behalf of the hungry. - Best, Rev BJ

A Tip of the Hat to Little Ministries Adding Quality to the USH Experience - In our time when cars are ubiquitous, transportation is largely in personally owned vehicles, and public transportation is limited, it is easy to forget those who have no means of reaching the Meeting House for Sunday services, various meetings and need an assist to reach various locations for medical appointments.

BJ has introduced us to the concept of ministries, voluntary jobs of various sorts done for the common good. Among the USH ministries, providing rides when possible for those who need them is a little job a person can do; a job of limited duration that frequently only involves a slight deviation from the normal path to and from the Meeting House.

At this time, we recognize those who have (or plan to) provided a few or many rides to those who need them either through requests coordinated by the Caring Network or through individual arrangements. We are sure there are others providing rides unknown to us. You too are thanked and appreciated for your ministry.

Our thanks and appreciation are extended to: Betty Arnold, John Barlow, Joy Barnett, Ginny & Skip Berrien, Diane Cadrain, Jane Christensen, Katie Doyle, Barbara Fraher, Ron Friedman, Milly Geeter, Nita Hansen, Ginny Hedrick, Diana Heymann, Al & Kathy Herzog, Amy Hines, Charles Huntington, Joan & Tom Kemble, Susan Kinney, Bill & Ann Laporte-Bryan, Chris McClurg, Deb & Peter Meny, Janice & David Newton, Betty Palmer, Tom & Nancy Reed, Rosie Rindfleisch, Laurie Rollins, Mike Roy, Richard Roznoy, Louise Schmoll, Bill Shoemaker, Bev Spence, Marilyn and Ed Stockton, Ed Stubbs, Gail Syring, Barbara Thornburg, Bill & Louise Willett, and Jane Willitts. - DCN

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)

Hi, All, I know that many of you know already that my brother Ray went on life-support this last weekend. We removed all support on March 13, at 11:45 AM and he died within minutes. I just wanted to let everyone know that we will be bringing his body home and having a wake and funeral for him next week. The wake will be Friday, March 23 and the funeral will be Saturday, March 24. Services will be through Farrell Funeral Home in New Britain. The obituary will be issued in the Courant sometime next week. Thank you all for your loving support. - Maggie Greene

External Events and Educational Notes

Mary Forrester sends along the following hunger related link: http://www.thehungersite.com/ where you can participate in encouraging donors with a mouse click.

Announcing the 2007 Harvard Square Lecture - Presented by - The Unitarian Universalist Historical Society - Friday, April 13, 2007 - 7:30 PM

First Parish in Cambridge, Unitarian Universalist 3 Church Street, Cambridge, Massachusetts

Dr. Charles Capper, Professor of History at Boston University, will speak on his new book: Margaret Fuller: An American Romantic Life, Vol. 2, the Public Years “Margaret Fuller’s Transnational Odyssey.”

“Charles Capper does not simply know about Margaret Fuller; he knows Fuller herself -- her mind and heart, her hopes and fears. This biography is a monument to both its brilliant subject and her sensitive, perceptive biographer” – Daniel Walker Howe, Oxford University.

“Capper’s Margaret Fuller is a triumph. A revolutionary, a feminist, an intellectual, a wife and a mother, Margaret Fuller lived a rich full life. This is a rich full account of it, easily the best life of Fuller ever written.” – Robert D. Richardson, author of Emerson: The Mind on Fire - All are welcome.

Please join allies of the Inter religious Eco-Justice Network at our First Annual Stakeholders Meeting March 26, 2007 (More information)

Did You Know?

Excerpts from - The Solution is You - by Laurie David

There is now a better light bulb, compact fluorescent (CFL), and it works like a charm - it can last up to 15 times longer. If every household changed from using five regular light bulbs to the compact fluorescent, it would be the equivalent of taking eight million cars off the road for a year!

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 03/15/07)