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50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333
Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com
Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD
USH-Enews For April 3 & 10, 2008
Jump to: Calendar; What's happening; A matter of opinion; External events; Further Down the Road; Did You Know?; Lay Listener of the WeekThe 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.
Red-tailed Hawk Butteo jamaicensis in Spring Air
Worshipping Together Since 1830 - Services at 9 & 11 AM
This is a Two Week Issue
Sunday - 6 April - Hindu Wedding Traditions -- Sheenu Srinivasan - For almost 30 years Sheenu has conducted Hindu Vedic weddings with the assistance of his wife Kamla. In some weddings both bride and groom were Hindus, but many others were interfaith. Working with the families, and other clergy, he has tailored ceremonies to bring together couples from different parts of India and couples where one partner was a Christian, Jew, or Pagan. Through these weddings, he has discovered the common threads that run through many cultures and faiths. For more information check his website.
Srinivasan is an engineer by training, and his professional career has focused on turbo machinery (especially jet engines) and smart structures. He also has deep interests in politics and religion. In 1979 he helped found the Connecticut Valley Hindu Temple Society, in Middletown, Connecticut. He was elected to two terms on the Glastonbury, Connecticut Town Council. He is also the author of THE VEDIC WEDDING; ORIGINS, TRADITION AND PRACTICE, which recently won the Best Book Award form USA Book News in the Eastern Religions Category.
Joining him Sunday will be Garrett Field and Aaron Paige, two musicians trained in Indian music (see Musical Notes for more details).
Immediately following each service during coffee hour, Srinivasan will be available to sign copies of his book for those who are interested. Additionally, Field and Paige will perform in the Sanctuary during the coffee hour from 10 -11 AM between the two services. Please plan to come early or to stay late for both of these events! The youth group will be making and selling soup after the 11 AM service.Music - 4/6 - We have an extraordinary gift of music at this service devoted to the Hindu wedding ceremony. Two young musicians trained (at Wesleyan) in the Carnatic musical styles of South India will be performing some of the music discussed by speaker Sheenu Srinivasan. In addition, between the services they will offer a brief lecture-demonstration of the instruments and techniques used in this ancient and grippingly spiritual style of playing. Be sure to attend either service and plan also to spend just a little extra time enjoying additional Indian music at the first coffee hour between services.
Since the early 20th century, Carnatic South Indian classical music concerts have begun with varnams, a compositional genre divided into two main sections, each with text and svara solfege (the do-re-mi of Indian music). For example, the raga Abhogi is the Carnatic equivalent of the Western major scale.
Thyagaraja is one of the three most celebrated of the South Indian "Trinity" composers. His compositions were vehicles for bhakti or devotional mysticism. One of these masterfully uses 108 different names of Shiva.Thillana is a compositional genre created for South Indian classical dance. It uses spoken rhythms of South Indian percussion in the beginning, and ends with lyrics. In the early 20th century, Carnatic musicians began singing Thillanas at the end of their concerts.
REflections on Children's Programming
Religious Education Open House
Please join the students and teachers for an Open House on Sunday, April 27th after the RE Celebration Service at 11 am. Come experience the spirit of our children and their pursuit of truth and meaning. Or just come for the cookies!Sunday 13 April - Honoring Our Roots in Eastern Europe - The first Unitarians shaped and were shaped by historical and cultural circumstances, as are modern day Unitarians in that same region of the world. What wisdom might we glean from them? - Rev. Jamestone - Our testimonial voice will be Louise Schmoll.
Music - 13 April - Transylvania, the home of our partner church in Lupeny, has produced a wealth of music, both folk songs and fascinating classical-tradition pieces often based on that folk repertoire. The choir will sing an Agnus Dei by Selmeczi from a copy given to us by the director of a Transylvanian Unitarian high school choir that traveled through America.
What Else is Happening & AnnouncementsSunday 5/25 Service: Memorial Day Speakers Sought - An Enchanting OPPORTUNITY! Our Worship Arts Sub council is exploring some innovative and inclusive programming for Sunday Services. Folks who have interest in a particular theme will be identified, and then work as a 'theme team' to create an informative, insightful, and inspirational experience of that theme during a worship service. We look forward to hearing from you regarding what themes you'd like to be considered, AND indicating what themes you'd like to help create a service around.
Our first Theme Team creation will be on the Memorial Day service on May 25. If you have stories to share, have served in the military during a war, have lost loved ones due to war, or would like to help insure a meaningful celebration of the service and sacrifice of war related dead, we'd love to have your voice around the table. If you are interested in making contribution to the planning and/or participating in this exciting effort please contact Fred Louis or David Principe as soon as possible.Art News - The exhibit opening Sunday April 6th showcases some of the work of a well known multi-talented artist, and her name is Carol Shaw Stoeke. Her paintings will be on display through Sunday May 4th. - Sara Sturges
Sisterhood at its Best - – sponsored by the Unitarian Alliance Ministry for Women Sunday, April 6 at 1:00 PM More
Oopse - UAMW. The page in the April Messenger left off the line: make
checks payable to the Unitarian Society with Alliance in the memo. Also, the optional $25 dues is for the Unitarian Universalist Women's Federation, thus UUWF. (Not the UUMF as printed) - Louise Schmoll"Picking up the Pieces" is the title of the UU-UNO spring conference April 3-5 in NYC. More
Unitarian Society of Hartford Presents SANKOFA KUUMBA, An African Dance and Drumming Event for the Entire Family:
What: The Performing Arts Committee of the Unitarian Society of Hartford concludes its 2007-2008 Season with dancing, drumming and storytelling that celebrates the arts, traditions and history of Africa and the cultures of the African diaspora. Hartford's own Sankofa Kuumba Cultural Arts Consortium will dazzle and educate your family on this lively, interactive trip to Africa, the Caribbean and the U.S.
When: Saturday, April 26th at 7 p.m.
Where: Unitarian Meeting House, 50 Bloomfield Ave., Hartford, CT (near the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Rte. 44/Albany Ave.)
How: $10 adults/$5 for children - Special Family Pricing - $20 maximum cost per family!
For reservations, call (860) 233-9897
For more information, visit www.ushartford.com or www.sankofakuumba.org.
From the Adult Programs Sub-Council:
Register by Sunday, April 6 - Working with Nonviolence: The Ethical Traditions of Gandhi and the Dalai Lama in the Modern World, Three Tuesdays, April 15, 22, 29, 7-9 PM. Registration required.Ellison Findly, a professor at Trinity College, teaches religions of Asia, Hinduism, Buddhism, and traditions of nonviolence. She was a pulpit guest last June when she spoke to us about, "The Practice of Compassion." Read the June sermon online. Just click here : More
You may register for this program on this Sunday during the coffee hours or by calling the office at 233-9897.
Sunday After-Service Program, April 6, 1-3 PM. Unitarian Alliance of Ministry to Women (UAMW) invites all women in the USH community to a showing of "Strangers in Good Company." There is no fee nor is reservation necessary.
More
Friday Dinner and Movie, April 11. We'll journey to Paris via food and film. We'll begin in Fellowship Hall with vin ordinaire et popcorn at 5:30, dine on coq au vin (or vegetarian option) at 6, with the delightful movie "Avenue Montaigne" at 7.
The Washington Post called it "a delicately charming fable set in Paris." Leona Page was so enchanted, she saw it six times and will lead our discussion following the showing.
You can reserve - by April 7, s'il vous plait - at the registration table during Sunday coffee hours or by calling the USH office at 233-9897. Be sure to request a veg option then, if that's what you prefer.
Stop by the Programs Table in Fellowship Hall on Sunday during the Coffee Hours to register and to offer any suggestions you may have for the Fall Semester. You may also want to take a look at the selections in the Book Cart - some of which are about Unitarian Universalism.
Caring Network - We must not, in trying to think about how we can make a big difference, ignore the small daily differences we can make which, over time, add up to big differences that we often cannot foresee. - Marian Wright-Edelman - You are the ears of the Caring Network. Diana Heymann is the Chair of the Caring Network. Please tell Diana (heydiana(at symbol)comcast.net) 860.461.0908, or call the office when you learn of any 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)
Help plan a picnic and - The annual business meeting this year will hopefully include a revival of the end of year picnic some of you have loved in past, AND the introduction of something from BJ's past she refers to as -"'singing and dinner on the ground"'
There will be one service on June 8, with focus on GLBT and marriage issues, a timely topic following up on Hartford's Pride program at Bushnell Park on June 7.
It can be loads of fun, inspiration, and community building, and perhaps even interest a few more folks toward church leadership positions.
We'll need folks to figure out how to do lunch, how to do the community sing-a-long part, and how to make the annual meeting be a spiritually uplifting event as well as accomplish the business required.Want to help? Send a note along to Bill Young and Heather Ferguson-Hull, our incoming president telling them you would like to help in the planning of the event. They are listed in the directory or send the editor a note and it will be passed along.
Is anyone interested in having a lot of fun on Father’s Day, Sunday, June 15? Yes, of course you are! More
On the CalendarThursday, April 3
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
3:30 pm Fitzgerald rehearsal, Sanctuary
Friday, April 4
1:00 pm Transitional Group, Library
5:30 pm Family Friendly SGM, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, April 5
1:00 pm Pastels for Beginners, Servetus
Evening Circle Dinners, various homes
Sunday, April 6
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
9:30 am Great Decisions, Library
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Coming of Age, Fuller
10:00 am Youth Group Soup Making, Kitchen
10:15 am South Indian Carnatic Music, Sanctuary
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm Photo Directory Pictures Taken, Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm Film showing, The Company of Strangers, Fellowship Hall
1:30 pm Eat by Choice, Not by Habit, Servetus
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel, then Fellowship Hall
Monday, April 7
2:45 pm Rental, Library
7:00 pm NVC 4 Practice, Emerson
7:00 pm Pathways to Membership, Library
Tuesday, April 8
6:30 pm Board of Directors, Library
6:45 pm Caring Network Sub-council, Ballou
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, April 9
5:15 pm Tai Chi for Health, Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
7:30 pm NVC practice group, Emerson
Thursday, April 10
5:30 pm Lay Listeners, Emerson
6:30 pm Rental, Fellowship Hall
Friday, April 11
4:00 pm NVC Facilitator Training, Emerson
5:30 pm Dinner and Movie, Avenue Montaigne, Fellowship Hall
5:30 pm Family Friendly SGM, Library
Saturday, April 12
10:00 am Rental, Chapel
10:00 am Worship Associates Training, Fellowship Hall
5:30 pm Rental, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, April 13
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Youth Choir, Chapel
10:00 am Coming of Age, Fuller
10:00 am Building and Grounds, Murray
10:00 am Comfort Shawl Knitters, Lower Lobby
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm Photo Directory Pictures Taken, Fellowship Hall
12:30 pm BTWWDA, Emerson
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Tuesday, April 15
12:00 pm ICEJ Clergy, Library
7:00 pm Working With Non-violence: Ethical Traditions, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, April 16
2:45 pm Rental, Library
5:15 pm Tai Chi for Health, Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
7:30 pm NVC practice group, Emerson
Thursday, April 17
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
3:30 pm Fitzgerald rehearsal, Sanctuary
Friday, April 18
1:00 pm Transitional Group, Library
Saturday, April 19
9:00 am - 10:00 pm Rental, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, April 20
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Coming of Age, Fuller
10:00 am Disabilities, Library
10:00 am Youth Choir, Chapel
10:30 am Children’s Choir
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm UAMW Bake Sale, Fellowship Hall
1:30 pm Eat by Choice, Not by Habit, Servetus
1:30 pm Fishburn Memorial, 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!Our USH Photo Directory – Is your photo missing from the Directory? April will be photo-taking month. More
External Events and Educational Notes
Getting to Know the Lay Listeners
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
Did You Know? - In China more than one million unsold copies of British singer song writer Robbie Williams's latest CD will be used to resurface roads.
From the Editor:
This Week’s Feature Articles
Push Pull Strategy
What About Those Testimonials?
A Love Letter to the Choir and the Congregation
Anti-War Demonstration in Hartford
Tape Again, and Again
A Weekend Honoring Women
Unitarian Society of Hartford Presents Sankofa KuumbaPush Pull Strategy - In production management and marketing, it is said that the best system ‘pulls’ rather than ‘pushes.’ That is, demand for something pulls it into existence more fruitfully than having it pushed into creation by a supplier. A customer "pulls" things towards themselves, while a producer "pushes" things toward customers.
You and I at USH can ‘push’ programs, projects, and events on each other and our community, or we can listen deeply to the future, which is calling us, drawing us toward Herself. In an effort to hear the voice of our dreams more fully, some 50 of us participated in the following guided imagery at our planning Charrette recently.
I invite you to take a few minutes of solitude and allow our future as a church family to draw you toward her green and sunny inner and outer space.
“The USH I’d Like” - Imagine it’s a Sunday morning 10 years from now. You are arriving at the Meeting House of your dreams. Your car comes around a curve and you enter our parking lot. As you approach our facility what do you notice? Make a mental note of our grounds and gardens. You are approaching the door. What or who do you see?
You’ve just stepped through the door of the Meeting House of your dreams. Go ahead. Close your eyes and go there for five minutes.
What do your senses perceive as you walk through the halls and peek in some of the rooms? What do you see, hear, smell….taste…..What attracts a touch from you?
What are you feeling at this moment? What do you wonder?
You hear singing. Oh, it might be the worship service in the congregational home of your dreams. Locate the Sanctuary. What are the ways you settle those who are with you as you prepare to enter the Sanctuary? Slip into the back to sit.
What is happening in worship that invites you to join in? Today you experience a worship service that’s perfect for you. What is happening to make it so? What are you thinking and feeling at this moment?
As the service ends you look at the information papers that are available. As you glance at them, what opportunities do you notice that interest you in the weeks ahead? What other kinds of worship services are offered here besides this one?
When the service is over, where do you want to go next? Is there a coffee hour? Where in the building will you go? Is there anyone you want to be sure to see or anything you want to avoid?
As you leave, you pass information boards. Someone you do not know is looking at them. They turn and ask you a question. Chat with this person a moment in response. How do you feel after the encounter? What have you noted on the information boards that calls out to you? Notice at upcoming event that delights you. Notice a program that surprises you. Do any of the events and programs cause concern for you?
You hear the church crowd moving out. What time is it? Time for you to depart. How do you gather those who came with you? What do they tell you about their time at the Meeting House today? As you join others leaving, do you see anyone you know? Would you like to tell anyone goodbye?
As you return to your vehicle, you smile to yourself. Turn and take one last look at the house of meeting, green and growing still, robust in spirit and service. It is just as you once dreamed. What are you feeling and saying to yourself about your experience?
Sometime this fine first week of April, tell someone about the Meeting House of YOUR dreams. - Rev BJ
What About Those Testimonials? - What a joy it is to get to know our members more deeply as they share something of their faith as a UU and their commitment to USH from the pulpit. (Did you know that some of our testimonials are on the church web site?) Testimonials were one of the things that attracted me to USH, and I’d like to ask that YOU consider applying to bring us a testimonial in the coming year.
For me, a testimonial is primarily to nurture the religious community in these ways:
1 - giving the speaker a chance to reflect on their own life of spirit and service—to access and articulate what may have been until now inchoate faith and values, AND to make space for a personal witness to the merit of some particular area of service they may find nurturing and helpful.
2 - to raise energy, curiosity, and enthusiasm in listeners for participating in the church community and getting to know our people and our faith better.
3 - to introduce a broad array of members to each other over time.
If you have found a voice among us, and would like to share something of how you are growing in spirit and in service, through participation in some program at USH or doing some service ministry in the community, do send me an email stating your interest in talking about a testimonial. I’ll be glad to help with the thinking and writing, as requested!
AND it’s not too late to apply to be a Worship Associate for the coming year, or to express interest in delivering a lay sermon! Training begins this month. - Rev. BJ
A Love Letter to the Choir and the Congregation -
Dear, Dear Friends, - You have completely overwhelmed me this year. I'm still on a "high" from Sunday morning's presentations, but they are in the context of an extraordinary year's array of gifts. Oh my goodness, what a set of surprises!
I knew something special was planned on September 30th, but I had no idea you'd be able to pull together so many great musicians who had become close friends (and family) over the course of my time at USH. The "event" was spectacular, deeply moving and permanently memorable, even without the magnificent album of photos, programs and memories, and the touching plaque on the wall next to that of my mentor, Bill Willett.
You told me the music stand was coming, but in reality it's far more than I ever imagined. The workmanship is stunning, the design is truly exquisite, yet it's thoroughly practical and will be gratefully and joyfully used on Wednesdays and Sundays for years to come.
And an enormous check besides! -- now that will be a challenge for me. I'm so used to making do, stretching each dollar, both at home and at work, so largesse isn't easy for me to deal with. But I'll work on it, once I can wrap my mind around it all.
Part of what I most enjoy about the Meeting House is the diversity of possibilities while striving towards excellence. In your gifts to me, particularly with the Japanese character for music embedded in the wood, you've represented a spectrum of cultures and styles that reflects my preferences and efforts. In both symbolism and actuality you've brought it all together.
Thank you, dear friends, for showering me with gifts, but especially for making music with me and allowing me to make music with and for you. You are an extraordinary and generous Society, a remarkably musical and devoted Choir, and a loving and fascinating group of people. You have all made me very, very happy.
With deep gratitude, - Mattie
Anti-War Demonstration in Hartford March 19th. Various folks here participated. This link as long as it lasts will tell you what happened.
(Editor's note) When various areas of the Meeting House were fixed up including David, Fellowship Hall and various other spaces, an enormous effort was deployed to remove gummy tape from the plexiglas, glass and concrete surfaces.
Once done, a request was made to modestly change our habits, to keep Fellowship Hall and especially its new wall panels clear of articles, posters and similar items so it would always look nice for receptions and various other events.
To meet the need for advertising and publishing items of note, temporary bulletin boards have been manufactured to come out on Sunday after the Services and be put away thereafter until next needed.
In addition, recognizing the continuing desire to stick posters on some cement services, all were asked to use blue painter's tape, which tape is available in the office on request. It is manufactured for temporary use and to adhere lightly to surfaces.
Several hundred dollars was spent to replace the scored and cratered plexiglas front door with new glass. The desire to keep it clean and nice followed in logical order.
It takes several hours to paint one door, say to the downstairs restrooms. It takes something in the order of three seconds to remove the paint stuck to masking tape applied to the surface for a note of some kind. The purpose of these comments is to reach as many as possible informing everyone of what is desired. The first requirement of cooperation is knowledge.
Carol's Article below expresses the frustration of the cleaners, few in number, who have donated their valuable time for the rest of us.
Please hear her cry and feel the pain. Working together, we can "do this" too! - DCN
Tape Police -Folks, Reading the USH-Enews about "Bringing in the Green" reminds me: With all due respect, I am officially resigning as "Tape Police."
I am also officially resigning from tape adhesive removal and damage repair. I still believe that leaving tape adhesive on walls and windows makes even the cleaned areas still look dirty. Removing tape adhesive makes the already not-so-fun Meetinghouse cleaning jobs longer and harder. In some cases expensive or noxious cleaners are required.
I've recently come to understand there is no longer consensus or leadership support on this topic due to:
1) Sentiments expressed in the Bringing in the Green skit,
2) the fact that despite having had the reasons explained to them, the youth group continues to tape up their posters (last fall with masking tape, which also removed strips of stain from the ambulatory walls),
3) an adult member at the recent UPA event who felt strongly that she needed to scotch tape a poster to the glass front door contrary to an appeal not to do so by another member who has spend many long days cleaning and painting our building, including that very morning,
Without support, it makes no sense to continue to "police" this issue.
Following the cleanup and sprucing of our lobbies, David's den and Fellowship hall, I'd mistakenly assumed that the leadership and adult population supported the idea of keeping our public areas attractive in a manner similar to what many of us do in our own homes, children and teenagers rooms notwithstanding.
This was based on the many favorable comments we received for all the sprucing up work, and the board's resulting action to increase rental rates for much-needed income.
I know there are others besides myself who feel a bit disrespected after all the time and sometimes out-of-pocket contributions we've made to make and keep our spaces functional, sanitary and attractive for everyone's benefit.
I hope the folks who disagree, including the teachers and parents responsible setting an example and providing leadership to our children & youth, will make a greater effort than have those in the past, to ensure that they fully and completely clean up after themselves &/or the kids, and will step up to personally repair any careless or unnecessary damage their activities cause to our spaces.
Caring for our shared spaces is similar to financial Stewardship. Either we each take individual responsibility or, someone else has to do it for us, if it is to be done at all. Each time someone steps up for you, there are resources available for the greater good.
Cleaning/repairing careless or unnecessary messes and damage is neither part of our Custodian or Sexton's job descriptions, nor is it part of B&G's or any other standing group's mission to do for you.
As someone who cares about our spaces and has put my energy and contributions where my mouth is for a number of years, I expect I will continue to voice my opinion when issues surrounding this topic emerge. – Carol Sexton
A Weekend Honoring Women - Wow! What a weekend. Our special place, the USH Meeting House, was home to a rabbi, a cantor, composers and performers, all women.
You may or may not know that March was National Women’s History Month and, as part of that, we hosted the 8th annual Women Composers Festival on Friday and Saturday and welcomed Rabbi Andrea Cohen-Kiener to our pulpit on Sunday.
Much of Sunday’s service centered around music and congregation participation. Last September, we honored long-time (two plus decades) choir director Mattie Banzhaf for her devoted service. On Sunday, she was finally able to unveil her special gift—a beautiful hand-made wooden conductor’s stand (see above). Mattie hugged her gift, then used it to conduct the choir.
The congregation, led by Mattie and choir, became part of the anthem, joining in “Ma Gadlu” composed by Rabbi Shefa Gold, an internationally known teacher in the Jewish Renewal Movement. (Note: All music in the service was composed by women.) Rabbi Cohen-Kiener led us in a moving round “Kosi R’vaya” (My Cup Runneth Over); half of us sang the cup part and half became the flowing water.
Sunday was not Rabbi Cohen-Kiener’s first appearance at the USH. She serves Congregation Pnai Or of Central Connecticut and is also director of the Inter religious Eco-Justice Network. She confessed, “I go to church as much as I go to synagogue, something not all rabbis can say.”
Talking about the “interesting times” in which we live, Rabbi Cohen-Kiener said we are surrounded by pressures, opportunity for change and many challenges. This forces us to re-consider things that might have made sense and might have worked in the past.It is in the left brain (the busy mind), she said, that we judge, estimate, remember. But it is in the quieter right brain that we witness our life experiences. It is here we remember that we “are part of the living universe” and that never changes. Although we all have, or will, experienced suffering, there are also opportunities to be alive and aware during difficult moments
How to transfer this to the political arena? Rabbi Cohen-Kierner suggested that we practice humility, think about things together, develop a deep curiosity about calling things to public attention, and make our lives richer with spiritual values. “Consumerism,” she suggested, “is an elephant in the room.”
On Saturday, there were three musical events at the Meeting House—a composers’ workshop and two concerts presented by the Concert Pro Femina Vocal Ensemble. Our own Mattie Banzhaf is co-director of the group (what else?) and Patrice Fitzgerald sings in the ensemble. (Note; Patrice, in her moving testimonial during Sunday’s service, said, “Music opens my heart and the spirit moves through me” The busy Patrice organized and has been chair of the USH’s Performing Arts Sub Council for the three years of its existence.)
Your reporter attended the Saturday evening concert. It was cold at the Meeting House Saturday night, but the performers had been warmed by the hospitality and the lunch and dinner provided by USH women under the able direction of Louise Schmoll and her helpers.
And what an eclectic bunch of music we were privileged to hear, all composed by women, many of whom were at the concert. Selections ranged from a 1690 opus by a nun to musical compositions using poems by William Wordsworth, Percy Bysshe Shelly and John Keats,. There was an upbeat rendition of Psalm 100 (“Make a joyful noise unto the Lord”), sung in Hebrew by Cantor Anita Schubert (unheard of not that many years ago) while the song’s author Sylvia Goldstein played her composition on the piano.
We heard the pure and sparkling voices of the vocal ensemble in half a dozen varied pieces. Two that particularly appealed to me were “Wanting Memories” with its catchy “to see the breath of the world through my own eyes” and the concluding foot-tapping, finger-snapping “Bones Be Good” in which a few men were permitted to participate. - Kayla CostenobleNuts 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 HartfordLet us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 04/02/08 11:00 PM)
