USH-Enews April 5, 2007 Print Only Edition

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This is the print only edition of the USH-Enews. Photos and other graphical elements have been removed. Print is mostly black on white.

he 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.

Sunday - 8 April - Extreme Unction and Easter -The Easter Story shimmers with promise that we can experience resurrection in many ways and realms of life, so long as we are willing to pass through the "tomb." How might a symbolic discipline of ‘Extreme Unction’ draw us into newness of life?

Music: - for our Easter service both the children’s and adults’ choirs will sing selections from Handel’s oratorio ‘Judas Maccabeus.’ Although “See the conq’ring hero” was written about the triumphant Judah the Maccabee, it applies as well to the triumphant spirit of renewal at this springtime season. Our bass soloist David Kennedy sings “The Trumpet Shall Sound” from Handel’s Messiah. In a lighter vein, the Chalice Choir sings “every little star must shine, shine, shine” in the “Rabbit Song.”

From the Editor: As BJ is probably learning, the arrival of spring in New England can be a difficult birth and not without retreat to winter tantrums. However, oh hearty New Englanders, we do need you at the B&G workday on Saturday! More

The Comfort and Challenge of Our Faith - It was spring (opening hymn “Lo, the Earth Awakes Again”); it was Palm Sunday; it was Passover; it was about hunger, mental illness, Jesus and Michael Servetus. In short, it was a wide variety of thoughtful topics discussed during the April 1 Sunday service.

Carolyn Cartland, introduced by Rev. BJ as “a tireless advocate for change,” delivered a testimonial on the many social justice advances she has seen and worked for during her 12 years as a USH member. Currently head of the Council on Social Justice’s Disabilities Sub-Council, she said that when she joined, she thought social justice was not part of a church. “Boy, was I wrong!” she admitted. Some of the “activities of heart and mind and body” she listed were our tutoring work, becoming a welcoming congregation, our Caring Network, and the many ways we have made the USH accessible—including the chancel lift that made it possible for Carolyn, in her wheelchair, to address us from the Chancel Sunday.

Carolyn reminded the congregation that today’s was the 15th annual Disability Sunday. Her closing words about mental health—“one more way we can care for each other and ourselves”—led to Rev. BJ’s sermon on The Comfort and the Challenge of Our Faith.

Rev. BJ suggested that “we are charged by our faith to remove all barriers to persons with disabilities.” Disability is us, is the “human condition” she said, but the particular disability of mental health is less visible than some. We can confront this disability in several ways--by social witness, social education and social action. Using her personal experiences as examples, Rev. BJ reminded us to remember there are, among us, persons and families struggling with mental health issues.

In her talk to the children, Rev. BJ compared Jesus and Michael Servetus, both of whom she called reformers and both of whom were killed for their views. To her adult congregation, Rev. BJ said these persons called folk to grow deeper in spirit and faith. “Every one of us is only temporarily able,” she reminded us.

A frank and honest report on what it’s like to live on $4 per day ( a dollar more than Connecticut’s food stamp allotment) was delivered by USH member Virginia deLima, who completed her month-long experiment last Saturday. Virginia used her month’s $112 to buy two chickens (from which she made 20 meals, including soup from the bones), eggs, rice, beans, and fruit and vegetables from the “rotten rack.” She went from considering the task a challenge to panic, to a desperate need for community, to resentment of her neighbors’ barbecue.

Sunday’s music was as diverse as the topics discussed. “Ev’ry Time I Feel the Spirit” was a foot-stamping musical Call to Worship by the choir which garnered spontaneous applause. Delightful pieces by Haydn and Shostakovich were performed by USH member Bill Willett and his Nutmeg Woodwind Quintet. And the congregation got to sing hymn 263, “When Jesus Looked from Olivet,” introduced by Rev. BJ with the comment, “You don’t know this one.” It probably would have been safe to say we didn’t even know it was included in our hymnal. - Kayla Costenoble

Love Makes a Family Fundraiser a Success - Sunday, April 1st, 45 USH members, friends and family came together for a lovely Champagne Brunch in Fellowship Hall to raise funds and raise awareness for marriage equality for same-sex couples in Connecticut. All proceeds from the event are donated to Love Makes a Family, the CT coalition working for marriage equality. People began the afternoon sipping mimosas enjoying an array of lovely appetizers including pate’, cheese and crackers, dips and vegetables. Then came a feast of turkey, ham, shrimp, casseroles and salads. Our banquet ended with coffee and heart shaped chocolate desserts.

Peg Otto spoke for a few minutes to thank all those who worked so hard to create the event and especially thanked the guests for their kind support of marriage equality. The marriage bill is being debated right now at our states Capital and Peg urged guests to help raise awareness about the bill and the need to make marriage an “inclusive right for all”. You can contact your legislator by going to www.lmfct.org and clicking on “Contact Your Legislators”. A total of $1,750 was raised at this joyful event with donations still arriving. Anyone who missed this event but is interested in contributing can contact Peg at pegotto(at symbol)lmfct.org.

A spring clean up day is scheduled for Saturday Morning April 7th 9 AM to 12 Noon. It is a time to clean up the debris left ..

from winter storms on the grounds and otherwise clean up the Meeting House before the Easter Sunday Service and, we fervently hope, the warmer season. Yes, this is yard work and you can do it! Notice Roy's smile.

Volunteers should contact Ed Sax so he will know you will be available and can schedule tasks and tools as necessary. If you have not done this, come anyway. We need you.

A Perfect 10? Look Again? - Remember our most recent Pathways to Membership class, and beautiful baby Hannah just born to new members Matt and Nicole Donzela? Well, there's more news from that the class!

New member Katie Robbins and Schuyler Salz have been dating for almost five years, and at the end of February Katie accepted Schuyler's proposal of marriage. Schuyler planned a surprise romantic getaway to Vermont where he took her on a sleigh ride and asked her to marry him. Although they are waiting until the fall of 2009 to get married, they are having a wonderful time planning their wedding and dreaming about the future. Congratulations! - BJ

Do You Know a Need? - If you know of anyone who might be helped with a meal or two from the Caring Network freezer, please contact Nancy Reed, Kathy Herzog or Janice Newton.

Stewardship Effort Continues - More.

For the War, Against the War, How does USH Take Stands, or Should it? - April 15 12:30 PM Chapel More

Photo Opportunity - Check your name on the photo sheet and if you are listed, see Anne Bailey or David Newton during coffee hour for a quick photo. It's a snap! What is this all about?

W A Education Grant Applications Available in April - The Women’s Alliance Educational Grant applications are available now through the end of April and are due by Sunday, April 29.

Applicants should be pursuing study at a post high school level, with priority given to those with minimal scholarship aid or loan sources. Grants are small (generally under $500), 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 Educational Grant poster on the Alliance bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. They are also available through the USH home page, by clicking on the link under the picture. All forms should be submitted by hand or snail mail to the address listed on the applications.

An application can also be mailed to you; please contact 860-693-4269 for further help and information.

Don't miss the last Supper & Game Night of the season on April 20, 6 to 8:30 PM. Please note: since there are members and friends of USH who have food allergies or food intolerances, and in order to make their participation a safe experience, please include with your food contribution a card listing all ingredients. Thanks! More

Adult Programs Offering: “Akeelah and the Bee” – Friday Night Dinner & Movie Feature - "There's some welcome steel to the story that keeps it from being a fairy tale, but doesn't prevent it

from being magical." That’s one reviewer’s reaction to the movie “Akeelah and the Bee” which will be featured at Dinner and a Movie Night, Friday, April 13. Another reviewer wrote, "heartwarming feel good story about an underdog trying to overcome the odds and achieve fantastic victory, while also winning over an entire community inspired by her bravery." More

Caring Network: Service to others is the rent you pay for your room here on earth. ~Mohammed Ali - 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.

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 – 2:00 pm Worship Associates Training, Ballou

Sunday, April 8, EASTER SUNDAY
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
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

Monday, April 9
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Murray
7:00 pm Pathways to Membership, Library
7:00 pm Pathways childcare, Nursery

Tuesday, April 10
6:00 pm Installation Banner, Servetus
7:00 pm Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, April 11
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 12
7:00 pm An Amazing Journey, Library

Friday, April 13
5:30 pm Dinner and Movie, Akeela and the Bee, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, April 14
8:00 am – 4:00 pm Clara Barton UU District Spring Conference, Dudley, Mass.

Sunday, April 15
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 Comfort Shawl, Lower Lobby
10:00 am Disabilities, Library
10:00 am B&G, Murray
10:00 am Welcoming Congregation, Ballou
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 Installation Banner, Classroom D
12:30 pm Task Force on Public Policies Info Session, Chapel

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)

Interim Congregational Administrator Hired - If you stop by the UUFR offices on a weekday afternoon, you'll notice that the corner office has a new occupant. Following the recent departure of our Congregational Administrator, the Board and Personnel Committee approved the hiring of Mary Lovelock to temporarily fill the position until a permanent replacement can be found. As a member, Mary is not eligible for permanent employment at the Fellowship, but as Rev. Tom [Rhodes] says, "her experience, education, and temperament make her an ideal interim C.A."

Mary's e-mail address will be the same as her predecessor's: manager(at symbol)uufr.org Please feel free to send Mary a congratulatory e-mail! - W. Robert Chapman

If every family replaced just one roll of toilet paper with one recycled post-consumer waste roll, 424,000 trees would remain standing. Did you know that? Will you make a difference now that you do know it? Would the companies that make Kleenex, Puffs, Bounty, Scott, Cottonelle and Charmin start using recycled paper if they knew you wouldn't buy their product if they don't.

In this sprit Marion Kelliher notes: The Direct Marketing Association's (DMA) Mail Preference Service lets you opt out of receiving direct mail marketing from many national companies for five years. Think trees standing! When you register with this service, your name will be put on a "delete" file and made available to direct-mail marketers. It may take three months before you notice less mail. Also, your registration will not stop mailings from organizations that are not registered with the DMA's Mail Preference Service. To register with DMA, send your letter to:

Direct Marketing Association
Mail Preference Service
PO Box 643
Carmel, NY 10512

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