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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 April 15 & 22, 2010
Jump to: Sunday Service; Calendar; What's Happening; Feature Articles; External Events; Further Down the Road; Social Justice Journeys; Green Topics ; A Matter of Opinion; USH Stats
Forget-me-nots (Photo by Carol Cooper)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 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.
Worshipping Together Since 1830
One Service 10:30 AMPlease Note - This is a two week issue.
(The April 18 service is Bring-a-Friend Sunday. If you have been thinking of introducing a friend or relative to our congregation, this is the perfect Sunday to do it: a timely Earth Day service, a presentation by Jen Cook on her travels in India, homemade soup by our youth group, and members of our Membership Sub-Council ready to provide a warm welcome to your guests. ( More)
Sunday 18 & 25 April - The Second and Third sermons in the series: Religious Naturalism: Loving Pachamama, Our Mother the Earth - Religious naturalism, a once-forgotten option in religious thinking, has made a revival. Very close to religious humanism, perhaps overlapping it, it seeks to explore and encourage religious ways of responding to the world or at least ways that are analogous to what we traditionally call religious. The difference between religious naturalism, as Rev. Jamestone defines it, and the humanism of classical humanists is a richer sense of our response to the world. Words like "mystery" and "openness" are more likely to be used by religious naturalists. In the debates between humanists and theists (classical or reversionary) religious naturalism as a viable option has often been forgotten, but no longer. - Rev. Jamestone, PhD
3rd Sunday services begin 'unofficially' with "morning songs" at 10:20 for those who enjoy congregational singing, and include a 1/2 hour "chapel sing" after coffee hour which follows the worship service.
Crossing India in an Autorickshaw - Jen Cook will provide us with a fascinating travelog of her trip through India. Join us in Fellowship Hall after services this Sunday, April 18. Soup will be for sale and the Alliance will provide popcorn and lemonade.
Music: April 18 – This “3rd Sunday” is a chance to join the singing, led by our Cantor Melissa Paul. Melissa also plans to sing Rev. BJ’s favorite song, David Brunner’s lovely “Song of the Earth Spirit,” as a solo. The music of the day will be paeans to the earth in honor of Earth Day.
Music: April 25 – Our Music Director, Mattie Banzhaf, noticed haiku (17-syllable Japanese poems) carved in stones during her travels in Japan. She composed a choral piece on “Fuurin ya,” an evocative haiku about a wind chime. The Choir presents this and other music from Asia, honoring Wesak, the birthday of Buddha, omnipresent throughout much of Asia.
REflections on Children's Programming
Religious Education Classes 4/25
Spirit Play: John Murray
Second & Third Grade: UU Superheroes: Beatrix Potter
Fourth & Fifth Grade: Spirit of Adventure: Peter Cooper:Jell-O Creations
Sixth & Seventh Grade: Buddhism
Eighth Grade: Coming of Age
Youth Group Activities: Discussion and Worship Planning
Gail Syring, DRE
What You Can Do For USH
Earth Day Pledge – Live more simply so others may simply live.
Q. Why Us?
A. We are a congregation that views gifts from the earth as far more than natural resources to be exploited. Our Seventh Principle is the “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”
Q. Why a Green Sanctuary?
A. By taking every measure possible to make our building and all activities in it environmentally conscious, we will visibly demonstrate our commitment.
Q. Why individual action?
A. All major social movements, from the anti-slavery crusade to women’s suffrage to desegregation, started at a grass roots, level. Although goverment and corporate action is a necessity, individuals must take
action themselves to lead the way for institutions.
Q. Why now?
A. Experts have been warning us for over 10 years to take immediate action to reduce consumption of fossil fuels. We’re running out of time before changes become irreversible.
We have the intelligence, knowledge and capability to act responsibly. All we need is the will.
Take the Pledge!
Earth Day Pledge – Live Simply So Others May Simply Live
1.*Reduce the thermostat setting at home by one degree and/or increase air conditioning setting by one degree; turn off plug strips with electronics plugged in when not in use. Leaving television sets, video games and other electronics plugged in when not in use can account for up to eight percent of your home energy consumption. Go to NRDC’s website to calculate how much this phantom energy is costing you.
2.*Reduce driving speed by two miles per hour when traveling 60 miles or more. Each gallon of gas burned releases 22 pounds of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. In a year, the average car emits five tons of carbon dioxide into the air. With over 120 million automobiles in the United States, automobile emissions account for 33 percent of all carbon dioxide and 45 percent of all nitrous oxide released into the sky, making the car the single largest contributor to global warming.
3.*Carpool/bike/walk 1x/month to the Meeting House or other event. 543 lbs CO2 saved by car pooling 1day/wk.
4.*Help wash the dishes at one event at the Meeting House this year to save on disposables. Save the resources and energy required to produce disposables and to reduce waste
5.* Reduce our trash by composting kitchen scraps, giving away items still useful and not buying heavily packaged items. Food that's thrown away winds up producing methane in landfills, a potent heat-trapping pollutant.
6.*Buy paper products made from recycled paper not virgin trees. 74% less air pollution+ 43% less water pollution to manufacture than virgin wood.
7.* Reduce meat consumption 1x/week. Farm animals consume nearly half the world's cereal produce. Growing grain to feed animals to turn them into meat is an inefficient business - an acre of cereals can produce five times more protein than an acre devoted to meat production. three liters of oil are required to produce one pound of beef.
8.* Reduce/eliminate herbicide and pesticide and chemical fertilizers on lands. 73 different kinds of pesticides have been found in groundwater, which is potential drinking water.
9.* Buy local foods. The food on the typical American family's dinner table has traveled an average of 1,500 miles. Find out where your food comes from.
10.* Sign up for an energy audit. Insulation, weather-stripping and sealing could save hundreds of pounds of heat-trapping pollutants a year. Call your utility company while subsidized audits are available.If you can’t do one of the above please join an environmental group and write your legislators about supporting clean energy legislation and other global warming initiatives. Thank-you!
Torch and Tango - An exotic musical evening is in store for those who come to the Unitarian Meeting House on Saturday April 17 at 7:30 for the “Torch & Tango” benefit concert! Join us for sizzling tangos in Spanish performed by Argentine native Gabriel Lofvall, accompanied by David Garrido Cid. Patrice Fitzgerald and Richard Leslie will sing torch songs and jazz, with Gabriel on piano. Richard will break out the trumpet for some hot licks.
Those who buy raffle tickets will have a chance to win a tango lesson at Arthur Murray or a CD of the Torch & Tango hits, signed by the artists.
Delicious munchies and beverages are included in the $15 admission fee — only $10 for students. Come along with us for an evening full of friends and fun... and get a taste of Argentina!
All artists are donating their time for this concert to benefit Vallis Musicae’s Argentina choir tour. Click here for more information.And, while we are on the subject of music, here is a neat reference to the program about the Women Composers Festival sent along by Patrice and Mattie. Just click here
The USH Men's Luncheon Group meets at noon on the third Tuesday of the month at Carmen Anthony's Restaurant, located on Route 44 in Avon.
The speaker for the meeting on Tuesday, April 20 will be Karl Peters whose topic is, "Is Religion Natural?"Social Justice Journeys (From the UUA) And from USH
Bruce Gagnon will speak at St James Church in West Hartford This Friday April 16, at 7 PM. He founded the Global Network Against Weapons & Nuclear Power in Space. He has worked on space issues for 27 years. A dynamic speaker.
Sponsored by West Harford Citizens for Peace & Justice. - IASC
Here’s a question for you! - Other than being members of our church what do Shai Cassell, Earl Costenoble, Kayla Costenoble, Milly Geetter, Diana Heymann, Bill LaPorte-Bryan, Mike Roy, Anne Stowe and Sheila Ward have in common?
Answer: They’re all volunteering to help students learn reading or math at Noah Webster School or Rawson School near the Meeting House.
Here’s another question for you.
How would you like to join them by volunteering once a week to tutor an elementary school student for an hour at your convenience in reading, or math or a middle school student in math?
Not sure! You might want to click on this link It's win-win for older tutors and kids. Read the article before you decide.
If you’re still not sure or you’ve decided you want to do more for your community, contact Shai Cassell at 860-930-4278 or scassell54@comcast.net, Earl Costenoble at 860-243-2425 or noblekay@aol.com or Bill LaPorte-Bryan at 860-953-0192 or BillLB@ushartford.com.Jean Petty Memorial Fund Grants - The Information and Advocacy Sub-Council is seeking potential grant recipients to aid their goals towards peace, justice and environmental well being. In keeping with her tireless work in these areas, the Fund makes it possible to honor Jean’s memory in the best way.
If you think you may qualify for funding, please send your proposal to IASC, c/o Joan Kemble at the Meeting House.
Join us at ICEJ showing of the film, Unnatural Causes, on Wednesday, April 21 at 6 PM, Faith Congregational Church, 960 Main St in Hartford. Light supper. Discuss the effects of place on health status. RSVP to Joan Kemble, 633-4503.
27th Annual Walk Against Hunger - Sunday, May 2 Sponsored by Foodshare. Take a sandwich to church, then drive to The Hartford, to join all the walkers (around Asylum Hill). In 2009 Foodshare saw an increase of 30% in the need for food assistance.
Two ways you can help: bring food items for Horace Bushnell Food Pantry on Sundays, and get sponsors for the walk with hundreds of others who want to help. See www.foodshare.org for a form. - IASC
Sign up early for the Peace Train going to the May 2nd NYC Rally for disarmament ! This will be an international rally for disarmament. More
In May, the UN will review the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT). The nuclear weapons states have failed to meet their obligation to negotiate destroying the weapons under the NPT.
To stop this madness, many political leaders are calling for nuclear abolition now. There is no time to delay.
Sign the global petition to abolish nuclear weapons to be presented in May to the United Nations: Click here - Joan Kemble
From the Editor: Suggestions for Contributors.
Green Topics - Did You Know? - This Sunday we celebrate the 40th anniversary of Earth Day. Find out what a small group of people having been working on for two years to declare USH as a Green Sanctuary. Make a difference this Sunday - find out how you can carry on the UU tradition of being in the forefront in social justice issues and help our mother earth.
See who your neighbors are by sitting in your neighborhood network this Sunday. Don't know which neighborhood network (NN) you're in? Ushers will assist you on Sunday. Bringing a friend? They can sit with you or sit in their own neighborhood (see listing of towns and Neighborhood Networks in the back of the USH Directory).
Celebrate Earth Day and Bring a Friend Sunday by buying your friend a USH bag for only $2!!! this week only at the Green Table. What better way to celebrate both!Did you know? Between 500 billion and 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide each year
Approximately 60 - 100 million barrels of oil are required to make the world’s plastic bags each year
Most plastic bags take over 400 years to biodegrade.Our reusable USH bags are made from plastic bottles?!
Earth Day and Bring a Friend Sunday 18th
One Man's Thoughts on Religion
Alliance Announces Grant Availability
May Music
April 18: Bring-a-Friend Sunday and Earth Day - On April 18, we will mark the fortieth anniversary of Earth Day with a special service. Led by members of the Green Sanctuary Sub-Council, we will explore our connection to Mother Earth and reflect on what it means to be “green.” The service is the second in Rev. BJ’s three-part series on religious naturalism called "Loving Pachamama, Our Mother the Earth."
After a two-year program of assessment (including a congregational survey and a professional energy audit), projects and review, we are about to become certified as a Green Sanctuary. According to the Unitarian Universalist Association:
A Green Sanctuary is one that “lives out its commitment to the Earth by creating sustainable lifestyles for its members as individuals and as a faith community.”
The Green Sanctuary program “encourages individual actions to reduce our impact on this planet, but primarily it is a program of congregational action. It is about working together to strengthen our ability to create environmental change.”
If you’ve wondered what the Green Sanctuary Sub-Council has been working on and what it means for us, come and find out what all their hard work has produced.
The April 18 service is also Bring-a-Friend Sunday. If you have been thinking of introducing a friend or relative to our congregation, this is the perfect Sunday to do it: a timely Earth Day service, a presentation by Jen Cook on her travels in India, homemade soup by our youth group, and members of our Membership subcouncil ready to provide a warm welcome to your guests.
Women's Alliance 2010 Education Grant Applications - The UAMW of USH is pleased to announce that their Educational Grant applications are available during the month of May.
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 standing Women's Alliance bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. They are also available through the USH home page, by clicking on the link under the picture. Forms should be submitted by postal mail or email by May 31. A form can also be mailed; please contact 860-693-4269 for further help and information.
In 2009, a small grant was awarded to a USH member working on a different career direction through an advanced degree. This grant is the result of funds earned in sales of baked goods and also from member donations. The Alliance has been providing similar financial help to worthy women for many years as part of its primary mission to serve and support USH women.
One Man’s Thoughts on Religion - There are Sundays when the idea of staying home and doing nothing is tempting, but certainly not when a member of your Small Group Ministry is giving the sermon. Which is what happened on April 11, when long-time USH member Roy Cook let us in on “What I Have Learned About Religion in Seventy Years.”
And who knew Roy was a poet? Two of the readings during the service were poems Roy had written. They were well read by his daughter Jen Cook, Worship Associate for this father-daughter day. The poems, in addition to the sermon, gave us insight into Roy’s ideas about life.
In Wouldn’t It Be Great, poet Cook allowed that it would be great if there were someone who could make things right, but concluded that maybe having faith that the sun will rise in the morning “is good enough.” In The Scientists Got it Right, But..., Roy wrote, “They left out the good part.” Even though they’re “still doing research to tell how things happen, they never tell us why.”
Roy recalled words our late minister Nat Lauriat once used to describe this congregation—“overly rational UUs.” “This sermon may live up to his description,” Roy said. Our speaker, who finds being well organized is one of his life’s requirements, organized his sermon into four parts.
In part one, God, he listed some of the many things people ask God for or question God about, such as friendship, support, hope, help, explanations for the unexplainable, our purpose here, what happens when we die, and “Help me get through this sermon.” People need faith to rely on God’s help, Roy suggested, but for him, he only has hope. Part two, which Roy labeled Influence, has to do with behavior, with the ten commandments, with feeding the hungry, with stopping wars and with “making and paying your church pledge.”
In part three, The Wonder of It All, Roy said the arts “explain it all.” They tell the story and remind us of the glory. The wonder of it all, Roy said, is our respect for the natural world. At this point, Roy explained something some of us had been wondering about. He said he had asked his daughter to read about the birth of Jesus from the Bible (Luke) during the service so he could tell how this story had inspired such a huge amount of art and music. The final topic was The Community Within, which is, for Roy, “the most important part.” Here at the Meeting House, we gather to listen, to gain outside help and support and to be part of a community of friends.
“That’s it—in fifteen minutes,” Roy concluded.
Because March 11 was the second Sunday of the month, we were treated to the full choir. They performed several works by Aaron Copland, including a rousing The Promise of Living, which earned them much applause. The Meeting House Quartet (Nancy Blickenstaff, Kim McClain, David Klotz and Paul Hansen) beautifully sang At The River during the offering. Baritone Garrett Matthews’ spirited rendition of Ching-a-ring Chaw for the musical call to worship was also applauded. Sometimes, it seems, we just have to ignore instructions to allow a contemplative atmosphere by not applauding during services. - Kayla CostenobleCaring Network - When you make a mistake, admit it. If you don't, you only make matters worse. Ward Cleaver "Leave it to Beaver" - 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.- before 10:30 on Sunday. 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.
Adult Programs
Stop by the Programs table this Sunday to register for Painting In The Park With Watercolors, Saturdays, May 8 - 29. It's not too early to sign up for the May, Friday Night Dinner and Movie on the 14th. At the Book Cart, located next to the Programs Table, copies of A Chosen Faith by John A Buehrens and Forrest Church ($16) are available. For additional information, you may refer to the complete description of classes, programs, and events on the web.
Coming Events:New Tai Chi/Qigong class - On April 25, following the service, you are invited to attend an introduction and demonstration of Tai Chi and Qigong in the Chapel. Both of these practices come from China and are done around the world by millions people each day. They consist of slow gentle movements combined with breath, relaxation and mind intent.
Tai Chi (Taijiquan) is one of the finest products of Chinese philosophy and culture. It is a martial art based on the flow of CHI (life force). Tai Chi is often described as moving meditation which promotes physical wellness, balance and self discipline.
Qigong (Chi Gong) works with the fundamental life force that permeates all things. The goal is to remove blockages in the body and mind so that the Chi flows easily and allows the body to heal and balance.
We plan to begin a new Tai Chi/ Qigong class soon. These gentle yet powerful forms of exercise are a wonderful way to increase vitality and strength to people of all ages and conditions. Come and experience your energy in motion.Our Chosen Faith, Wednesday, April 28, 7 PM. Join Rev. Jamestone for a discussion of Chapters 7 and 8 of Our Chosen Faith. If you have the book, please try to read the chapters before the class. This provocative handbook is a dialogue between two great Unitarian Universalist ministers based on the six sources of our living UU tradition. For more information about the program, go to the listing on the web.
Painting in the Park with Watercolors
Saturdays, May 8, 15, 22, 29.
Time: 1:30 - 4:00 PM.
Fee: $5.00. MoreFriday Night Dinner and Movie, May 14 . The featured movie will be, The Soloist.
You can sign up at the Programs Table during Coffee Hour on Sundays or call Janice Newton 860-677-1121 or email at dcnewton(at symbol)snet.net
Please, if at all possible, register for programs in person during coffee hours on most Sundays. If you cannot register in person, please email Janice Newton dcnewton(at symbol)snet.net and note registration in the subject line, or call 860.677.1121 and leave a message (if we are not home) rather than calling the office. This procedure will be followed for all programs including Small Group Ministry. Your cooperation is deeply appreciated.
Village Garden Project - Last year a few of us grew a garden with children at The Village for Children and Families (next door to USH) More
Kingian Non-Violence Training at USH - To be held Saturdays April 17 and 24 at USH. More
Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)
Economic Conversation Planned - We will have an Economic Conversation on Sunday, May 2, after the service, to talk about the development of the 2010-2011 budget. Please join us to learn more and to provide feedback on the process.
Music Ahead
May 2 – On the 1st Sunday of (nearly) every month our organist Mark Child reveals his artistry on our wonderful Austin/Walker organ. Many of us find depth of understanding and spiritual experience through the uplifting sounds of this magnificent instrument.
May 9 – Music Sunday! This year the Choir voted to sing American anthems, so we present a mélange of music titled “Red, White and Blue.” From the gentle to the lively, from colonial times to very recent, the church music of our country fills our spirits with song. Don’t miss this wonderful chance for the choir – and the organ – to shine.
On the Calendar - Please notify Brian Mullen of all additions or changes to the calendar. Follow this link to all our scheduled events
External Events and Educational Notes
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 HartfordLet us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 04/22/10 12:00 PM)
