USH-Enews for June 4 , 2009 Print Only Edition

Sunday - 7 June - Callings - Worship Service and Workshop with author Gregg Levoy. Gregg Levoy is the author of Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life. He will join BJ in the morning worship service at 10:00 AM and in the afternoon conduct a workshop. 12:00 to 4 PM (registration required with $30 payment) . - Rev. BJ (pdf flyer), More

Music - For Buddha’s birthday, the choir sings another of Alan Kramer’s fascinating pieces, a setting of the well-known text by Lao-Tse, "If there is to be peace." The choir will also sing "Drink Your Tea Slowly," music by UU composer Wally Kleucker and text by Thich Nhat Hahn: Drink your tea slowly, slowly and reverently as if it is the axis on which the world earth revolves. Slowly, evenly, without rushing toward the future. Live the actual moment. Only this moment is life.

Harry Potter Summer Program - We will continuing our summer class schedule. Worship will begin at 10 AM, and after the Time for All Ages, all children will be invited downstairs to Classroom D for Mythology of Muggles class! This week we will have opening ceremonies and be sorted into houses by the sorting hat! Come experience the magic!

Registration for 2009-2010 - In an effort to reduce our carbon footprint, the Religious Education registration process will be electronic this year! In the next few weeks, families will receive an email document to be filled out and returned electronically to register their children for classes next year. If you are concerned that the office does not have your most updated email address, please email Gail at: DRE@ushartford.com. - Gail M. Syring, DRE

Coming of Age Service Saturday May 30th - Beginning at the top of the Order of Service, no words could have been more appropriate than those by Leslie Marmon Silko:

And with those words the service began including individual presentations by those coming of age, including playing of musical instruments and computer projected illustrations, and even one recorded music presentation by an individual who, because of unavoidable conflict, could not attend. The group included: Olivia Cohen, Margaret Czepiel, Zachary Dayner, Evan Ferguson-Hull, Cassandra Fulop, Conor Lyman, Alec Nelson, Dana Reichler and Abigail Ward.

After each presentation, the audience that filled the Chapel, said together, "We proudly witness and support your coming of age." Musical "hymn" selections incorporated in the program included, This Little Light of Mine, What a Wonderful World, and for a Postlude, Imagine.

The Coming of Age Group received blessings from BJ, the congregation as presented by Gail Syring, and individual family members and/or RE teachers. The preparation evident in the program, the quality of the statements by the coming of age youth, the glimpses into the details of the last year's SGM format OWL program for this group as it matured in USH traditions; all speak to a job exceedingly well done by all participants. - DCN

Last Call for "Callings" - Dear members and friends of USH! - I'm writing to encourage you to attend the “Callings” workshop on Sunday, June 7, if possible, AND to search your circle of friends and volunteer associations and pass on an invitation to them. The workshop will run from 12:00 - 4:00 PM, with a break mid-way. A light lunch will be provided at 11:30 AM for those pre-registered ($30 by credit card) by Friday through the office (860 233-9897). Also, Gregg Levoy’s book: Callings, Finding and Following as Authentic Life ($15), is available, while supplies last, and later by order (tax free!).

In addition to the personal growth and vision which you may receive, there are USH reasons for you to attend as well:

In the introduction to Callings, Gregg Levoy quotes Connecticut theologian Frederick Buechner whose soulful autobiographical books were influential in my own spiritual formation and training as a spiritual director 20 years ago: "Find that place where our deep gladness and the world's deep hunger meet."

Levoy writes that we will find that "place just right" where our desire and efforts to be of service will thrive and will be sustainable by others when we are gone, only as we have listened for life's calling us inward, to the places in ourselves which can be the source of that well of peace and gladness.

In this workshop and through his book, Levoy will help us to listen and to have courage to respond to that inward calling, and to that calling to service for others as well.

I took this one book and a journal on a 12 day silent walking retreat in the Sahara desert, and spent 48 hours alone in my "power circle" among the dunes with only Callings and water. It was a high water mark in my journey of spirit and service. I hope to see you, and/or others you know and care for on Sunday at USH. - Rev. BJ

From the President - Our fiscal year is coming to a close, and it is therefore the end of my term as President. If you haven't already done so, I encourage you to read the Annual Report. Much has been accomplished this year, and I am grateful for all the efforts undertaken on behalf of the Society. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the lay leadership and the staff for being so dedicated, insightful, and affable. It has been a delight to work with each of you!

I also want to thank the congregation for this opportunity to serve. Being on the Board of Directors for the past two years has been very rewarding, and I have gained much from the experience. I wish our new President, Carolyn Cartland, and the incoming Board great success in the coming year! - Heather Ferguson-Hull

The Non-Fundraiser Fundraiser - Would you like to be able to make an additional financial contribution to USH at no additional cost whatever to you?

We are considering the possibility of starting a Scrip Program at USH. The way it works is that USH can buy Stop and Shop gift cards in bulk at a 5% discount, and then sell them to members and friends at face value. So, if you were to buy a $100 gift card from USH, you would get $100 worth of groceries, and USH would make $5. And if (for example) 30 USH households were to become “subscribers,” and buy $200 in gift cards every month for a year, USH would make $3,600! Remember last Sunday when we put all our individual pebbles into the jar? It made a significant deposit when we all worked together.

Does this program sound like something you might be willing to try? We are hoping to gauge interest before we go forward, so we’d like to hear from you!

If you would sign up to receive monthly gift cards (in most increments, starting at $25), please send me an email at heatherfh@comcast.net. We don’t need firm commitments, just an indication of serious interest.

You would be able to suspend or discontinue participating in the program after giving us reasonable notice at any time. And you would also be able to buy additional cards as needed. Please feel free to contact me with questions and/or comments. We hope to hear from you!- Heather Ferguson-Hull

A Note from our Music Department - We’ve just hired a new soprano soloist section-leader for next year, and she will do double duty, also leading congregational singing with energy, talent and joy.

Melissa Paul is a UConn graduate who has taught for AmeriCorps and now works for Leadership Greater Hartford. She has been a Cantor at a Catholic church and we’re retaining that title as Melissa helps us forge new musical ground. We are working on a list of possibilities for this new Cantor position, including congregational song-leading, teaching new hymns, and leading Sunday sing-alongs before and/or after certain services. After meeting with Melissa we are very excited about the possibilities and the abilities she brings, and she is very excited about entering our Unitarian Universalist environment.

Meanwhile our search team continues to seek and audition candidates for the Associate Music Director position, playing the organ and piano, and working with Mattie and Melissa in leading the music program.

Music will look and sound somewhat different next year, but we plan to maintain the same high standards of quality and engagement while branching into new musical possibilities.

Hopes and Dreams for Community - Those of us—and there were many—who heeded David Newton’s exhortation to “turn out in substantial numbers to hear out youth,” were well-rewarded last Sunday as the participants in our annual Youth Service made us proud of them and proud to be Unitarians.

Their varied and full service included piano and guitar, songs and poems, heart-felt testimonials, many laughs, and distribution of tiny rocks we rubbed during a “rock meditation” (but why did we have to give them back?) and lots of good feelings.

Here are some of the words we heard from our kids:

Gail Syring, Director of Religious Education, and Denise Ackeifi, Youth Director, conducted two “bridging ceremonies.” The first celebrated the eight high school seniors about to go on “their next journey toward adulthood.” Gail reminded them that, during our naming ceremonies for young children, each is given a white rose with its thorns removed. Sunday’s graduating seniors were given a vividly-colored rose complete with thorns because, as Gail said, “We can’t always protect you, but we hope we have given you tools to protect yourselves.”

These tools included the power to make decisions, how to think, and the right of conscience. USH’s high school class included Nora Berg, Max Elish, Aaron Greenbaum, Ben Lanser, Olivia Meny, Kim Miller, Kira Philips, Lucia Rubin-Cadrain and Dan Wuertz.

“Today is also a beginning,” Gail told the nine graduating eighth graders during the second bridging ceremony. She welcomed them into USH’s high school group and reminded them that they will now become the soup-makers. She asked them to promise, among other things, “to chop their fair share of onions next year.” More

Music is always important in a USH service. Aaron Greenbaum, classical pianist, and Ben Garmise, composer and guitarist, our “regular” USH choir plus the youth group members filled the Sanctuary with a wide variety of musical sounds. The service ended with all of us joining in a “hymn” whose words were written by Olivia Meny and Lucia Rubin-Cadrain and whose melody was borrowed from Pete Seeger’s “This Land is Your Land.”

So we all sang “This Place Accepts You.”

Chorus:
this place accepts you, this place accepts me
from the RE classrooms to the Sanctuary
from spirit play to the youth room
this Meeting House was made for you and me.

we’re on a journey for truth and meaning
we will support wherever you’re leaning
we will stand by you through every trial
this Meeting House was made for you and me.

(Chorus)
we will not leave you alone in sadness
we will take joy in all your gladness
we will all join hands in community
this Meeting House was made for you and me
(Chorus)
- Kayla Costenoble

Fall Small Group Ministry: Coming Attractions - We are now in the planning stages for fall Small Group Ministry. We are so excited about what’s coming that we want to share the news. In addition to the ever-popular afternoon and evening sessions, we will have some offerings in the category of “first time ever.”

Reverend B.J. (Barbara Jamestone) will be facilitating an SGM group focusing on readings on faith. This group will meet at her home in Bloomfield.

Fran Carnevale, building on the success of our LGBTI group this spring, will be facilitating an LGBTI Plus Friends (straight and supportive) group at her home in Simsbury, with Ann Carnavale as host.

Marye Gail Harrison, who has enjoyed participating in a Meeting House SGM this spring, will facilitate a special Sunday afternoon (4-6) SGM there this fall.

The extremely popular Family-Friendly SGM will again be meeting on Friday nights, with Bill Shoemaker as facilitator. Free childcare will be provided, along with inexpensive meals (pizza, etc.). We are open to all definitions of “family;” you will not need to have a partner or children to attend.

More information will be provided prior to registration. We just wanted you to be part of the excitement!a - Bev Spence

Making Sense of All Those Pulpit Allusions to Horizontal and Vertical Worship

This Spring, you've been hearing about "Up and Down" and "Back and Forth" and "Fields of Wonder" where horizontal and vertical planes intersect. I thought that I was creating a new UU construct, but it turns out that I was mostly 'channeling' the work of biologist and religious naturalist, Ursula Goodenough. Many thanks to our own USH scholar of Religious Naturalism, Karl Peters for sending me this article from "Zygon" magazine on Vertical and Horizontal Transcendece-- click here.

ABSTRACT - Transcendence is explored from two perspectives: the traditional concept wherein the origination of the sacred is "out there," and the alternate concept wherein the sacred originates "here." Each is evaluated from the perspectives of aesthetics and hierarchy. Both forms of transcendence are viewed as essential to the full religious life. Zygon 2001 36 March.

Volunteer Opportunities - brought to you from IASC

We plan to join the Habitat for Humanity effort in the fall. To find out about the House of Abraham project, attend with us a dialog event on June 30, 6 PM at St Patrick-St Anthony Franciscan Center for Urban Ministries, 285 Church St, Hartford. This project builds more than a house with Jews, Christians & Muslims. RSVP to Peter Magistri.

Horace Bushnell Children's Food Pantry provides a free breakfast once each month. We need two or three USH folks to work on June 13 from 7 to 11AM. Work with folks from 1st Congregational of Glastonbury. A rewarding experience and you get to eat as well! Call joan Kemble by 6/7. 633-4503; or catch her at church Sunday.

Foodshare needs helpers for Mobile Truck deliveries - to ride and help load perishables on Tuesdays (every other) 8:45 to 2:30 and Fridays (every other)12:00 to 2:30.

Help replace donated bread at the Bloomfield facility Thursdays from 4:30 to 7:30. Sort produce at the Regional Market on Tuesdays the shifts are between 8:30 AM and 3 PM, on Fridays shifts are between 8:30 AM and noon, on Saturdays between 8 AM and 3 PM. Airport Rd Exit off I 91. Take a friend or family for a group experience.
Call John Weedon, Foodshare Volunteer Coordinator (860) 286-9999, Ext. 124 or email jweedon@foodshare.org.

Do not forget to take food items, 1 for each family member, each Sunday you are at USH. Lately the box has been light. Children will not have free breakfast and lunch during the summer, so the need will be greater. - Joan Kemble

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Did You Know? - Green Sanctuary Sub-Council -

(Due to a conspiracy of the electronic world, the Green Sanctuary Sub-Council Annual Report contribution never made it to the Annual Report. Perhaps the fates thought it ought to be electronic only. In any event, here it is:)

Green Sanctuary Sub-Council

Chair: Beverly Prager
Members: Mary Sherwin, Barbara Prine, Edith Savage, Peter Magistri, David Newton, Laurie Rollins, Bill LaPorte-Bryan, Tom & Joan Kemble, Anne Bailey, Marye Gail Harrison, Randy Wuertzburg, BarbaraHellenga

Our mission: ~ To help our congregation live in harmony with and create a healthier world environment by spearheading activities that will educate and engender greater awareness of our impact on the environment and how we can bring forth positive change in personal lifestyle choices, congregational activities and the broader community.

Our accomplishments this year: Conducted a comprehensive assessment of our current environmental stewardship at USH following the UUA guidelines of focusing on four areas: worship & spiritual practice, religious education, environmental justice, and sustainable living.

Drawing on our perceived strengths and challenges determined in our assessment, we created an action plan of projects that will move us toward accomplishing our mission. Some items in our action plan have already been initiated including: establishing a green buying table at coffee hours and green gifts at holiday time, which raised money for our green initiative.

In addition, we created tools (bulletin board, weekly USH-Enews items, exhibits from DEP at coffee hour, adult program offerings – (Choices for Sustainable Living) for raising awareness/information regarding environmental actions; conducted a worship service in honor of Earth Day which encouraged carpooling, sharing of resources, help to weed/garden around USH and begin a gardening collaboration with The Village for Children and Families.

Our plans for next year: To apply for Green Sanctuary Candidacy and carry out the rest of our action plan.

GHICEJ Members - Please Join Us for Hartford Clean up Day - When: June 20th from 9AM to noon; Where: We will meet on Cabot Street in Hartford and clean up in that area. - All supplies will be provided: rakes, gloves, shovels, garbage bags. Just come in your work clothes and bring willing hands and heart! Refreshments will be provided.
(Jointly sponsored by the North Hartford Strategic Network, Christian Activities Council and the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity & Justice)

Directions: from I-84 (east or west) take Sisson Avenue Exit 46. Take right off exit onto Sisson Avenue. Go to the end of Sisson Avenue and take a right onto Farmington Avenue. Go about 0.3 miles and take a left onto Woodland Street. Go 0.8 miles and urn right on Homestead Avenue. Go 0.2 miles and turn left onto Cabot Street. You will see us. Look for red balloons. (Cabot Street is also off Albany Avenue) PLEASE RSVP to SHAI at 930-4278 or shaileen@sbcglobal.net if you plan to

What Else is Happening & Announcements

In the Merry, Merry ... month of May, the Costenobles and the Revills were thrilled to become GREAT grandparents. Kayla and Earl welcomed seven pound , one ounce James Anthony Fournier of Pittsfield, MA on May 2. On May 29, Ellie and Peter welcomed seven pound, 15 ounce Niko Alexander Beam of Portland, OR.

The Revills will meet their great grandson when he and his family come east in October for a wedding.

Contributors to our current art exhibit may collect their posters following the 10 AM service on June 7th - Sara Sturges

A Budget Briefing - for the congregation on Sunday, June 21 after the 10AM service and the memorial service for Jane Willits. Probably by approximately 12:30 PM. (Please note this hearing was previously scheduled for June 18th and has been rescheduled)

Making Melody in Our Hearts - On June 28, here's your chance to join Joyfuul Noise in singing several simple meditative chants during worship. We will gather as an "instant choir" at 9:15 that morning and learn several short pieces which we will sing as repetitive meditations during worship, as an experience of some of the dynamics which our speaker, Susan Huntington, will mention in discussing healing arts.

We hope to see you there!

Announcing Summer Small Group Ministry - Sign Up Now for Summer Small Group Ministry - The summer Small Group Ministry session is open for registration.

This summer we are offering just one program in July, and we have nine openings. The group will meet on four Wednesday evenings in July, beginning on July 1. The group will be facilitated by RE Director Gail Syring and will meet at the USH Meeting House in air-conditioned space.

Interested persons can identify accessibility concerns (including assisted listening devices or allergies) when registering so we can address them to the best of our ability.

Please sign up by contacting the church office (233-9897). - Gail M. Syring

New Sermons posted on the Web. Go to the source!

Lamps & Linens Needed for My Sister's Place - Collection will be June 7 and 14. More

Employment Support Network News - June 10 - 7:00 - 9:00 PM Network Potluck Supper - Meet to eat and talk about careers, jobs, and your experiences. Help design a small support group to continue through the summer months. Contact Esther McKone for further information.

Special Service Planned for June 14th The June 14th worship service with have a special focus on welcoming GLBT folks at Unitarian Society Hartford.

Our special collection will benefit True Colors (www.ourtruecolors.org) True Colors works to create a world where youth, adults and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities are valued and affirmed. They challenge all forms of oppression through education, training, advocacy, youth leadership development, mentoring and direct services to youth and those responsible for their well-being. - Greg Nicket

Interweave - (formerly called the Welcoming Congregation) will host a USH booth at CT Pride 2009. Pride will be on June 6th from 11:00 AM - 5:00 PM. at Bushnell Park. If you'd like to help staff the booth, and haven't already signed up, please join us at our planning meeting on May 3 at 1:00, or call Ann Carnevale at 860-651-0369 or email to: annmarycarnevale(at symbol)gmail.com.

Adult Programs - Stop by the Programs Table in Fellowship Hall to register for the June Friday Dinner & Movie after the service this Sunday. There will be copies of Greg Levoy's book Callings: Finding and Following an Authentic Life ($15) and A Chosen Faith by John Buehrens and Forrest Church ($16) available to purchase along with the other offerings in the Book Cart.

Friday Night Dinner and Movie, June 12. The featured movie for the final 2008-2009 dinner and movie evening will be "Field of Dreams". Please reserve by Monday, June 8. (more)

Looking ahead to programming for this fall, perhaps you or someone you know has a special interest and would like to offer a class or workshop. Please stop by the Programs Table to discuss it. Proposal forms are available on Sunday at the Programs Table, in the office, or you can go to the USH website Home page and click on Programs and Activities - Adult Programs - Proposal Form. The form can be left in the Adult Programs mailbox in the office or can be e mailed to Nancy Reed or Janice Newton. Please do not leave completed proposal forms with Brian or Rosie as we need to review and schedule them before they are submitted for publication in the catalog.

Caring Network - When it comes to nuclear weapons you have to be very clear that you are being ambiguous. - Government spokesman for Margaret Thatcher - 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. 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.

On the Calendar

Thursday, June 4
3:30 pm Seabury UU Gathering, Bloomfield

Friday, June 5
5:30 pm Family SGM, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, June 6
4:00 pm Wedding, Chapel

Sunday, June 7
9:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:45 am Youth Group Hike to Heublein Tower
10:00 am WORSHIP, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee, Fellowship Hall
12:00 - 4:00 pm “Callings” Workshop, Emerson
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Monday, June 8
7:00 pm Rental, Ballou

Tuesday, June 9
5:30 pm NVC Gathering, Minister’s Study
5:30 pm Lay Listeners, Davidson Home
7:00 pm Wheeler Recital, Chapel
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, June 10
5:45 pm Meditation and Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm Employment Support Group, Library
7:15 pm NVC Practice Group, Emerson
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, June 11
5:00 pm NVC, David
7:00 pm Rental, Ballou

Friday, June 12
5:30 pm Dinner and Movie, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, June 13
10:00 am Rental, Chapel
5:00 pm Nappi Piano Recital, Sanctuary

Sunday, June 14
8:45 am Building and Grounds, Murray
9:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:00 am WORSHIP, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

italicized entries are non-USH events.
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

Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)

Reminder: Retreat Scheduled in October - LADIES, mark your calendar now and save October 23-25, 2009 for a retreat to Senexet House in Woodstock, CT. The Unitarian Alliance Ministry to Women will host the event and all women are invited. Details will be published in September.

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