Home Page for the website of the Unitarian Society of Hartford.
Word Version of this document in color with photographs, which will print nicely for those who use Microsoft Word.
Link to various "normal" newsletters.This is a mostly black and white edition for easy printing without photographs.
USH-Enews For June 5, 2008
photo
Some of the participants in last Week's Youth Sunday Program and the Tree of Saintly Inspiration created during the service.
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 the web 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
Summer Services at 10 AMphoto
Sunday - June 8 Of Pink Triangles and Gray Rainbows - A sermon in two-parts by John K. Currie with Reply by the Rev. Barbara Jamestone. The inverted pink triangle (in German the Rosa Winkel) was intended as a badge of shame. It has since become the pink badge of courage.
The second part of the sermon will tell a modern version of the Prodigal Son story, with a Unitarian twist. A children’s sermon by Gail Syring will look at “Lefthanders.” Choral music will include Bobby McFerrin’s The 23rd Psalm, UU minister Fred Small’s Everything Possible and the hymn Amazing Grace.
John, lawyer, musician and speaker has visited us before. You may wish to visit his "works" on the web: here is one reference. And here is another. John has also appeared with the Emerson Brass Quintet in numerous benefit performances for Love Makes a Family. John is a past Board Member of Love Makes a Family and is presently the Vice-President of the PFLAG Hartford chapter. PFLAG stands for Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays."
- Post service Annual Meeting in Fellowship Hall with Desserts - Election of new officers - See Notice of Annual Meeting pdf ,Slate of Officers and related details.
Music - Bobby McFerrin has de-genderized the 23rd Psalm, setting it in traditional Anglican choral style to highlight how natural it is to see God as "Our Mother" equally as well as "Our Father." In the same vein, Fred Small, who started as a performing folk singer/songwriter and is now an ordained Unitarian minister, composed "Everything Possible" reminding us that some women love women, some men love men, and it is the love that makes the union. Larry Allen, former music director at Immanuel Church in Hartford, adapted the arrangement for male voices; we are arranging it back for our mixed choir.
REflections on Children's Programming - Summer Programming - Our summer program will begin this Sunday, June 8th. Children will attend the worship service through the children's message and then attend class as a multiage group in the Spirit Play classroom.
Annual Meeting - Childcare will be provided in the Spirit Play classroom during the Annual Meeting this Sunday, June 8th.
Gail M. Syring, DREFrom the Editor: Many thanks to all who attended Youth Sunday last week. Our young people were thrilled to be playing to a full house.
This Week’s Feature Articles
Annika's Contribution
The Tree of Saintly Inspiration
About CommunicationsA Few Words About Your Communications Sub-Council - In the world of honeybees we have learned some members of the colony, thought for a considerable period to have no known useful function, turn out, in fact, to be the communication glue holding the colony together. These individuals, for example, when prompt in unloading returning foragers communicate the great needs of the colony for additional food resources. The field bees respond by rushing to the exits for additional food gathering trips. These key members of the colony cause quick responses to various needs of the society of which they are key parts in various other ways.
At USH, we have a Communications Group, individuals who perform various activities resulting in communications with our Society members and friends. As we reach the end of a fiscal year, it is entirely appropriate to remind ourselves of their key contribution to our functioning, and where better to do so than in one of our publications, the USH-Enews.
Anne Bailey, a member of the group, specializes in keeping the bulletin boards in the lower lobby attractive and full of useful information. (Nancy Reed also helps by keeping an eye on those sections where folks post miscellaneous material of general interest and seeing that the contents are kept timely.) In addition to Anne’s many other activities, she has also snapped many of the pictures included in our illustrated Directory of members and friends, and did the work of adapting all of the photos found there into the necessary format.
Tom Reed, many of you may not know, has taken on the responsibility of getting our weekly service descriptions into the Courant each week and has done an excellent job at being our conduit to that key publication.
In addition, he and Sarah Gilligan worked diligently this year with other volunteers and the Chair of the Membership Committee to plan an external advertising campaign, a campaign being implemented during the months of July through October when the greatest number of visitors annually join us for a “test drive” each year. You may want to take a look at the front page of the Connecticut section at the Courant web site on Saturdays during this period to view our first on-line advertising effort.
In the office, Rosie Rindfleisch prepares the Meeting House Weekly distributed each Sunday, prepares the calendars appearing weekly in the USH-Enews and the Sunday Order of Service, in addition to her other duties around the office.
Also, Brian Mullen has undertaken the formatting job for the monthly Meetinghouse Messenger this year as well as seeing to its printing, packaging and distribution through the postal service. It is he who also maintains the web calendar with all scheduled events.
Gail Syring in addition to her specialized attention to matters of Religious Education continues as our reporter of things RE producing a weekly contribution to the USH-Enews and monthly Messenger.
Our ever vigilant reporter, Kayla Costenoble, has been your ears at services and events, writing about many of them in ways that underscore the points made while reminding us of the essential truths we might profitably consider at some length.
Gail Bogossian does occasional writing assignments. At this moment, she is engaged in preparing new website content to tell visitors that Unitarianism has a considerable history as well as pointing to a good number of noteworthy folks who have claimed our denomination as their chosen home.
David Newton, the chair of this outstanding group of talented individuals maintains our website, email services, edits the USH-Enews and prepares raw edited copy for the monthly Messenger.
Your role in these activities is to submit your articles and notices, prepare articles and send them along for publication, read the publications produced, use the listservs, and otherwise contribute your talents to our USH Society.
If you would like to highlight workers in your part of the vineyard, simply write the article and send it along to the editor of the USH-Enews before Wednesday at 4:30 PM if you want it published the next day. You may remember how we highlighted information about various lay listeners and Board Members. Perhaps you might describe work going on in your Sub-Council(s). - DCN
The Tree of Saintly Inspiration - Even getting into the Sanctuary for the Annual Youth Service last Sunday was different. We were given colored pens, lovely green leaves and no answers to our questions on what we were supposed to do with them. The Sanctuary was jammed; many of us must have heeded David Newton’s suggestion that this was a service not to be missed.
Rollicking music, lots of congregational participation, and serious discussions on saints—personal, organizational and worldly—filled the long service.
The music was eclectic and, much of the time, it rocked. The youth choir belted out Let It Be. Good People asked “Where Did All the Good People Go?” The singer in When I’m Gone realized, ”Guess I’ll Have to Do It While I’m Here.” The congregation joined in If Every Woman (Man, Leader, Nation) In The World, a plea for no more war and the popular Lean On Me. John Jesensky’s fabulous piano helped make the music special.
In the Personal Saints section, youth group members honored their parents and siblings. In Organizational Saints, references were made to, among others, Jesus, Buddha and UUA past president John Bueherns. Among the Wordly Saints mentioned were Ghandi and Mother Teresa. Following each section, members of the congregation were asked to nominate their own candidates for each category—and there was a great deal of discussion going on in the Sanctuary during these times.
An Audio-Visual Presentation entitled We’re Going to be Friends artistically showed names and pictures of a great many persons—Anne Frank, Franklin Roosevelt, Abraham Lincoln, Martin Luther King, Jr., Woody Guthrie (to name just a few) and ended with “Janice Newton, who needs no picture.”
A Bridging Ceremony for senior Eric Gatlin was led by RE director Gail Syring, who offered Eric a bright red rose complete with all its thorns (unlike the small, thorn-less roses used at naming ceremonies) to “affirm the infinite worth of Eric, who is leaving us” And we finally found out what we were to do with our pens and leaves. Throughout the service, we were looking at a new banner of a many-branched but bare tree. After we each wrote the name of a personal saint on our leaf and pinned it on the tree, there wasn’t a bare branch to be seen on The Tree of Saintly Inspiration.
Youth group members who participated in the well-planned and well-received service included: Aubrey Nelson, Eric Gatlin, Aaron Greenbam, Lucia Rubin-Cadrain, Julia Wuertz, Nora Berg, Christian Hansen, Marc Czepiel, Dan Wuertz, Kira Philips, Olivia Meny, Ben Garmise, Max Elish, Ginger Furey and Ebony Alston-Gaddy. (Your reporter apologizes in advance for any names that may have been omitted.) - Kayla Costenoble
Annika - During the service on Youth Sunday, little Annika sat on the side bench with her Dad. In her hot little hand she held a couple of crumpled bills watching intently as the plate was passed from pew to pew. Closer and closer it came until, at length, it reached the end of the adjacent pew. At this moment she jumped down off the bench and set off to make her contribution to the moving basket.
Too late!
The basket was now moving away from her toward the center aisle. Quickly she raced down the adjacent pew to catch up with the moving basket but yet again she was foiled as it moved to the next pew to the rear and started moving the other way.
At this point the basket finally, paused for a moment in and adult hand, waiting for her to catch up and at last put her contribution into the basket!
Ah, satisfaction and mission accomplished! She returned proudly to her bench at the side.
Just think how helpful it would be if we all paid our pledges timely with equal determination and pride. - DCN
On the CalendarThursday, June 5
10:00 am (organ) Rental, Sanctuary
7:30 pm Organ Master Class, Sanctuary
Friday, June 6
7:00 pm Benefit Concert for the Dana Farber Cancer Institute, Sanctuary
Saturday, June 7
8:30 am (organ) Rental, Sanctuary
5:00 pm American Friends Service Committee, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, June 8
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am B & G Sub-council, Murray
10:00 am Youth Soup Making, Kitchen
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
11:30 am Adult Programs, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Monday, June 9
7:30 pm Organ Recital, Sanctuary
Tuesday, June 10
6:00 pm Board of Directors, Library
6:45 pm Caring Network Sub-council, Servetus
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, June 11
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir rehearsal, Sanctuary
7:30 pm NVC practice group, Emerson
Thursday, June 12
5:30 pm Lay Listeners, Jamestone Home
7:00 pm Mariachi Connecticut Concert, Sanctuary
Friday, June 13
1:00 pm Transitional Group, Library
5:30 pm Dinner and Movie, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, June 14
10:00 am Rental, Chapel
4:00 pm Congregational Conversation on Fall Sunday Programming, Chapel
Sunday, June 15
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
11:30 AM BTWWDA, Emerson
3:00 pm Rental, ChapelItalicized 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!What Else is Happening & Announcements
The June-August Meetinghouse Messenger is available.
Is your Photo Missing - from the USH Photo Directory? Are you unhappy with the photo that is there now?
There will be an opportunity for new photos and retakes during the 11:00 AM Coffee hour after the service. Anne Bailey and David Newton will be awaiting you in Fellowship Hall – if you don’t know us, just look for our cameras!
Action: Advocacy Opportunities for Peace - The Campaign for a New American Policy on Iran is sponsoring a national call-in day for dialogue with Iran on Tuesday, June 10th. Please join thousands of citizens in calling your representatives at 1-800-788-9372 and tell them to work for direct, unconditional and comprehensive talks between the U.S. and Iran. IASC
The UUA and UUSC are raising funds to aid cyclone victims in Burma. They have connections with Asian relief agencies that can get the job done. Here is a link while it remains current
USH donations to the Food Pantry have been paltry. Needs there are greater than ever. Based on nine meals-per-person-per-month, the HB Food Pantry has served 10,944 meals in the most recent month, when they served 642 children, 319 adults, and 255 seniors. They will continue to need food this summer. Please, make it a habit to take items each Sunday (or even on week nights when you have meetings). Talk to your children about it - ask them to take on the responsibility. Put cans in the car, so when you get to USH they will be there too!
- IASCFrom the Adult Programs Sub-Council: There will not be a Programs table during the summer. However, we'll be gathering ideas and proposals for adult programs to offer in the fall curriculum. So we would like to hear from you! You may e-mail or call an AP sub-council member - Janice Newton, Chair; Ginny Berrien, Helen David, Virginia de Lima, Nita Hansen, Barbara Hellenga, Mary Leonard, Nancy Reed, or Beverly Spence, with your thoughts. We'll look forward to seeing you at the Fall Programs Fair. Have a great summer!
Proposal forms are available in the office, and at the USH website (click on Spiritual Life and then Adult Programs).
You can still reserve your seat for the final Friday Night Dinner and Movie of the season by calling the office no later than June 9. The movie will be "Away from Her."“In a refreshingly direct, unassuming manner, 'Away from Her' considers two great human mysteries: the persistence of love and the workings of the brain." A. O. Scott - The New York Times
Safe in Our Mouths - During our worship service on Sunday, May 4, 2008, we were blessed to listen as three of our congregants spoke eloquently and movingly about living with various forms of brain disorders. More
Caring Network - Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible. - by Dalai Lama - 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.Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)
UU Singles group is going to the fireworks. We will start with a dinner at the Prospect Cafe. Then to Trinity College for a patriotic carillon concert, ending with the fireworks. We also avoid the downtown crowds there. Saturday July 5, starting at 6:00 PM. (Rain date July 6) RSVP to Larry Lunden, bigcheese636 (at) yahoo (dot) com, 232-2416, before July 2 to get in on the fun. All singles are invited.
Painters Needed - In August a team of painters, not necessarily the artistic type, will enhance the appearance of another classroom. Any one who is interested in picking up a brush on a Friday or Saturday in early August should contact Skip Berrien at f.berrien(at symbol)comcast.net or call him at 243 0149.
External Events and Educational Notes
The American Friends Service Committee, CT area, will hold the annual dinner at USH on Saturday, June 7 with silent auction at 4:15, dinner and program 5:30-9. "Engaging the Spirit for Justice and Peace: the Work of the AFSC" is the topic. $45 pp/$30 students/financial assistance. contact Connecticut@afsc.org
World Refugee Day will be at the Hartford Public Library, 500 Main St www.hplct.org on Saturday, June 21 from noon until 4 PM. Hartford Sister Cities International, Hartford's Refugee Community and numerous other cultural organizations invite you and your family to commemorate World Refugee Day. Free events include exhibits, information, booths and dances from around the world.695-6334 or ask Brian Smith. - The KemblesA 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
Did You Know? - Make smart purchases to begin with. support manufacturers who do take-back programs like Dell and Hewlett-Packard who repurchase old products.
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