USH-Enews May 6, 2010 Print Only Edition

Just living is not enough, said the butterfly. One must have sunshine, freedom and a little flower.
Hans Christian Andersen

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.

Spirit Play: The Paperbag Princess
Second & Third Grade: UU Superheroes: Olympia Brown
Fourth & Fifth Grade: Spirit of Adventure:Daniel Chester French/Sculpting
Sixth & Seventh Grade: World Religion Review
Eighth Grade: Coming of Age
Youth Group Activities: Saturday Night Sleepover and Worship Planning

Invitation to the Coming of Age Worship Service

On Saturday, May 15th at 3PM, three of our eighth grade students will complete their Coming of Age program by offering a worship service in the Chapel. All are welcome and encouraged to attend. The students will be offering music and dramatic presentations that illustrate their personal experience of Unitarian Universalism. These rising ninth graders will then be bridged into the High School Youth Group at the youth service on Sunday, May 16th.

What You Can Do For USH

Attend the Coming of Age Service in the Chapel on Saturday, May 15th at 3 PM and the Youth Service, Sunday, May 16th at 10:30 AM

Important IASC Survey Now Available - Please take a minute or two for the Information and Advocacy Sub-Council Survey. Its purpose is to prioritize the issues that will be presented at GA this year, and your input will help our delegates in voting on the resolution. Thank you in advance for your opinions.

Just click on the link below; there are just six questions (plus some room for your unique input). If you have other questions or longer comments, you may forward them to us at : ia@ushartford.com Here it is the survey.

Sunday Services to be somewhat longer - Some of you may have noticed that our worship service seems to be a little longer than it was in the past. We have noticed that too, and have decided that we really need one hour and 15 mins to deliver a quality worship experience with all of the elements that you have come to expect. As true UU's we have discussed and dissected this topic in our committee meeting and felt that there was no time like the present, so starting now, our services will be one hour and 15 mins! Hopefully this will help the RE team plan their lessons as well as everyone plan their Sunday.

Order of Service Cover In the absence of our beloved Rosie Rindfleish, Administrative Assistant to USH, the Worship Arts Sub-Council has in April taken up the joyful service of designing the order of service cover sheet, which you receive during worship, with a new edition coming this Fall. Please submit any suggestions you have to Jennifer Hunt (contact info in the Directory) for the card stock cover, and we will consider them all!

Worship Arts Sub-Council - If you are a worship aficionado, please consider applying to serve on our Worship Arts Sub -Council for the coming year. Contact Chairperson Liz Garmise for an application or to chat further.

Music Sunday - is coming May 9th! By special request of the choir members, this Spring Music Sunday combines some of the best American choral anthems with related American poems, giving us a stirring picture of our country through its words and music. Colonial music by William Billings is paired with poetry of Vermonter Jeremiah Ingalls and brought up to date by Neely Bruce's "First Amendment." Spirituals are linked to Ntozake Shange's marvelous poem "i live in music." May Sarton's lyrics lead to anthems by Emma Lou Diemer and Leonard Bernstein. Aaron Copland's stirring "The Promise of Living" is perfectly set up by Walt Whitman's words. And more! Look at this gorgeous work!

And then, introduced by a reading about the power of choirs, our hugely talented organist Mark Child plays a piece he's been waiting to play ever since he came to the Meeting House: the magnificent "Prelude and Fugue on the name of Jehan Alain" by Maurice Durufle. True, this isn't exactly American music. One could call it compatible, or you could look at the historic friendship between France and the United States. We decided to notice the colors of the two flags, and call the music universal. Whatever you call it, it's wonderful and uplifting, and we hope you'll join us Sunday morning May 9th.

Its a Wonderful Day in the Neighborhood -
The intent behind the formation of Neighborhood Networks was to help foster a sense of "community" despite the fact that we have members living in 47 different towns and cities!

Last week a survey form was sent out to each member, in association with their appointed Neighborhood Network Region. It's an attempt to determine if and how we may foster the creation of programs and activities to bring interested parties together both within and beyond the walls of the Meeting House. BUT YOUR THOUGHTS AND IDEAS ARE NEEDED to identify the activities / events that might be appealing to some, and to rule out those that may draw a negative response. If you "accidentally" deleted the survey, or didn't receive it in the first place you may download a copy in Microsoft Word, complete it and send it to Geralyn at gmlatush@aol.com with SURVEY in the subject line. If a paper copy would help, ask for one at the Meeting House. It will only take you five minutes to complete and your answers will be included in a final analysis and summary report. Your thoughts, both the positive and the negative are welcome and appreciated. - Geralyn

Join the Alliance on May 20th - The Alliance invites you to join us for a special outing on Thursday, May 20. Gather at the Meeting House at 10:00 a.m. to car pool to Riverton where we will browse through the Robert Greenwood Glass Blowing Studio and Gallery. In addition to art glass the gallery also shows paintings by Christin Greenwood. After our visit we will continue to New Hartford for lunch (Dutch treat) at Chatterley's. Earlier this year the New York Times gave this restaurant a glowing review.

Sign up will be necessary for lunch reservations and to arrange a car pool. Sign up on the Alliance board on May 9 or 16, or email Louise Schmoll (rdschmoll @comcast.net) and say you are coming. If you choose to meet us there at about 11:00, the Gallery is at 3 Robertsville Road in Riverton and the restaurant for lunch at 12:30 is at 2 Bridge Street in New Hartford.

Annual Meeting, Elections, Constitutional Changes set for Sunday May 23rd Also, BJ's Q and A on Ministerial compensation. Here is the Agenda

You can help keep our grounds beautiful - by adopting a bay (the area between 2 buttresses outside) and take care (weeding/planting) of that little slice of our Meeting House. Sign up on the Green Sanctuary bulletin board on the way into Fellowship

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, May 18 will be Ed Stubbs whose topic is

"The Most Important American of the First Postwar Generation (1945-1955)" Hall.

Hartford has a new Antiques Fair! - We have been very busy establishing our website (thanks to David Newton), creating graphic advertising (courtesy of expert Sarah Gilligan), and utilizing the special logo Rich Ferguson-Hull created. Nita Hansen has does yeoman work on the phone to establish our advertising needs and the first ads will be published in the trade papers this week to entice dealers to join our venture.

Ellie and Jim Venneman are chairing the food committee and gearing up to serve snacks and lunches on the patio of the Memorial Garden (newly christened the Garden Cafe). Please go to the USH home page and click on the "antiques box" to enjoy the display, and reserve Saturday September 25 to attend the Fair. - Jean and Richard Groothuis

More Jazz at Church! - Former choir member at USH, our own Patrice Fitzgerald and Richard Laurie invite us to Stratford: Come join us for a night of hot jazz on Friday, May 7, at 8:00 in the First Congregational Church of Stratford, 2301 Main Street, just off I-95 at Exit 32.

Patrice and Richard will sing solos and duets as part of a benefit concert for the church -- featuring the inimitable Dr. Joe Utterback and his fantastic piano stylings. Richard will also throw in some trumpet riffs, our UU friend Ruth Ahlers will be on sax, and we’ll have drums and a bass player to back us up. The night will be full of classic standards along the lines of Summertime, Fever, Cry Me A River, Makin’ Whoopee, and Blues in the Night.

No admission charge — just whatever you can contribute when they come around with the baskets. It’s “Jazz with Dr. Joe!” and we’re really going to loosen up and let our hair down...Don’t miss this sizzling evening! - BJ

There will be no Programs Table this Sunday, May 9. To register for the Friday Dinner and Movie, May 14 or the Summer Small Group Ministry, 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.

Coming Events:

Ember Days, Wednesday, May 26, 12:00 - 2:00 PM and Friday and Saturday, May 28, 29, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Led by Rev. Jamestone, these contemplative gatherings to celebrate the wondrous cycles of nature include spiritual exercises and time for personal introspection in silence. Come to any or all of the sessions. No registration needed.

Summer Small Group Ministry, Four Tuesday evenings starting July 6. (More)

New Tai Chi/Qigong class - 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 that 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.

A new class will begin on May 5, 2010 from 5-6 PM to run for four consecutive weeks. The fee is $32.00 per student for the four weeks. You may register any time prior to May 5, 2010. You are welcome to call Ginny Hedrick at 860-677-9272 with any questions.

Painting in the Park with Watercolors

Saturdays, May 8, 15, 22, 29.
Time: 1:30 - 4:00 PM.
Fee: $5.00. More

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.

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.

Caring Network - Replacing a negative memory with a positive one heals it. - 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.

Dishwasher Training - The next dishwasher training is scheduled for June 6 (not May 10 as mistakenly advertised last week). Please meet in the kitchen after the service for a 10 minute training on how to use the dishwasher so we can all help keep disposable dishes from polluting our earth. Many hands make light work.

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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