USH-Enews June 3, 2010 Print Only Edition

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.

Sunday - 6 June - Everything from Balloons to Churches - The Interweave Sub-Council is leading the annual LGBT service on the weekend of Hartford Pride. The pulpit guest will be Gail M. Syring, Director of Religious Education. Please join us on Sunday for a celebration of our Welcoming Congregation, and visit the Unitarian Society of Hartford/Manchester Society East booth at the Pride festival on Saturday, June 5th.

USH Unitarians are Remarkable People - From time to time, as many of you know, we look at ourselves, examples in many different ways of most remarkable people. We continue that effort now and for the next few issues with a few words about some of our recently elected leaders.

Susan Kinney, our President after the first of July, has been coming to the Meeting House for almost 15 years. During that time, she has been an RE teacher for 11 years, founding Co-Chair of the Caring Network Sub-Council, Chair of the Stewardship Sub-Council, Board Secretary, Chair of the Worship Arts Sub-Council and member of the Chancel Arts group.

When Susan is not working (formerly as a general internist at the U-Conn Health Center in Farmington and currently as a consultant for a life insurance company) she can be found seeking spiritual renewal walking in the woods or on the beach, reading, cooking or creating art inspired by her time studying the Artist's way brought to her by members of this church.

Her 19 year old son, Sam, keeps Susan moving into new places through his enthusiastic exploration of worlds beyond his upbringing and her husband of 23 years keeps her grounded in the basics of life - love, respect, understanding deep commitment. (Freely quoted from our Annual Report) - dcn

The Don't Go To Arizona Issue - Last chance, we appreciate the efforts of those who have already responded. If you have not, you have this one last chance as the timeline is critical.

The Information and Advocacy Sub-Council needs your input on the Arizona Immigration law and its implications for UUs. The UUA made a commitment to hold the GA in Phoenix and is reconsidering that plan in light of the forthcoming implementation of the restrictive immigration policing. What do you think?

COST to UUA - Apparently NONE prior to June 15; negotiable thereafter. Vague data, but the deadline of 6/15 suggests that cancellation is feasible. But threat that CONGREGATIONS might have to pony up penalties UP TO $615,000 if decisive action is not taken soon.

PRO-PHOENIX in 2012
Solidarity with oppressed in Arizona. Harm entertainment industry which employs oppressed. Important to honor long-term commitments. GA is a place to determine Association-wide courses of action.

ANTI-PHOENIX in 2012
Take a position to influence economic powers in Arizona. Solidarity with groups such as Center for Community Change, League of United Latin American Citizens, LaRaza, As. ian-American Justice Center, and SEIU (Service Workers International Union. As in Ft Lauderdale, attendance likely will diminish if GA is held at controversial site. Avoid targeting UUs who choose to attend the 2012 GA.

YOUR OPINION COUNTS! We want to give our delegates a sense of our individual (NOT official Congregational) position. Please respond to this survey by clicking the link here.

Following Unitarian Principles - (May 23 Testimonial) Good morning.

Today is Membership Sunday and I’d like to share my story with you … why I’m a member of this church and why I’m a Unitarian.

I come from a family of a lot of Unitarians. My wife was born into a Catholic family but somewhere along the way she decided to become a Unitarian. My parents left us the money to build the handicapped parking spaces in front of our church and they were both officers in their Unitarian church on Cape Cod. Now my brother’s an officer in that same church. My sister was President of her Unitarian church in Illinois. My daughter and her husband were both Presidents of this Unitarian church. But my son, bless his soul, has never been a Unitarian. He’s a born-again Christian.

So it seems that my family must have a genetic predisposition to Unitarianism.

But that’s not the only reason I’m a Unitarian. Somewhere in my soul, the seven Unitarian principles, the foundations of our religion, resonate with beliefs I’ve had almost all of my life.

About 10 years ago I joined a Unitarian fellowship in New York and was astonished to discover that the Wise Inner Teacher that had guided my life and my behavior ever since I could remember seemed to be codified in the seven Unitarian principles.
I knew then that I had found my spiritual home. A place where we actually preach what I had been practicing.

Here they are along with the beliefs that have been a part of me for most of my life, guiding my relationships and my behavior even when I couldn’t put them into words. As long as I can remember, I’ve assumed that everyone has a deep and beautiful soul … and that means everyone, no exceptions. That made it easy for me to love someone even when I disagreed with their ideas or with what they did. I could even love someone whose behavior or opinions I hated. That makes our first principle, “The inherent worth and dignity of every person” obvious.

I’ve always found it easy to feel for everyone else. I could easily imagine what it would be like to live in their shoes. That makes our second principle “Justice, equity and compassion in human relations” a no-brainer for me.

I realized at a very early age that nobody else thinks the same way I do. In fact, I sensed that the differences in the way people think are far more important than the differences in the way they look or even in the way they act. That assumption has made it easy for me to form close relationships with others. That’s our third principle, “Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations.”

A long time ago I learned that when somebody thinks that they’ve been treated unjustly, it tends to separate their words and actions from their deep and beautiful soul. In a way, that made me realize how terribly important it was for me to treat everyone justly and do what I could to address the injustices that I saw all around me. That’s another Unitarian principle, “The goal of world community with peace, liberty, and justice for all.”

It seems like I’ve spent my whole life trying to find the truth and the meaning of everything. I think it’s an important and perhaps even essential part of my life. It’s also a Unitarian principle, “A free and responsible search for truth and meaning.”

I love nature and I value all living things equally. It’s also been clear to me that any natural community, human or otherwise, is largely defined by the relationships between its members. So I practice another one of our principles, “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.”

Finally, it took me a while to realize that collective thought is better than individual thought, most importantly better than my own. My study of cosmology helped me understand that. When I was thinking about the universe, it became easy to realize that I’m utterly insignificant by myself, just like everybody else. That seems to lead to our last principle, “The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large.”

So that’s my story. When it comes right down to it, I’m a Unitarian simply because my Wise Inner Teacher (my WITS) and our church’s principles are as close as two peas in a pod. - Bill LaPorte-Bryan

Watch Out For Fifth Sundays - We can’t say we weren’t warned, but still, my hand went out automatically for an Order of Service (OOS) as I entered the Sanctuary on Sunday, May 30. In her column in the May 27 Enews, Reverend BJ asked, “When you arrive at the Meeting House this Sunday and find that you do not have an Order of Service, how will you feel?”

She repeated that question early in last Sunday’s service, and answers shouted out by the congregation included such words as frustrated, lost, worried, curious, delighted and connected. Reverend BJ said that going through the service without an OOS gives us “the opportunity to practice trusting…It is not often we put our lives in other people’s hands—even in the smallest way.”

The OOS experiment led to Reverend BJ’s second discussion of understanding, one of nine basic core needs, as found in writings by Manfred Max-Neef, a Chilean economist and environmentalist who developed a taxonomy of fundamental human needs. (FYI, the other eight, discussed during this church year, were subsistence, protection, affection, participation, leisure, creation, identity and freedom.)

Reverend BJ suggested that we Unitarians practice a “mature form of spiritualism where knowledge and understanding of things” is what we need most. We walk the “razor’s edge” between secularism and religion. Our need for understanding how things work is not a simple thing and involves knowing, wisdom and emotion. She said we have a yearning to understand things in the ultimate sense. She spoke of the profound capacity of the human spirit to see the possibility of things coming to pass.

It is possible, Reverend BJ said, to look at and recognize that “satisfaction” is necessary to recognize those basic needs. Things that satisfy range from those that are wholesome and enhancing to those that are inhibiting and destructive. The most successful satisfiers are those that not only meet an immediate need but also enhance many other needs as well.

Note: We met a third member of the musically-talented Child family on Sunday. Mark is our organist; his wife accompanies him when he does his tenor thing and his lovely daughter Amanda provided Sunday’s music with beautifully-performed classical piano pieces. - Kayla Costenoble

What Else is Happening

Hartford Tree Walk - West End Tree Walk - one of the events for Connecticut Trails Day, Saturday June 5th. More

Art News - Our guest artist for the final spring exhibit is Diana Lemcoff offering a sample of her fine innovative work on display following the May 23rd service. Diane will be available in Fellowship Hall after the service on June 6th to meet us and answer questions about her creative process. - Sara Sturges

GHICEJ Fundraiser - The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition For Equity & Justice Announces its Third Annual Education Fundraiser - The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity & Justice (GHICEJ) cordially invites you to celebrate Hartford Children by attending an Open House Fundraiser for the students and families at Noah Webster and Rawson Schools and the GHICEJ Education Partnership Project on Sunday, June 6th from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. Featuring an art sale, gift baskets and a chance to bid on a week in Spain!! Fine wines and appetizers will be served. Ticket prices: $25 in advance or at the door.

For more information, please contact: Shai Cassell, Community Organizer - The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity & Justice - Call: (860) 930-4278 or email scassell54(at sign)comcast.net

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, June 15 will be Tom Kemble whose topic is "Capitalism and Socialism Side by Side"

Adult Programs
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This will be the last Sunday for the Programs Table until the fall. In the meantime, we welcome your comments and look forward to receiving proposals for programs to be included in the 2010 Fall Programs for Adults and Families Notebooks. Please refer to: About next Fall's Programs - More

Many thanks to all of you who planned and participated in the 2009-2010 Fall and Winter/Spring Programs for Adults and Families.

At the Programs Table this Sunday, June 6, you may register for the last Friday Dinner and Movie for the 2009 - 2010 season, June 11 (More), Guided Mediations - Six Essential Practices, Saturday, June 19 (More), and the Summer Small Group Ministry starting Tuesday evening, July 6 (see next paragraph).You may also 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.

Just Two Spots Left in Summer Small Group Ministry - Time and space are running short to sign up for summer Small Group Ministry, where small groups meet to share meaningful readings and life experiences. This summer we are offering just one program in July, so you should sign up soon to reserve your place. There are just two openings left. The group will meet on four Tuesday evenings in July, beginning on July 6. The group will be facilitated by Ginny Allen and hosted by Janice and David Newton. It will meet at the USH Meeting House in air-conditioned space.

Interested persons can identify accessibility concerns (including assisted listening devices or allergies) with Mike Roy (860-561-4061) so we can address them to the best of our ability. Please call Janice Newton at 860-677-1121 or email her at dcnewton(at sign)snet.net to register for the Summer SGM. - Mike Roy

About next Fall's Programs More

Raging Bull - Friday June 11 - "Though Raging Bull has only three principal characters, it is a big film, its territory being the landscape of the soul."*
". . . a screen biography of Jake La Motta, a searing

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look at the sport of boxing and a riveting drama revolving around grand passions"*

The Friday, June 11 Dinner and a Movie film is "Raging Bull," from 1980, directed by Martin Scorsese and starring Robert De Niro, considered "one of American cinema's masterworks."*

As usual, we will gather on Friday the 11th at 5:30 for libations and popcorn, dinner at 6, movie at 7 sharp (it's over 2 hours long). You may reserve by calling Janice (leave message if machine is on) at 860 - 677 - 1121 (then pay at the door) or reserve at the Programs Table during Sunday coffee hours (cash, check or credit card). Please make your reservations by Monday, June 7; be sure to tell us then if you want a vegetarian meal.

This is the final movie of this year's series, so we are soliciting nominations for next season. If you are a movie fan who hasn't yet attended but plan to do so next year, you may nominate five titles and participate in the July voting, email or snail mail. Just include your contact info with your nominations; send to pickmovies@ushartford.com by June 30. You may also include suggestions, comments, or questions about the existing program and its format.

*from the movie website, Rotten Tomatoes, where you can read many reviews of this film (and other films, too) - Nita

WOMEN'S PICNIC WEDNESDAY, JUNE 16 - All women of USH are warmly invited to the annual

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Women's Alliance picnic on Wednesday, June 16. Thanks to Linda Erickson-Ebel, member of the Wood Pond Association, for graciously arranging this event.

The picnic will be from 11 AM to 2 PM. Please bring your own picnic, with something to share - snacks, dessert, your choice. Beach rules specify no glass nor breakable containers, so please pack paper and plastic. And we must carry out all which we carry in.

Swimming is available at the sandy beach, and you can change at Linda's house. Warning ~ the water might be cold!

You may sign-up on the Alliance standing bulletin board, outside Fellowship Hall or by calling Linda at 860-561-0399. Questions? Ask Linda.

Here's looking forward to sharing fellowship, fun, and food in a pleasant lakeside setting. Hope to see you there! - Nita

Social Justice Journeys (From the UUA) And from USH

Arizona Issue Not given your opinion yet, please do so now.

Caring Network - What the inner voice says will not disappoint the hoping soul. Schiller - 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.

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Green Topics - Did You Know? -

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.

Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)

Looking for volunteers for Habitat for Humanity - One day in July to work on a house. Tuesday, Wednesday, or Thursday. Please contact Peter Magistri, Ed Savage or Joan Kemble if interested. We can look for a date after finding a group. Thanks, IASC

On the Calendar - Please notify Brian Mullen of all additions or changes to the calendar. Follow this link to all our scheduled events

A Matter of Opinion

Josh Schreier seeks help in sending emails to Senator Dodd regarding events in Darfur before Friday, June 4th. If you wish to "pen" such an email and need relevant information, request the information from dcnewton@ushartford.com forthwith.

External Events and Educational Notes

SAVE THE DATE
PLEASE JOIN US FOR A WALK, IN WALNUT PARK, NEW BRITAIN on SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 25TH

To benefit the A.L.S Association of Ct. In memory of Wes Christensen

A.L.S., also known as Lou Gehrig's Disease,is a degenerative disease for which no cure has yet been found.

Please contact Jane Christensen for details, 860-529-2253 (Eve/wkend), or 860-728-5549.