USH-Enews for March 25, 2009 Print Only Edition

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.

Sunday - 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 - The music celebrates women composers, and represents the culmination of the 9th Annual Women Composers Festival, held in Hartford this past month.

Erica Quin-Easter is a composer and the daughter of Paul Quin, a member of our congregation. Her vocal compositions have been performed by several Maine choruses, including Renaissance Voices and Women in Harmony in Portland and Forest Song in Fort Kent. She is the Microenterprise Coordinator at Women, Work & Community in Maine, and was the resident composer for Women In Harmony.

Libby Larsen is one of America’s most performed living composers. As a vigorous, articulate advocate for the music and musicians of our time, in 1973 Larsen co-founded the Minnesota Composers Forum, now the American Composer’s Forum, which has become an invaluable aid for
composers in a transitional time for American arts.

Sarojini Naidu (1879-1949) (author of the text for “Nay, Do Not Grieve”), also known as Bharatiya Kokila (The Nightingale of India), was a child prodigy, freedom fighter, and poet. Naidu was the first Indian woman to become the President of the Indian National Congress and the first woman to become the Governor of an Indian state (Uttar Pradesh). She was active in the Indian Independence Movement, joining Mahatma Gandhi in the Salt March to Dandi.

REflections on Children's Programming -

Spirit Play: Jonah and the Big Fish
Second & Third Grade: Passover
Fourth & Fifth Grade: We Believe: Used to Thinks
Sixth & Seventh Grade: The Simpsons: Moaning Lisa
Eighth Grade:Coming of Age: Good vs. Evil
Youth Group Activities: Discussion and Service Trip to Soup Kitchen

USH Nominating Committee Announcement and Request - Each year the Nominating Committee identifies candidates for the congregation's elected positions and also assists the Board of Directors in identifying candidates for appointed positions. This year's Nominating Committee began its work in late 2008 providing assistance to the Board on a number of appointed positions.

It is now time for the Nominating Committee to identify candidates for elected positions which will come before the congregation at the annual meeting in June and for Board appointed positions.

President-Elect (elected)
Secretary (elected)
Endowment Committee (two positions, Board appointed)

If you are interested in being considered for these positions, or would like to discuss other ways to become involved in USH leadership roles, please contact any member of the nominating committee. If you are interested in learning more about one of the positions listed here, please contact us no later than Monday, April 6.

YES, WE CAN . . .come together to “pull off what seemed a flawless memorial service and reception for close to 200 people,” as one emailer wrote.

Margaret Brown Christie, a long-time USH member, died suddenly and unexpectedly on Wednesday, March 18. Her memorial service was on Sunday, March 22.

In those short four days, a lot of different things had to happen because a lot of things and people ordinarily in place were not. Reverend BJ talked to the family and wrote the service but could not be there to give it. Office staff Brian and Rosie were not available. The regular coffee hours after the two Sunday services had to be cancelled. Food, flowers, programs and music were among the million tiny details that needed attention.

Email messages came fast and furiously before (to offer help) and after the well-attended service (to applaud what had been done). .The service was beautifully read by Religious Education Director Gail Syring with help from Worship Associate Fred Louis. The lavish reception was a work of art.

Emails after the service said it all.

“Everything went so well, it was truly heart-warming. Can we find a way to capture this spirit and keep it going? What a fine legacy that would add to the others Margie has left.”

“Yesterday’s memorial for Margie was a beautiful expression of how love, service and working together make us who we are at our best.”

“It was a blessing to see everyone come together to honor Margie and comfort her family. This was truly an example of our community at its best.”

And from Reverend BJ: “Thank you all for your help. It’s such a wonderful gift to me to know that you all are here.” - Kayla Costenoble

What’s in Your Medicine Cabinet? Disposing of Prescription Medicines and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Products - Have you looked in your medicine cabinet lately? You might find unused prescription medicines, expired over-the-counter products like aspirin, cold remedies, vitamins and supplements, even pet medications. Do you think that flushing them down the toilet or the sink is the best way to get rid of them? STOP!

You may have been told, even by a by a healthcare provider, that this is the preferred way to dispose of unwanted medications. Flushing unwanted drugs down the toilet or sink does prevent someone from accidentally or intentionally taking the medicine. But, disposing of them in this way causes water pollution because they pass through septic systems and sewage treatment plants untreated.

Drugs in the water, even in highly diluted concentrations, can have adverse effects on fish and other aquatic wildlife. For example, estrogen and estrogen-mimicking compounds have been shown to cause a “feminization” of some kinds of fish. There may be human effects as well -- the release of antibiotics in the environment may account for an increased resistance of certain bacteria to these antibiotics.

Some communities in cooperation with chain pharmacies may hold special medicine collections, but these are not held regularly in the state, so the vast majority of residents do not have access to them. Since all of our trash in Connecticut is burned at very high temperatures in resource recovery facilities (RRFs), the Connecticut Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) recommends that you carefully follow these steps before putting your unwanted medications in the trash.

To find out how to dispose of other medicines and medical supplies, including sharps, go to http://www.ct.gov/dep/p2 under the Individuals/Family section and look for the table in Disposing of Prescription Medicines and Over-the-Counter (OTC) Products.

For more information about why DEP recommends these practices, see the DEP Newsletter, P2 View, from Spring 2007,

Of course, there are times when we need to take prescriptions or over the counter drugs, but we can also try to minimize the need for disposal. Here are some things to keep in mind when talking to your doctor or shopping for over-the-counter medication:

§ If possible, ask your doctor to give you a smaller amount of a prescription or a sample of a drug that you are taking for the first time to see if it works for you. This may save you money and will also eliminate the need for throwing the drug away if it doesn’t work for you. Do the same for animal prescriptions.

§ Look at the expiration date on over-the-counter products. Will you be able to use all of it before the product expires? If not, maybe a smaller amount will do.

§ Look into mail-back programs for sharps: See the Sustainable Hospitals website for a list of companies that provide containers at(Sharps Containers - Mail Back Programs) or check with your local hospital. Note: DEP does not endorse any products. Contact vendors directly to purchase a product or to obtain more information.

This is an excerpt from an article in the P2 View, a quarterly newsletter published by the CT Department of Environmental Protection, Office of Pollution Prevention. For a free subscription, contact the editor, Judy Prill at judith.prill@ct.gov or (860) 424-3694. - (From the Green Sanctuary Folks)

Equual Access News - On March 16, several members of EA (Deb Meny, Briana Bittel, Cat Lanser, Bill Laporte-Bryan, and Carolyn Cartland) attended a day long conference at Hartford Seminary entitled “A Day of Respect: Welcoming People with Disabilities.” The interfaith event was co-sponsored by the seminary and the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities. Guest speakers advocated for the inclusion of adults and children with developmental disabilities into congregational life and shared many stories of success and failure, encouraging the elimination of attitudinal barriers which prevent respect and inclusion.

Do you hear what I hear? On April 5, we will hold our annual service focusing on the concerns of people with disabilities. This year, we have designed a service which will address the concerns of folks who are hard-of-hearing and deaf in a thematically integrated worship service, weaving music, readings, testimonial and homily. Rev. Jamestone, Mattie Banzhaf, John Jesensky, and Liz Garmise have created a beautiful service with us. Come and listen! - Equual Access

Our offering will be given to the Connecticut Association of the Deaf (CAD). The mission of the CAD as a State Association is to promote, protect, and preserve the rights and quality of life of Deaf and Hard of Hearing citizens of Connecticut. The CAD is a civic, non-profit organization serving the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community needs in the areas of advocacy, education, employment, communication, access, technology, civil rights, and empowerment. The CAD promotes awareness, equality, and interaction through its various activities. Please bring your checkbook and give generously to this worthy organization

On April 19, Equual Access, the Caring Network, and the Alliance of Ministry to Women are sponsoring a luncheon video and discussion on Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia. Please see details of the event elsewhere in this ENEWS.

Education on Dementia: Alzheimer’s Disease - Please join us at an educational session on Alzheimer’s Disease on Sunday, April 19 at 1PM in Fellowship Hall sponsored by the Equual Access Sub-Council, the Caring Network, and our Alliance Ministry to Women. We will view a 25 minute video on Alzheimer’s Disease produced as part of the award winning California television series “Mental Health Matters,” developed by Rev. Barbara Meyers, a UU minister who focuses on mental health issues. Our “own” Sue Smolski, an advanced practice nurse who specializes in geriatric psychiatric nursing, will facilitate the discussion following the video.

Please bring your sandwich or buy soup from our youth and come to this informative and important event. With the gracious support from the Caring Network and the Alliance Ministry to Women, beverages and dessert will also be available. This event is open to everyone so please bring your family, friends, and anyone who you know who might benefit from learning more about these serious conditions.

Sign up sheets will be at the Programs Table during coffee hour. Please contact Carolyn Cartland (see Directory) if you have any questions. We look forward to seeing you there.

Unfortunately - we had to cancel the Spring Spiritual Retreat scheduled for April 3-5, 2009 due to the small number of people who were signed up to attend. All money paid will be refunded. We wish to thank those you expressed interest and hopefully we can arrange another retreat in the future. Susan and Charles Huntington

April 12- Hilaritas Easter Celebration - One service only 9:45 - 11:00 AM - immediately followed by the dedication of the art installation in the Payson Miller Chapel. (Get your coffee, walk through, and chat with the artist!)

Supporting Each Other One Favor at a Time – Pay it Forward Groceries - Members of our congregation are not immune to the current economic crisis. As part of our Great Covenant to help one another, please purchase a grocery gift card in any amount at your local grocery store and bring it to the Meeting House.

You may drop gift cards in the offering plate on Sunday or drop them off in the office. If you would like a record of your contribution, please include the cash register receipt with your name and address clearly written on it.

With the support of the Board of Directors, the Council on Community Within requests that as many of us as possible purchase gift cards when we shop – as many times as possible between now and June 30. We will make the gift cards available to members who may need them and encourage them to return the favor when their circumstances improve in the future.

Thank You!

P. S. If you are in financial crisis, please reach out to get help (see Need Help? below).

Need Help? - Part of our basic affirmation as a community is “to help one another.” Please let us know if you are experiencing special challenges as a result of the current economic turmoil. We want to do what is possible to help and there may be a need for economic support groups as well.

USH’s volunteer and staff leadership is meeting over the next week to identify additional ways our community can “help one another.” We don’t yet know exactly what this means, but we anticipate that individuals and families may have both material and spiritual needs, ranging from moderate to extreme circumstances. This is a special appeal to ask you to reach out if you are experiencing a change in circumstances that might cause you hardship. Confidential inquiries and outreach are fully respected. Please help us respond by letting us know the type of situation you may have.

Please call or email: Council on Community Within [COCW] Chairperson Becky Pardoe, Board Liaison to COCW Amy Hines or Caring Network Chairperson, Diana Heymann. Contact information is available in the USH Directory or by calling Rosie or Brian in the church office at: 233-9897.

Clara Barton District Spring Conference and Annual Meeting - The Clara Barton District Annual Meeting will be held at Nichols College in Dudley, MA on Saturday, April 4th. More

B&G Plans Grounds and Building Cleanup - Saturday morning April 4th, mark you calendars. Weather permitting, all hands will clean up the debris of winter on the Meeting House grounds and finish various internal building projects. Please give Ed Sax a call and tell him you plan to attend (860-286-9688)

Advance notice to all USH members who have joined in the past five years - Save the date: Friday evening, April 24 - for a Potluck dinner at the Meeting House. The Membership Sub-Council wants to gather together you folks who have joined in recent years for an opportunity to share your ideas and interests with us and each other. An invitation with more details will be coming soon. Childcare will be available and we hope as many of you as possible will join us!

Adult Programs - In less than one week April will be here! Stop by the Registration Table in Fellowship Hall this Sunday following both services to sign up and to find out more information about the April programs. Tai Chi, Friday Dinner & Movie, Fabric Painting, and Photo Alteration do require prior registration and payment. You can also reserve your place by phoning the office (860 233-9897) and paying with a credit card. You can read more about these programs and others in the Winter/Spring Programs Catalog available at the Meeting House or go to the USH website home page and click on New Pages.

Tai Chi, Session 2 begins Wednesday, April 1, 6:30-7:30 PM. An ancient Chinese martial art that medical studies have shown to be a complete healing art consisting of slow, relaxed movements for total self development. Anyone can do Tai Chi regardless of age or physical ability.
Hunger 101, Sunday, April 5, 1 PM. Foodshare offers this workshop to help us learn more about the hunger problems which continue within our own community. The presentation will utilize role-play and discussion for the whole family, age 10 years and up, allowing individuals to experience the challenges of feeding a family on a limited budget. (more)

Friday Dinner and Movie, April 10, featuring "Mississippi Burning." See more below

Fabric Painting, 3 Saturdays, April 11, 18, May 2, 10 AM -1 PM. USH member Diane Cadrain will share her expertise in painting on fabric. In one class, participants will learn to apply Shiva paintstiks to fabric, following the techniques described in Shelly Stokes’ Paintstiks on Fabric. In the second class, they will apply Setacolor watercolor paints, following the techniques in Mickey Lawler’s Skydyes. In the third class, participants will cut up the fabrics created in the first two classes, and will choose one of the following: a) using fusible bonding to reassemble the fabrics into a fabric collage; or b) using a sewing machine, learn how to assemble a simple log cabin quilt block.
Photo Alteration, Saturday, April 25, 10 AM - 1 PM. Lori Barker, a regionally well known studio artist, will introduce students to altering photos through experimentation. Techniques using common household products, crayons, inks, and tools will be explored. Stamping, rubbing, and coloring will be used to alter the photo images and to bring them to life in new imaginative ways.
Mini Retreat, Saturday, April 25, 11 AM - 5 PM. A day retreat in beautiful rural New Hartford. Enjoy walks in the country, a potluck luncheon, and discussions on various topics of feminine interest.

Mississippi Burning," an R-rated film, is the next feature at the USH Dinner and Movie evening on Friday, April 10. To view a trailer, click here (while the link is current).

The movie "surveys the geography of racism, sheds light on the dark night of the soul. Director Alan Parker stokes the inferno with cruelty, hatred and charring crosses, then sifts the cold ashes for clues. The mystery, ostensibly about the murder of three young civil rights workers, is the inhumanity of man," according to a review in the Washington Post.

The menu is barbequed pork, potato salad, mac 'n cheese, cole slaw, and corn bread, with a vegetarian option available if requested when reserving. Reservations may be made at the Sunday coffee hour registration table or by calling the USH office at 233-9897. Please reserve by Monday, April 6.

Socializing begins at 5:30, dinner at 6, and movie at 7; Roy Cook, who nominated this movie, will lead the discussion afterwards.

The Green Sanctuary folks had a great suggestion: bring reusable containers for taking home leftovers. And, it's not too early to begin thinking of titles for next season's series.

Caring Network - Preach the Gospel. And if necessary, use words. Attributed to St. Francis of Assisi - 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.

External Events and Educational Note

Our own Maggie Greene! "An Evening of Irish Storytelling Through Poetry" - Saturday March 28, 6:30 PM open-mic sign-ups, 7:00 start, Free at The Buttonwood Tree - 605 Main Street, Middletown, Connecticut - 860-347-4957

A Kelly-Greene Reading featuring: Kathryn Kelly
Maggie Greene - Musical prelude by Patrick & Joseph Ganci on violin and piano, respectively - Non-perishable food donations welcome to benefit the St. Vincent de Paul Place. Goodwill donations welcome.

Unitarian Universalists for a Just Economic Community (UUJEC) is celebrating its 20th anniversary at Rowe Camp Conference Center in Rowe MA Fri. thru Sun. April 3-5. More

HUNGER 101 - April 5 at 1:00 PM - On Sunday, April 5, FOODSHARE will facilitate this role-play and discussion activity designed to increase awareness and understanding of hunger in our community. (More)

photo

Did You Know? - Green Sanctuary Sub-Council -

Demonstrate your concern for saving the planet by joining tens of millions of people in the U.S. and worldwide by participating in WWF’s Earth Hour by turning off your lights for one hour on March 28 at 8:30 PM. Just sign up at www.earthhourus.org to register. - Bev Prager

Thursday, March 26
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm Music and Poetry Concert, Sanctuary

Friday, March 27
1:00 pm Ernst rehearsal, Sanctuary
6:00 pm Concert Pro-Femina Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Saturday, March 28
10:30 am Rental, Chapel
7:30 pm Concert Pro Femina, Sanctuary

Sunday, March 29
9:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:30 am Great Decisions, Library
9:45 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
9:45 am Coming of Age, Fuller
10:45 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:45 am Coffee, Fellowship Hall
11:00 am Youth Group serving at soup kitchen, offsite
11:15 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:15 pm Coffee, Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm Council on Social Justice, Library
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
5:00 pm Board of Directors, Library

Monday, March 30
10:00 am Lloyd, David’s Den
7:00 pm Rental, Ballou

Tuesday, March 31
10:00 am CBD Ministers, Library
4:30 pm Sustainable Living, Servetus
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, April 1
5:00 pm Green Sanctuary, Servetus
5:45 pm Meditation and Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Stewardship, Murray
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:15 pm NVC Practice Group, Emerson
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, April 2
7:00 pm Willett Woodwind Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Friday, April 3
5:30 pm Family Friendly SGM, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, April 4
B&G Work Day, building-wide, grounds
Youth Group Activity
11:30 am Membership Sub-Council, Servetus
2:00 pm USH Family Seder, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, April 5
9:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:30 am Great Decisions, David’s Den
9:45 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
9:45 am Coming of Age, Fuller
10:45 am Coffee, Fellowship Hall
10:45 am Music rehearsal, Chapel
11:15 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:15 pm Coffee, Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm Hunger 101, Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm BTWWDA, Emerson
1:00 pm Joyfuul Noise, Sanctuary
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.

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