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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.

USH-Enews For May 17, 2007

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 - World Citizenship - This Sunday's worship, offered by the members of our youth group, will be an intergenerational worship service.  Children are welcome and encouraged to join the congregation for this spirited service, and to support this effort there will be no regular RE classes this week.  Nursery care will be provided.

(University of Hartford holds Graduation on Sunday. Provide some additional time should you encounter traffic congestion on Prospect-Bloomfiled-Albany Avenues. Graduation is at 10 AM, which will make for serious congestion between roughly 8:30 through 10AM)

Music: Youth Sunday features the music of the Meeting House high school group, and a talented bunch they are.  What a pleasure to hear their own expressions of their feelings through music.

The Installation on the afternoon of May 20th will showcase an expanded Choir joined by some of our counterparts from UCWH Fern St. and UUSE Manchester in anthems selected by Rev. Barbara Jamestone.  David L. Brunner’s “Song of the Earth Spirit” expresses BJ’s favorite view of congregational relationships.  UU composer Adolphus Hailstork has crafted a jazzy setting of some of BJ’s favorite words (by Ralph Waldo Emerson): “To laugh often and much….to know even one life has been easier, because you live: This is to have succeeded.”  Other musicians to be highlighted in the service include Bill Willett, Ann Stowe and our tenor John Jesensky.  Ken Bartschi will be the organist for the service.

RE - Memorial Day Weekend
There will be no regular RE classes on Sunday, May 27, 2007.  Nursery care will be provided.  Classes will resume on June 3rd for the last class of the school year.  The Flower Communion service on June 10th will be intergenerational, and the summer program will begin on June 17th.
 
Chalice Choir Rehearsal
The Chalice Choir will be rehearsing for the Flower Communion service on Sunday, May 20th, June 3rd, and 10th in Fuller from 10:30 am -10:45 am.  Children in pre-k through second grade and their parents are encouraged to attend.
 
RE Registration - Members of the RE Committee and our new DRE will be on hand this Sunday, May 20th to register all children and youth for the 2007- 08 school year.  Please stop by the table in the lobby to fill out your registration forms, learn more about our program, and volunteer your time to support our commitment to the development of our children.

Interested adults without children in the program are also welcome and encouraged to become involved.  Do you have an hour available this summer to participate in discovery play?  Would you be willing to assist in a classroom?  Join us on Sunday and learn which opportunity best suits your personal talents.

From the Editor: Nice job buying a ticket for a kid. Thanks for the donated tickets. - This week we are doing something never done before with you folks here. Be sure to make a note of the user name and password to access page two of the USH-Enews. You will find user name and password in the usual email announcing this edition of the USH-Enews.

This Week’s Feature Articles

“And That’s What I Love About the South—Meet BJs guests for the installation”

By Rev. BJ

USH  will be visited, during the Installation, by 14 of the most extraordinary people I’ve ever met, some of whom will have brief speaking parts, and many of whom have Southern accents!  I’ve asked each of them to send a photograph and a brief  ‘party bio’ to each other, as several of them have never met each other, and as we will all 15 be sharing Ann Bailey and Betty Palmer’s home on the weekend of the 20th.  Just for fun, since you will be meeting these folks at the installation reception, I decided to give you, my church family a little peek into the zany world of my family and friends from what we call “God’s Country!” The installation order of service will contain more solemn and formal information on those with speaking parts!

Editor's note: the page is password protected because this is an event among your minister, USH Members and Friends and our guests-visitors. Your email announcement of the availability of the USH-Enews has the necessary user name and password. Check you email for the information

and then, Just follow this link.

Stewardship Sub-Council Reports Success Thanks to You - Our efforts were a complete success!  Our goal for the pledge campaign was $325,000 in annual pledges for the coming fiscal year.  As of May 11, 2007, pledges exceeded $328,000, with some additional pledges expected.  The total amount of pledges already exceeds last year’s by almost $46,000, an increase of over 16%.  We asked members to increase their pledges to a fair share of at least 2% of gross income, or by 18%, and almost everyone who was able did so.  Many pledgers increased their pledges by 25%, 50%, 100%, or more.  We also presented our congregational stewardship expectations to each group of new members.

In the words of the Sub-Council -

We Did It! 
We All Did It!
We met the goal—more than $325,000 in pledges.
We Did It!
We increased the number of families who pledged.
You Did It!
You increased your total pledges by more than 16%.
You crossed the $300,000 mark for the first time ever!
You proved that chocolate and green are a wonderful combination.
You taught us all about the capabilities of our community.
We Did It!
Because of you, we can support our wonderful new minister.
Because of you, we can hire a new Religious Education Director right now.
Because of you, we can provide our staff with fair compensation and benefits.
Because of you, we can continue to be fair share givers to the UU denomination.
We Did It!
We All Did It!
We Thank You! 

(Editor's note: On behalf of USH Members and Friends, we all thank the members of the Stewardship Sub-Council! You did a terrific job and your work and dedication will make our dreams possible!)

A Metaphor For Basic Trust - I’ve been called lots of names in my long career as mom, grandmom, great-grandmom, and mom-in-law, but Sunday was the first time I’ve ever been called a metaphor.  Actually, I kind of liked it.

It turns out that Rev. BJ’s sermon on Mothers’ Day was only the second time, in her long career, that she has preached a Mothers’ Day sermon.  The first was when someone, in another place and another time, bid and won, in a silent auction, the right to choose a sermon topic—and a Mothers’ Day sermon was what Rev. BJ had to produce.  We at the USH were the recipients of what she called her “second feeble effort.”

Motherhood, she suggested, is the mask for eternal absolute values. A new baby, if held by a competent person and nursed and cared for, presents a picture of basic, perfect trust.  “It is never too late to have a happy childhood,” Rev. BJ insisted.  We can still have the same spark we had when we were held in a maternal embrace.  The sense that we are held by a benign universe doesn’t require a particular mother.  It requires that we trust that we will have what we need to sustain, renew and uphold us.  It is never too late, Rev. BJ repeated, to exercise that basic trust and love that does not let us go,

Other highlights of May 13 services at the Meeting House included introducing new members, introducing the new Director of Religious Education (DRE) and a report from the Stewardship Committee.

The following members of the Pathways Class of Spring 2007 were welcomed as new members by Society President Charles Huntington and the congregation:  Faye Ahlberg, Jennifer Cook, Barbara Hellenga, Becky Pardoe, Paul Quin, Searphim Seskevich and Hanna Roditi.

During her Time for All Ages, outgoing volunteer DRE Nina Berg told  the children how the path of new DRE Gail Syring and the path to the Meeting House finally converged and how Gail will now help them find their path to truth and meaning.

Stewardship Committee members took the stage (We did it!” see above)) to announce and celebrate a successful stewardship drive—we have exceeded the goal of $325,000!  This year’s drive saw an increased number of pledging families and an average increase in pledges of 28 percent.  Stewardship Chair Joe Rubin said all goals can now be met; we now have a DRE, can give staff increases, can support a minister and can contribute our fair share to the Unitarian Universalist Association. - Kayla Costenoble

What Else is Happening  & Announcements

Unitarian Society of Hartford Presents the Tanglewood Marionettes in An Arabian Adventure this Friday May 19 at Universalist Church of West Hartford. USH Parents, take your kids to see this one. Let them see what live entertainment is! Many thanks to donors who have purchased more than 34 tickets for the village kids next door. Now, can we get some of our own kids and parents to this terrific show? more

Installation Service at 4PM Sunday!

photo

Contribute to Installation Reception May 20 - In lieu of a costly party, BJ 's wishes to commemorate her installation with a generous donation to Pat Kelly and the "Ebony Horsewomen."  What is this?  You can help by supplying your favorite appetizer or dessert for her reception. Call the office immediately to RSVP.

(Editor's note: while we have your attention, BJ provided a splendid paragraph with photo for each of her visiting friends and relatives. You can read all about them but first you will need the password from the email you received announcing this week's USH-Enews. Here is the link )

Installation Service Collection to Follow Custom and Benefit the Living Tradition Fund - The 1988 General Assembly established the Living Tradition Fund and requested that "Ordination and Installation Services held in member societies include an offering" to the fund. Over the years, that request has become a tradition among us.

Income for the fund comes from individual gifts, offerings at Installations, Ordinations and other milestone occasions, and from two services at General Assembly-the Ministers Association worship service during Professional Days, and the Service of the Living Tradition.

The Living Tradition Fund provides three types of support for ministry:

• need-based scholarships for theological students who have completed a full  year of theological education;
• new minister assistance to reduce the burden of high educational debt and  repayment;
• grants to ministers for emergency assistance.
  

The generosity of individuals, congregations and districts helps to strengthen and support our professional ministry by keeping this important resource available.

CHILDREN’S ART DISPLAY.  Our current art exhibit is contributed by artists in our Religious Education program. Artists and/or parents may pick up the work following the 11:00 AM service on Sunday, June 10, when the show will come down.

Imagining Possible Futures: A Transforming Conversation - May 21, 10 AM coffee with Dr Mark Hicks More

CUREJ Annual Worship Celebration - The CUREJ congregations (ours, West Hartford Universalist, UUS:E in Manchester, and Bethel AME in Bloomfield) are having their annual worship celebration at 7 PM Thursday May 24 at Bethel AME Church in Bloomfield, intersection of Blue Hills Ave. and Park Rd.   We want a good turnout of USH folks.  Please be attentive to Joan or Tom Kemble, Peter Magistri, and Doug Christie when they call you or buttonhole you at coffee hour.   It will be a fun and rewarding evening. - Carol Shoemaker

GHICEJ LEADERSHIP DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING OPPORTUNITIES: The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice (GHICEJ) is committed to building a strong base of member congregations, and developing all its leaders into effective agents of change. We do this by mobilizing and organizing our members into a strong social justice movement, and develop and train our leaders to advocate for justice around issues that are relevant for our Greater Hartford region.  During June 2007 the following training program will be offered to existing and new GHICEJ leaders:

TOPICS TO BE COVERED:

• What is an Interfaith Social Justice Movement

Why We Mobilize and Organize as a Faith-based Social Justice Movement

• How We Mobilize and Organize Our Faith-based constituency
• Capacity Building and Leadership Skills inside and outside of GHICEJ

       TRAINING DATES and TIMES:

Saturday, June 2nd - 9:00a.m. – 3:00p.m. (Lunch provided)

Monday, June 4th – 5:30p.m. – 8:30p.m.  (Dinner provided)

Tuesday, June 12th – 5:30p.m. – 8:30p.m. (Dinner provided)

Please contact Shai Cassell at 930-4278 or Margaret Steinegger-Keyser at 548-1744 if you are interested in attending. Attendance at all three sessions is encouraged but not required. There is no cost.

From Adult Programs - From Adult Programs - Small Group Ministry will continue this summer. As Mike says, We are registering for Small Group Ministry in the summer, with one group in July (4 openings) and one in August (plenty of openings). Each will meet one evening a week for four consecutive weeks. Heather Ferguson-Hull will facilitate in July, starting on Monday, July 9. Margaret Leicach will facilitate in August, starting on Thursday, August 2. Both groups will convene at the Meeting House in air-conditioned space. You may sign up by contacting the church office.

EMBER DAYS, Wednesday, May 30, 12 - 2:00 pm, Friday and Saturday June 1 and 2,  6 - 8:00 pm.  Rev. Jamestone will lead us in this fourth seasonal observance of nature. It is a time set apart for silence, simplicity, solitude, and abstinence from the ordinary. Bring your journal and consider abstaining from food, the newspaper, speaking, and email as preparation for the sessions. Come to any or all of the sessions. There is no fee but please register on Sunday or by calling the office at 233-9897.

Words from Adult Programs - Do you have a special interest that you would like to explore in an Adult Program at USH this fall or next spring?  Now is the time to be heard. We are all ears! We certainly have several ideas ourselves but they might not be what you have in mind. The process for proposing a course you would like to offer is very simple. Go to the USH website, look under Adult Programs and there you will find the Proposal form. Fill it out as best you can and leave it in the Adult Programs mailbox in the office.   Alternatively, you may speak with one of the AP committee members about your ideas and we will help you.

Caring Network - Not only must we be good, but we must also be good for something.  ~Henry David Thoreau - 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)

The Annual Meeting is Sunday, June 3rd following the 11 service.

Giving a Thanks Offering for Unsung Heroes - On June 10, we will celebrate our annual flower ritual, our erstwhile "end of year" service (I say erstwhile because UUism is moving toward having full service summer church, even in New England!), and we will spend some moments expressing our appreciation for many of the folks who have helped to make this a FABULOUS year at the Meeting House.

So, 2-4-6-8, who do YOU appreciate??

Please send me an email giving name and description of volunteer activities of several folks who YOU have noted doing perhaps a small thing with great love during the year.  What unsung hero would you like to honor? The easiest thing in the world is to say “thank you”….and it’s among the most powerful things for helping us all to be the change we want to see.  Thanks for your help! - Rev B

Dinner Movie Series Continues with Prairie Home Companion - On Friday, June 8, the USH Dinner and Movie Series will feature “Prairie Home Companion”

photo

starring Garrison Keillor, writer and host of the weekly public radio variety show. This was the final film directed by the late Robert Altman and includes such notables as Lindsay Lohan, Meryl Streep, Lily Tomlin, Woody Harrelson, Kevin Kline, and Tommy Lee Jones.  Even Guy Noir and the cowboy team of Dusty and Lefty appear. 

Reservations may be made at the Sunday coffee hour reservation table or by calling the USH office; please reserve by Monday, June 4.  This will be the final movie in this series. Nominations of films for next year’s season may be put in the Adult Programs mailbox in the USH office or sent to ap(at symbol)ushartford.com.

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)

Thanks to those who stopped by to do some weeding in the Memorial Garden. We are happy to report the job is finished and new mulch has been added. Please, next time you are at USH, take a moment and go out and spend a few minutes in the sacred space. During the rest of the growing season, feel free to stop by and pull a few weeds. - Janice & David Newton

How did we ever begin making applause part of our worship. For me, it takes away from the moment. If I feel soulful pleasure from the music or a testimonial, it bubbles up inside me and stays strong without being released through applause. Perhaps another symbol of gratitude might be adopted over time; something that suggests my inner light honors your inner light, that part that you just expressed through your music or words.  

Applause to  me feels like giving out a 'well-done' for a performance. In  worship, I like to believe that we  share what is happening that hour. The music or words are gifts to the happening and not to be judged  by me.

From the other  side, though; how would a soloist or musician feel to have silence follow  their gift to the service. Unappreciated?  Or as though they  had contributed to the spiritual light during our hour  together?

Might I  be only one of a very few who is beginning to feel that applause has become an interruption to a time that is becoming increasingly satisfying to  my soul. - Carol Davidson  

External Events and Educational Notes

May 21, 2007 - Connecticut’s most exciting new choral ensemble – will sing a benefit concert entitled Voce Sings for Habitat for Humanity more

ON THE CALENDAR:

Saturday, May 19
11:00 am  Tanglewood Marionettes, Universalist Church of West Hartford, Fern Street
3:00 pm  Civil Union Rehearsal, Sanctuary
 
Sunday, May 20
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
10:00 am  Council on Social Justice, Library
10:00 am  Disabilities, Ballou
10:00 am  Building and Grounds, Murray
10:00 am  Coming of Age, Fuller
10:15 am  Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:30 am  Chalice Choir, Chapel
11:00 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm  Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
2:30 pm  Civil Union, Sanctuary
4:00 pm  Installation of Rev. Barbara Jamestone, Sanctuary; Reception following, Fellowship Hall
 
Monday, May 21
10:00 am  Conversation with Dr. Mark Hicks, Ballou
6:30 pm  Survivors of Incest Anonymous, David
7:00 pm  Worship Arts Sub-council, Ballou

Tuesday, May 22
7:00 pm  Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm  AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, May 23
10:00 – 11:00 am  Staff Meeting, Minister’s Study (OFFICE CLOSED)
6:00 pm  Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm  Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm  Choir, Sanctuary  

Saturday, May 26
10:30 am  – 12:30 pm  Rental, Chapel

Sunday, May 27
8:00 am  Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am  Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am  Coming of Age, Fuller
10:00 am  Children’s Choir, Chapel
10:15 am  Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
11:00 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 noon  Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm  C Cubed, Minister’s Study
Italicized entries are non-USH events.
 
Please notify the office of all additions or changes to the calendar. To get on the calendar, call 233.9897

Did You Know? - Excerpts from, The Solution is You, by Laurie David - Start a mug movement in your office. We throw away some 35 billion polystyrene cups every year and most of them end up in land fills. Our habits have gotten so bad that we grab an individual water bottle every time we are thirsty even in our own homes. Whatever happened to filling a glass?

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