USH-Enews March 29, 2007

USH-Enews For March 29, 2007
Jump to: Calendar; What's happening; A matter of opinion; External events; Further down the road; Did You Know?

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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 - 1 April - Palm Sunday and Accessibility Issues: The Comfort and the Challenge of our Faith - The high drama of the final week in the life of Jesus offers a liberal religious perspective particularly regarding support of persons who experience mental health care accessibility issues.

Music: - Our own Bill Willett brings his Nutmeg Woodwind Quintet to our chancel as a unique and extraordinary musical offering this Sunday. Located in central Connecticut, the Quintet plays in various local venues. The members are: Lisa Eells, flute; Peter Wortman, oboe; Warren Gedstad, clarinet; Gary Mau, French horn, and Bill Willett, bassoon. They'll be playing the Divertimento in B flat by Haydn, and the rollicking Polka from The Golden Age ballet by Shostakovich.

“Papa Haydn,” born the same year as George Washington, was the master teacher of Mozart and many other musicians, and wrote prolifically in the classical courtly era. Divertimenti for various combinations of instruments were the 18th century version of iPods.

Two centuries later, Dmitri Shostakovich became the premier Russian composer of the mid-twentieth century. Unlike Haydn, however, Shostakovich struggled to maintain professional integrity in the face of a repressive, unmusical government. His 15 symphonies in particular famously show protest masquerading as acquiescence to bureaucratic restraints. However, the Polka is a youthful bit of musical satire, in keeping with the date.

RE: Time for another RE Talk back ! Parents and others interested in our Religious Education program are invited to attend a talk back with members of the Religious Education Sub-Council on April 1st at 12:30 pm in the Chapel. Topics will include plans for a new Grade 2/3 class this coming fall 2007, as well as the hiring process for our DRE position and the status of teacher volunteers. Please come and share your thoughts and ideas. Call Laurie Kelliher if you have any questions.

Searching for a Director of RE - The Unitarian Society of Hartford is currently searching for a director for our religious education program. A job description including responsibilities of the position and the qualities of the successful candidate has been developed. A flyer announcing the position has been created. Copies may be found in the Meeting House entryway. Many congregations have had difficulty filling these types of positions. We are asking your help to spread the word about this job. Please pick up a flyer and pass it along to someone you know who may be the perfect match for this job. - Kelly Lyman

What Else is Happening & Announcements
Light colored symbols represent pledges not yet received.

Stewardship Effort Continues - Early returns from this year's Stewardship campaign have been very encouraging. But we're not done yet. Everyone who hasn't pledged already (see pyramid above) should have received a pledge card last week. (If you didn't get yours, please call Brian or Rosie in the office and ask them to send you one.) Please mail your completed pledge card back today, or bring it to the Meeting House this Sunday, and put it in the collection basket or leave it in the office. Help us help you avoid those pesky follow-up telemarketing calls from your friendly Stewardship Committee members by acting now! Thanks - Joe Rubin More.

Photo Opportunity - For any and all who would like to have a posed photo taken for the upcoming photo directory, David and Anne will me available in the lower lobby on Sundays during April during both coffee hours (with the exception of the early coffee hour on April 15). Stop by for a quick pose. What is this all about?

Eat, Drink & Be Married! -– Sunday, April 1st from 1 -3 in Fellowship Hall. Join Welcoming Congregation members and friends in a delightful and delicious Sunday Brunch. Come one, come all, just come. Reservations are suggested but we will welcome guests at the door. Ticket costs are $35. pp and all proceeds will benefit Love Makes a Family and the work for marriage equality. This will be a lovely event in support of an important civil rights issue facing gay & lesbian couples – the right to have their loving relationships recognized equally. For more information or to make your advanced reservation contact Peg Otto or Brian Mullen at 860-233-9897. (more)

GHICEJ needs your support for Early Education, NOW. - Please stop by the Social Justice Table in Fellowship Hall after service to sign our legislative petition in support of the Governor's $63 million dollar proposals for new investments in Early Education programs for children living in poverty. We must let our legislators know that we support her comprehensive plan to expand capacity, enhance quality and assure accountability.

We may not see another opportunity like this for years! The petition will be delivered to the Appropriations Committee by April 16, as they craft the legislative budget, before final negotiations with the Governor. We have a short window of time to let our voices be heard. Only three weeks. Help us reach our goal of 100 signatures from the Meeting House! - Many thanks, - Carol Shoemaker

Educational Grant Available - The USH Women’s Alliance is proud to announce that applications will be available beginning April 1 for the Women’s Alliance Educational Grants. Applications will be in the pocket on the Educational Grant poster found on the Alliance Bulletin Board in Fellowship Hall and are due Sunday, April 29. Questions? Call 693-4269 and leave a message.

Drumbeat for Darfur - Following up on last Sunday's service. Please remember the UU Service Committee (UUSC) campaign calls for constant action to raise the decibel level of voices urging the Bush Administration and Congress to make ending the genocide one of their highest priorities. more

Easter Plants - Would you like to remember a loved one by donating an Easter plant for the Chancel on Easter Sunday, April 8? Cut off date for orders is April 2nd. (More information)

Lay Worship Associates Training - You can do this but you need to sign up Friday 3-30 at the latest. (More information)

Don't miss the last Supper & Game Night of the season on April 20, 6 to 8:30 PM. You may sign up on Sundays at coffee hour or call the office, 233-9897 to let us know you're coming. You get to bring your favorite main dish for you and your family and some extra to share, then it's just $2 for beverage and yummy dessert. We have a variety of games, but if you have a favorite, please bring it. No need to find a babysitter - this event is kid-friendly! Show up at 6 PM and let the fun begin!"

Don't Forget the "Musical Review" on April 22, 12:15 in The Chapel - Although not quite fully into Spring, we have begun planning for next church year. We are creating the 2007-2008 church program calendar, and are hoping that all ministry areas at the meeting house will begin their planning with a review of their current practice. Such review might include reflecting on the following questions about current offerings: What would you miss, if we stopped doing it? What would you add to the repertoire, as reflecting and enhancing our diverse faith? Though it may be good, what would you omit in order to free resources for something else? Because our Sunday music program is a ministry area which nearly everyone experiences, we want to give everyone the opportunity to offer feedback, in the form of the three questions above. If you are unable to attend, please send an email with your answers (revbj@ushartford.com) and we'll include them at the gathering on the 22nd. Join us as we celebrate the fine work of our musicians and as we envision and shape the music of the coming months. more

Rosie's Cruise Follow Up - For those of you who missed the chance to see the wonderful documentary, Rosie's Family Cruise, there are now 3 VCR copies available for loan in the Library at the Meeting House.

Many touching family scenes and interviews are woven into this warm and moving presentation about a week-long cruise to the Bahamas with 500 gay and lesbian families, including children of all ages. It offers a fine springboard for discussion about just what makes a family - highly recommended for family viewing. - Anne Bailey

Adult Programs Offering: April Dinner and Movie = Family-Friendly
"Sort of like Rocky for the middle school nerd set, . . . a warm, family-friendly underdog story" says the Rotten Tomatoes movie site about "Akeela and the Bee", the next feature of the USH Dinner and Movie series on Friday, April 13.

Two other reviewers wrote, "A film like this has to be seen. It's beautiful, it's encouraging, and it really inspires its audience to commit to something positive. Films such as this can not be merely forgotten."Film Threat "... manages to inspire without being sappy." New York Times) More

Clara Barton District Spring Conference April 14th 2007 More Information

Caring Network: We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give. ~ Winston Churchill - 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)

From the Editor: I have watched stewardship efforts for several years. Think how you would feel if given a list of stragglers to track down by phone during evenings. Get your pledge cards in now and have mercy on those good people of the Stewardship Sub-Council. More

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This Week’s Feature Articles

Theme for USH Next Year - Family - In conjunction with Reverend BJ, the leadership of the Council on Spiritual Life is presenting a 'pilot' opportunity next church year; we are asking the entire congregation to focus programming on a shared broad theme, which will be 'family.'

With some advance planning, consider how each council, sub-council, task or ministry group you are a part of might focus on some aspect of the ideogram "family." The idea is to allow for opportunities for cohesion and community building by encouraging different groups, across generations and across sub-councils, to be working with, exploring and experiencing similar themes. Kids who are working with a particular topic in RE might find that their parents or other adults in the congregation are hearing about the same in a worship service, or in an adult program offering, etc. It may be that some natural links for partnering and sharing resources among councils and sub-councils will become visible.

You could start by having some fun brainstorming the various meanings and nuances of meaning to the word family, and the values underlying it. Spiritual Life believes the conversations and connections we discover in this shared yearly theme will prove to be invaluable. Imagine the possibilities, year after year! - Marye Gail Harrison, At large Member of the Board on Spiritual Life and Nina Elgo, Chair of Council on Spiritual Life.

For the War, Against the War, How does USH Take Stands, or Should it? - The USH Task force on Public Policies will hold an open forum on Sunday, April 15 to explore the process used in the Quaker tradition to arrive at congregational positions on public policy and social justice issues. Debbie Humphries from the Hartford Friends Meeting, who will be the quest speaker in the USH pulpit that Sunday, will briefly present the Quaker process and then lead a discussion that will inform the efforts of the Task force on Public Policies to develop a recommended USH process for bringing important social justice issues before the congregation. The forum will take place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. on Sunday, April 15 in the Chapel. All are welcome.

Meditation Sanctuary Now Open - The USH Meditation Sanctuary, located to the right as you face the Chapel, is now open for individual silent meditation and scheduled meditative programs. Enter through Emerson, where you are requested to leave shoes, coats, and personal items, then go through the sliding door into the meditation area. The space is still somewhat ‘under construction’, as far as décor, cushions, etc. are concerned, but is entirely practical for individual and group meditation. The Sanctuary is open for individual meditation:

- weekdays from 9:00AM to 3:00 PM (except holiday closings);
- and at other times when the building is open for other programs and activities,
- except during USH congregational worship services and scheduled meditative programs. (See schedule by the door for dates and times of scheduled programs occurring in the Meditation Sanctuary.)

If you are interested in contributing effort or materials to the development and maintenance of the Meditation Sanctuary, please contact Margaret Leicach (860 214-3974 or mbleicach(at symbol)comcast.net)

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

ON THE CALENDAR:

Thursday, March 29
7:00 pm An Amazing Journey, Library

Sunday, April 1
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 Youth Group Soup Making, Kitchen
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
12:30 pm Religious Education Talkback, Chapel
1:00 pm Champagne Brunch benefiting Love Makes a Family, Fellowship Hall
4:00 pm Worship Associates, Minister’s Study

Monday, April 2
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Murray
7:00 pm Pathways to Membership, Library

Tuesday, April 3
7:00 pm Religious Education, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, April 4
10:00 – 11:00 am Staff Meeting, Minister’s Study (OFFICE CLOSED)
6:00 pm Buddhism, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir, Sanctuary

Thursday, April 5
6:30 pm Stewardship, Servetus
7:00 pm An Amazing Journey, Library

Saturday, April 7
9:00 am – 12:00 noon B&G Work Day, Building wide and Grounds
10:00 am Worship Associates Training, Minister’s Study

Sunday, April 8, EASTER SUNDAY
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
10:15 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:30 am Chalice Choir, Emerson
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm "C3" Cubed, Minister's Study

To get on the calendar, call 233.9897

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)

External Events and Educational Notes

Did You Know? - Excerpts from, The Solution is You, by Laurie David -

Defrost your freezer. When ice builds up it actually requires more energy to keep it cold. Only run your dishwasher when it's full. Don't pre-rinse dishes. Don't over-dry your laundry. Hang things to dry when you can. Clean vents and change filters. (When your dryer filter is clogged, the dryer needs more energy to run.)

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 03/29/07)