Thursday, March 23, 2006
The USH-Enews is a weekly email newsletter sent to 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
USH-Enews click here: http://www.ushartford.com/news.html
From the Editor: This week we are attempting to avoid various spam filters by sending a short notice to subscribers asking them to look at the USH-Enews as a web page. Thus we can send a short vanilla note to USH-Enews subscribers not likely to get spam filters excited. And, the web page you are looking at can be formatted in a much more aesthetically interesting way incorporating suggestions by various astute readers. However, if it does not work well for you, dear readers, there is no point to it. May I hear from you? dcnewton@ushartford.com
And, the few of you who try to print this for whatever reason should drop us your email address as we can send you a Microsoft Word version that will print without a hassle.
SUNDAY - 26 March - Let Justice Roll: A Living Wage - Paul Filson (Director - SEIU CT State Council) will be the guest speaker as we recommit ourselves to work for economic justice for all.
Music: 6th grader Todd Slater and solo soprano Katie LaPorta will sing at both services
RE - This week's Spirit Play story is the parable of Jesus and the Children. The story explains how Jesus was walking down the road and many people tried to get his attention. When some children tried talking to him, other adults told the children to move away. Jesus stopped them and spent some time with the children.
Also, our worship service at 10:30 AM is a success. We have had not only the middle school and high school youth attend, but we are seeing more adults attend, and some with their families. Remember, everyone is welcome to this service.
Ken Silberman-Bunn DRE
Search Update - The buzz is growing! Come to either service this Sunday to hear from your Search Committee about who we've asked to Candidate as our new minister. We're very excited to finally be able to share our Great News with you!
HUNGER IS A CHURCH ISSUEPresident Kennedy (1963) said “We have the means, we have the capacity to eliminate hunger from the face of the earth in our lifetime. We need only the will.” The will has been lacking. One reason the political will is lacking is that the hungry and poor have little political power. Only when the rest of us hate poverty as much as the poor, will the governments end hunger, or when we realize that enlightened self-interest is at stake. Faith communities have always had a mandate to alleviate hunger and meet the needs of the poor. Both the Hebrew and the Christian Bible state that concern for those forced to live marginal lives is not an optional activity for people of faith. Our identification with these persons is at the heart of what it means to be a faith community. Our theme on Sunday will be about poverty, “A Living Wage” and our collection will go to the Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry. We urge you to take your checkbooks and give generously. Checks can be made out to USH with Horace Bushnell Children's Food Pantry on the memo line. At this time the Feinstein Foundation issues a challenge; it will donate in proportion to the size of our gift; the challenge runs through April. Cash donations allow the pantry to buy at wholesale prices. Also, we hope that you will follow a tradition of depositing one item per person every Sunday in the box found in the lobby.
Later we will rally folks to march to benefit Center City Churches in the WALK AGAINST HUNGER, Sunday, May 6. - Joan Kemble
Editor’s Note: Sid prepared this for the second service on Music Sunday. However, due to a shortage of time, the remarks were abbreviated and the music selections shortened in part to allow Ann Stowe (leading the string players) to make her exit to a second engagement that day in New Haven’s Woolsey Hall. This is the full text Sid had available at the time. And now, as they say, you know the rest of the story. Ann made it on time to her second engagement!
Good Morning – I’m Sid Garvais and I’ve been playing Mozart’s piano music for 71 years. I played his Fantasy in D minor in a student recital when I was ten years old. I liked it so much I’m still playing it --- to the delight of fellow residents in the Seabury Retirement Community.
Although Mozart has formed a lifetime experience for people around the world for more than 200 years, the amazing fact is that all of his music — his symphonies, operas, his chamber music, concerti for solo instruments and orchestra, his choral music, songs and piano music — all of his brilliant output — was composed during a brief lifetime of just 35 years.
When Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart was about seven, way back in the 1760’s, his father, Leopold Mozart, took his genius son on a series of concert tours to all of the cultural centers of Europe. Wolfgang was already writing his own music, and he had developed keyboard technique so superb he could sight read any music placed before him.
Near the end of many of his piano recitals, the boy’s hands would be covered with a light-weight white cloth, so that he couldn’t see the piano keys. He would then play the most difficult piece on the program, with no mistakes.
Another test of his skill when like this; someone at the opposite side of the stage would play a note on a musical instrument — any note. Young Mozart would be challenged to identify the note. Let’s say the note was an F-sharp. When asked what note had just been played, his response was “F-sharp.” You see, among other attributes he possessedPERFECT PITCH!
It occurs to me there was no such thing as a child labor law back in those days. The father, Leopold Mozart, exploited his talented young son BIG TIME!
Although the world is celebrating Mozart’s 250th birthday this year, our contemporary musicians continue to discover new ways of understanding and interpreting his compositions. And audiences, just like you, are always happy to hear a program of Mozart’s music.
In the brief time remaining for me this morning, I’ll play a pair of charming Menuettes that form the second movement of Mozart’s Piano Sonata No. 17.2.
Connecticut Opposes the War: March 13-19 was an important week for the significant majority of Americans who are calling for withdrawal of troops from Iraq (either immediately, or within a 6-12 month type period). Demonstrations were held throughout the country.
CTOW held a press conference at the Legislative Office Building on 3/14. Arline represented ICEJ and spoke out (along with community, labor and legislative leaders) to end this morally reprehensible war. The press conference was the prelude to an incredible demonstration on 3/19.
Well over 1,000 folks crowded the lawn of The Old State House at 2:00. It was bitterly cold outside, but we were all warmed by the tremendous content and connective energy. I saw at least 25 USH members amidst the sea of faces.
I was especially moved by the personal witness of Houzan Mahmoud (an Iraqi woman now living in Britain and serving as the UK head of the Organization of Women's Freedom in Iraq). Houzan reports that women's rights are being stripped away by the new fundamentalist Islamic leaders. Women are fearful of leaving their homes without an armed escort. Leaflets warn them against going out unveiled, wearing makeup, or mixing with men. The Taliban style persecution of women that we saw in Afghanistan is spreading to Iraq. In short, daily life has become worse, rather than better, since the US began this war. I hope that many USH members will join us at a major demonstration in NYC on April 29.
EASTER PLANTS. On Easter Sunday it has been our tradition to decorate our Chancel with spring plants. This year we would like to deliver those plants to a number of members of our community who are not able to join us at the Meeting House. We are seeking your help with sponsorship of the plants and/or delivery of the plants.
SPONSORSHIP:Easter lilies are $9.00; pink or purple hyacinths are $6.00. Make check payable to “USH”, with “Easter plants” in the memo line.
DELIVERY: Please indicate if you are able to deliver one or more plants on Sunday, April 16, or Monday, April 17, and to whom you will deliver the plant. If you would like the names of persons to whom to deliver, please call the office.
We welcome your help with this Easter project! Look for a form in your April Meeting House Messenger newsletter or in the front lobby and return it to the office by April 12, or call us to let us know how you can help.
B&G “Workday” scheduled for Saturday April 8 9 AM-12 Noon
This is your final call to register for a FREE RAINBOW DINNER in Canton on April 1st or in Plainville on April 8th. Please plan to join us and RSVP by March 27th to Betty Palmer, e-mail: bettypalmer365 at yahoo.com, phone: 860-379-7740, or mail: P.O.Box 365, New Hartford, Ct. 06057
From Adult Programs- Sunday, after both the 9:00 AM and 11:00 AM services, you will be able to sign up for the following programs at the Registration table in Fellowship Hall. Flyers are available at the table for the Spring-Time Soulful Sundown and Feldenkrais.
New - A Spring-Time Soulful Sundown, Saturday, April 1. This music and worship experience reaches out to people of all ages and walks of life. It combines live music, inspirational readings and audience participation. Fellowship with refreshments will follow. A free will offering will be received.
New - Feldenkrais Workshop, Awareness Through Movement (ATM), Saturday, April 8 from 1 - 4:30 PM. The Feldenkrais Method teaches, through movement, how we can improve our capabilities to function in our daily lives. It is for anyone who wants to reconnect with their natural abilities to move, think, feel and focus.
Friday Dinner and Movie, April 7. The featured movie will be "Motorcycle Diaries". (2004) "A picaresque, frequently amusing and strangely affecting study of the revolutionary as a young man."
"...a nicely crafted road flick that will appeal to the liberal viewer with a penchant for history and social justice"
"Regardless of your politics, the film is a superb transformational drama, shot through with very human moments of levity and pathos."
"The project delivers as both biography and road movie, and proves itself a deceptively humble epic."
"A fine little film, filled with some astonishingly beautiful moments and some insights into the South American way of life."
"Filled with the vigor and humor of youth and the depth of idealism, but carried on a tide of visceral human experience"
Leadership Opportunities - The Nominating Committee is looking for USH members interested in serving in leadership roles for the 2006/2007 church year. This will be an exciting time to be a part of the leadership team with a new minister coming aboard. No experience required…
Open Positions:
Board:
Ø President-elect
Ø Secretary
Ø Treasurer
Ø At Large – Community Within
Ø At Large – Social Justice
There are also open slots for the Council Chairs. While these positions are appointed by the Board, please let us know if you are interested and we will forward the information to the Board.
Please contact any one of the following members of the Nominating Committee:
Ø Bart Bracken, Chair
Ø Carolyn Cartland
Ø Shai Cassell
Ø Peter Meny
Ø Jeanne Cohen
Thank you.
Thursday, March 23
9:30 AM International Women's Circle, Fellowship Hall
7:00 PM CUREJ, Library
Friday, March 24
5:30 PM Supper and Game Night, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, March 26
8:00 AM Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE I, Sanctuary (Children through Grade 5 will be dismissed during the service for RE)
10:00 AM Coffee Hour I, Fellowship Hall
10:00 AM Children's Choir, Chapel
10:00 AM Great Decisions, Library
10:15 AM Adult Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:15 AM Disabilities, Murray
10:30 AM Middle School and Youth Worship, Chapel
10:50 AM Middle School and Youth Classes begin, Servetus & Socinus
11:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE II, Sanctuary (Children through Grade 5 will be dismissed during the service for RE)
11:30 AM Middle School and Youth formal classes end
12:00 noon Coffee Hour II, Fellowship Hall
Monday, March 27
6:30 PM SIA, Channing
7:00 PM Small Group Ministry, David
7:00 PM Soul Work, Servetus
Tuesday, March 28
6:30 PM Search, Servetus
7:00 PM Meditation, David
8:00 PM AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, March 29
6:30 PM Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 PM Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Saturday, April 1
7:00 PM Springtime Soulful Sundown, Sanctuary, Library
Sunday, April 2 - Stewardship Sunday
8:00 AM Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE I, Sanctuary (Children through Grade 5 will be dismissed during the service for RE)
10:00 AM Coffee Hour I, Fellowship Hall
10:00 AM Children's Choir, Chapel
10:00 AM Great Decisions, Library
10:15 AM Welcoming Congregation "Families Like Ours" Planning, Murray
10:30 AM Middle School and Youth Worship, Chapel
10:50 AM Middle School and Youth Classes begin, Servetus & Socinus
11:00 AM WORSHIP SERVICE II, Sanctuary
(Children through Grade 5 will be dismissed during the service for RE)
11:30 AM Middle School and Youth formal classes end
12:00 noon Coffee Hour II, Fellowship Hall
5:30 PM UU Singles, Library
To get your event on the calendar, call 233.9897
More Participation Sought in Unitarian Service Committee -- From Harry Mangle, a member of the UU Society East: in Manchester and Regional Volunteer Coordinator for the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC) of our Clara Barton District of the UUA:
I have been a Unitarian Universalist for 36 years and proud to be a part of the UU faith community that has at its core, the imperative of social action. It is a faith community that has included individuals such as Michael Servetus, Abigail Adams, Ralph Waldo Emerson, Susan B. Anthony and James Reeb; all of whom have challenged the theological, political, and economic power structures of their time.
This imperative for social justice and action found expression when in 1940 the Unitarian Service Committee was formed, a predecessor of today’s UUSC. The Reverend Waitstill Sharp, one of its founders, along with his wife and many others, risked their lives to rescue thousands of refugees from Nazi Germany. This coming June in Israel these two individuals will be only the second and third U.S. citizens to be recognized with the title “Righteous Among the Nations,” for their work rescuing Jews from persecution in Europe.
I am proud to be a volunteer with the UUSC, our very own UU human rights organization, which on March 26 sponsors “Justice Sunday”, an event which this year encourages and provides resource materials to UU congregations throughout the US to focus on economic justice issues. This membership-based organization, that receives no funding from the UUA or the US government, stands up against the power structures in the world to work for human rights, economic justice, environmental justice, and provide relief in humanitarian crises.
There are 38 members of the Unitarian Society of Hartford who believe that the UUSC puts our UU values to work in the world. Please consider joining them and me to make the voice of UUSC even stronger. Tom Kemble, your congregation’s UUSC local representative, is happy to share information on membership and the Service Committee.
A Matter of Opinion: (space for comment on USH issues) - Editor retains the right to make minor changes – letters should be issue oriented)
For the past few years we have been active with the Caring Network. Our goal, as was the goal of those who were there before we were, is to make the USH community a truly CARING COMMUNITY. The success of this is hard to measure, as it is impossible to measure accurately the success of our welcoming of visitors and new members. You can only be new once! Recently, because of the death of David’s brother from a long battle with cancer, we have unfortunately had the opportunity to witness the degree of caring in our Society. We can tell you that we have been overwhelmed with the concern and caring shown to us from the Caring Network members AND from the community as a whole. We ARE a caring community. We are very proud to be part of this Society and we thank you all. Those little notes, calls, emails and hugs mean so very much. Each one, like single drops of water, when added to many others makes a HUGE support system. Let’s continue to reach out to give our love, support and caring to all the members and friends of USH. We will then become an even stronger community.
David and Janice Newton
A Few Words About Our Roots From The Book, Hartford Unitarianism 1844 -1994 by Freeman Meyer: The Rev. Payson Miller - (Minister 1941-62) Credit for the design (of the building) is partially attributed to Payson Miller, who reportedly told Lundy that he envisioned "something that came out out of the ground" and represented the [Hindu] belief that all religions are but so many paths to a single, all-pervading Reality. According to Betty Arnold, each of the cement buttresses "are different width, a different height, and they are supposed to represent many paths to The Truth. They never came together.. because you're never going to reach The Truth (from a single path)," Garland Pass, a member of the building committee, recalled that "what we were attempting...was to make a statement about Unitarianism, and we wanted it to be as accurate...as possible"
Further Down The Road External Events and Educational Notes: CLARA BARTON DISTRICT ANNUAL MEETING APRIL 1, 2006 - USH is eligible for five voting delegates at this years CBD Annual Meeting to be held at the Unitarian Universalist Church of Greater Bridgeport in Stratford CT.
Registration Fees: The Conference fee is $35.00 per attendee for advanced registration. We also have a sliding scale of $25 - $45 depending on your financial situation. We ask that if you can afford it, please pay the $45 to help offset the cost for those people who cannot pay the full cost. Completed registration form and payment must be received in the Clara Barton District office by the end of business on: March 24, 2006. Registration at the door is $45.00 per person. Be sure to mail your completed Registration Form and Payment by March 24, 2006 to: Clara Barton District Office PO Box 1018 Palmer , MA 01069-1018. Please make your check(s) payable to Clara Barton District. Questions? Call: 413-283-4893 or Email: ClaraBartonDist@aol.com or visit www.cbd.uua.org (a printable version of the registration form can be found on the District's website).
Featured Workshops:
#1649; Games You Can Use: Creating Community Through Play
#1649; Young Adult and Campus Ministry in the Clara Barton District
#1649; The Spiritual Path of Social Justice: Becoming An Effective Advocate of Economic Justice
#1649; Creative Music-Making: Singing With Heart and Soul
#1649; Spiritual Activism: The Call of the 21st Century
If you are planning to attend and wish to represent our Society as a delegate, please let Business Manager Brian Mullen in the USH office
(860-233- 9897 - bmullen@ushartford.com) know as soon as possible so that he can report you as an official delegate to the District Office.
Mark your calendars! This year's Passover Seder will take place on Saturday, April 8 at 6:00 PM.
from the Women's Alliance -- Applications are due April 29 for the USH Women's Alliance Education Grants. Applicants should be pursuing study at a post high school level, with priority given to those with no other sources of loans or scholarship aid. Grants are small, usually $100 to $300, but may be used for expenses such as tuition, books, child care, transportation. Affiliation with USH is not required, but will be considered. Applications are in the pocket on the Grant poster found on the Alliance bulletin board outside Fellowship Hall. Questions?
Call 693 - 4269 and leave a message.
A good character is the best tombstone. Those who loved you and were helped by you will remember you when forget-me-nots have withered. Carve your name on hearts, not on marble. ~Charles H. Spurgeon Inform the Caring Network of needs - volunteer your services - http://www.ushartford.com/cocw-caring.html Janice Newton, CN Chair,
860-677-1121 or the USH Office, 860-233-9897
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@ushartford.com If you have announcements or articles you wish to be published, send them along with the subject line USH-Enews by 9:00 PM Wednesday evening. Only announcements for very large events will be issued as single item email distributions. 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.