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.USH-Enews For June 7, 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 AMPhoto
L-R, Bridget Ackeifi, Nelly Obelnicki, Russ Barrnett & Wil Huntington, our bridging group at the youth service on May 20th.
The youth service prepared and put on by these and other youth participants was a splendid achievement! Some of us are still attempting to decide whether to set off to Mars or remain with friends at home, or to buy that large SUV in order to assure employment while we kill the atmosphere in lieu of declaring war on a small country! This is powerful stuff!
Sunday - 10 June - Capek’s Flower Festival - The flower festival is our one uniquely Unitarian liturgical act, without borrowed words or ritual acts from any other faith. Do you know the story? Please bring a fresh flower or two for our huge congregational bouquet, and let us once again celebrate the beloved diversity of our congregation and the many gifts of our members. - BJ
Music: Sunday's music celebrates the exuberance of life! With fanfares by John Williams, the worlds most prolific living Olympic and film composer. We cherish our roots, while also looking forward to the blossoming of new days!
Offertory Anthem: I Am the Rose of Sharon - William Billings - Children's Anthem: See Me Beautiful -- Red Grammer Chalice Children - Children's Anthem: Peace Like a River - Children's ChoirREflections - Having thanked our many teachers and volunteers, the RE school year draws to a close this week with the intergenerational Flower Festival service on June 10th. The summer program, featuring guided activities designed to promote community building and creativity, begins next Sunday, June 17th after the children's message.
Beginning on June 24th, the children's summer program will start at 10 AM in Fellowship Hall each week. Please join us for an amazing demonstration of hot air balloons created by our own Jesse Richter!
Creative adults are still needed to make this summer meaningful for our kids. If you can find it in your heart to dedicate one hour to this essential effort, please contact Gail Syring at gsyring(at symbol)ushartford.com.From the Editor: Contributors, next week we will have a double issue so send along news items for 14th and the 21st by the 4:30 PM deadline on Wednesday 13 June.
This Week’s Feature ArticlesUSH's Unsung Heroes Recognized - There are many unsung heroes among us—those who may not hold board, council, sub-council or committee positions but whose small and huge acts of love deserve to be recognized. The tributes that follow were submitted by admirers of these unsung heroes. The list is by no means complete. (more)
Envisioning the Congregation We May Become More
It Took A Community - of some 30 USH members to create the new 14 1/2 by 7 foot flower-filled banner that was hung for Rev. BJ’s installation ceremony on May 20. The banner was the brainchild of Diane Cadrain and Rosie Rindfleisch, who turned plain Meeting House rooms into fun-filled havens of creation during three workshop sessions in April.
Green background fabric, a selection of purple, rose, blue and yellow fabrics, scissors, ironing boards, bonding material and all the help you needed enabled participants with all levels of experience to create the 33 imaginative flower squares for the USH’s newest banner.
The larger central block, created by Diane, features a camellia japonica, the state flower of Alabama, Rev. BJ’s original home, and a mountain laurel, the state flower of Connecticut, Rev. BJ’s new home. Rosie assembled the blocks into the large banner, incorporating several blocks of coordinating fabric with the square flower blocks.
Participants in the adventure were Anne Bailey, Mattie Banzhaf, Diane Cadrain, Cynara Cooper-Silvey, Sheryl Cooper-Silvey, Kayla Costenoble, Earl Costenoble, Carol Davidson, Barbara Fraher, Maggie Greene, Nita Hansen, Marye Gail Harrison, Diana Heymann, Clara Horn, Sue Kinney, Ann LaPorte-Bryan, Nancy Mandly, Kim McClain, Esther McKone, Peg Otto, Betty Palmer, Nancy Reed, Elsie Rickard, John Rickard, Rosie Rindfleisch, Edith Savage, Louise Schmoll, Carol Shoemaker, Stephanie Silvey, Brian Smith and Celeste Smith.
Envisioning the Congregation We May Become - June. End of the (fiscal) church year. Time to thank USH staff and volunteers. Time to welcome new volunteers. Time to look back to see what we’ve done and forward to what we’ll do next. And it all happened during services last Sunday, as Rev. BJ welcomed us to “our evolving organization, growing in spirit and growing in service.”
Worship associates Carolyn Cartland and David Principe set the theme for the service with their “Name Many Names” question and answer dialog. In the skit, David was phoning Carolyn to find out where we were located and the time for services. What he got was a long list of names, locations and a history of the Society beginning in 1830.
A conversation between USH’s new President, Bill Young, and Rev. BJ (reading authentic quotes from early Hartford UUs) showed us some past history, problems and growth. Bill reminded us that the USH will celebrate its 200th birthday in 2030, making us an “historic church.” Rev. BJ read a letter from one of the earliest Hartford UUs—before there was a UU church—wondering, “Could we really get something going around here? Will we be accepted here?” The early 20th century was a boom time for Hartford, with the congregation becoming a civic church. Rev. BJ read a 1920’s quote by a Hartford mayor: “We like the Unitarians. They are involved in so many issues.”
The USH has had many homes. Contemplating yet another move, during the annual meeting in 1958, the church’s president said, “We’ve been here for more than 100 years. This is an historic beautiful place. Maybe we should wait for another 100 years.” Bill pointed out that we have been in our present home 40 years.
Concerning the USH’s future direction, Bill said race and oppression are challenging areas and he feels we have “an opportunity to be involved in a profound way.” He told the congregation that the USH has been chosen as one of only a handful of congregations to try out a new RE curriculum, “Building the World We Dream About,” which revolves around spiritual health and moral obligations. No matter what the issues are, he concluded, the consistent thread is that we have been the “voice of liberal religion in Hartford since 1830.”
Also addressing the USH’s future direction, Rev. BJ admitted that she is adept at shaking things up, but “You have received me with grace and courage, have absorbed my disordering style with aplomb, have matched me step by step.” And she quoted Walt Whitman, “ I give you my hand! Will you give me yourself? Will you come travel with me?”
One important chunk of the service was a tribute to the Religious Education (RE) staff. Laurie Kelliher, RE sub-council chair, said she had learned the answer to the eternal RE question : Who will teach? The answer: We will teach. And she asked more of us to become teachers, assuring prospective teachers they would find a helpful, well-run organization assisting them. Laurie paid tribute to Nina Binin, outgoing volunteer RE Director, thanking her for untold hours of work and for her “open heart.” Nina said that, looking back, this “crisis period turned out to be a blessing in disguise.” It gave her a chance to look at everything in RE. A responsive reading honoring RE educators and volunteers and featuring the children and the congregation was led by Gail Syring, new RE Director.
Immediately following the 11 AM service, we held our Annual Meeting, led by outgoing President Charles Huntington. He said the “organizing theme” of his presidency was BJ’s coming here. “There is nothing she hasn’t asked us to question.” Charles was gifted with a pair of hiking sticks and books on hikes in Connecticut and the Northeast; he suggested, "We may not see him again."
The proposed slate for open seats on the Board of Directors was approved unanimously: Heather Ferguson Hull, President-Elect (to serve 2008-2009); Nina Elgo, Secretary; Karla Principe, At Large member to the Council on Community Within. - Kayla Costenoble
Continued - Betty Arnold has for years been our dedicated newsletter facilitator. She calls her crew each month and determines which day works best for all, usually picks up a helper on her way to the Meeting House, delegates labeling tasks, weighs and fills out the postal forms for each mailing. Meetinghouse Messenger mailing is only one of the more recent roles she has filled. During her 80 year membership tenure, she has served as Sunday School teacher, as Membership Chair and Welcome Table Host, as valued member of the Women’s Alliance, and has performed a host of other small acts with great love.
Anne Bailey is recognized for her super work, along with many others, on improvements to Fellowship Hall as well as her current work on all things photographic including bulletin boards and the developing picture directory.
Gail Bogossian, Communications Sub-Council member, authored a recent web page article on Unitarian principles.Kayla Costenoble, former Meetinghouse Messenger editor (for four years) now creates almost-weekly articles for the USH-Enews. Her specialty is reporting on Sunday services.
Roy Cook’s architectural talent was seen most recently in his meticulous drawings for the twelve new parking spaces for handicapped persons, which helped convince Hartford’s Zoning Board to approve this addition. He also continues to bring art shows to the ambulatory, including a recent show of original drawings for our present Meeting House.
Kathy Ferguson is a professional decorator, a new member of the USH and lends her expertise to beautify the Meeting House. We can thank her in part for glamorizing Fellowship Hall for Rev. BJ’s installation.
Sarah Gilligan, on the do-stuff (Communications Sub-Council) team, has worked hard without other reward attempting to gain publicity for USH in local news media.Nita Hansen, has for almost ten years run the monthly Friday Night Dinner and a Movie, as a warm and gregarious hostess who makes everyone feel welcome. She greets everyone by name, and encourages participation in the post-movie discussion. The movie is an easy entry for newcomers into the community at USH, and Nita’s consistent leadership is much appreciated.
Ruth Holland never fails to reach out with concern by sending a cheery card or making a chatty phone call when aware of someone in need, even now as she is grieving the loss of her beloved husband Gil.
Marion Kelliher is another new member who immediately made her presence felt by single-handedly organizing and running the six Circle Dinners enjoyed during the 2006-07 church year.
David Newton, webmaster extraordinaire, keeps us informed via the weekly USH-Enews, the monthly Messenger, the USH web site, and special email announcements. Additionally, he is up on the roof and down in the boiler room, photographing events, changing light bulbs, weeding the garden, taking notes, adding pithy observations about institutional procedures and pitfalls, serving as technical guru, prompt, reliable, cheerful (generally!) and deeply loyal. David can be counted on for an informed opinion and for a helping hand on any project.
Janice Newton, omnipresent at USH, cooks, weeds, cleans, sets up, arranges, comes early and stays late, runs meetings and organizations and events with practical and painstaking attention to detail, rarely misses a USH event, is tender and warm to everyone she meets, is the driving force behind the Caring Network, the Comfort Shawl Ministry and the Adult Programs Sub-Council. District clergy are still talking about the hospitable meal she provided at Rev. BJ’s house. And have you tasted her cookies?
Tom Reed has really taken hold of keeping the records for the ever-more-difficult picture directory project and is faithfully sending along information on our services to the Courant each week.Rosie Rindfleish, whose gentle touch is evident everywhere at USH, helped over 30 people decide to join our congregation this year. In her work for Membership Sub-Council alone, she assigned the Welcome Team helpers and managed the usher teams, supplied all of the materials used by the team, sent letters from you to our visitors, invited newcomers to attend the Pathways to Membership classes, provided essential administrative support for the Pathways classes, made new name tags for visitors, friends and members, kept all of the records about visitors and new members, and never lost her cool or her smile. Working with Rosie is a joy.
Nancy Nelson delivered a courageous testimonial during worship that challenged us to meet our stewardship goal this year. She has quietly stood behind and supported her daughter Aubrie Nelson in organizing and leading our newest choir, The Chancel Children. These tiny singers bring smiles to our faces and our hearts, because of teen ager Aubrie and her mom Nancy.
Ed Savage quietly, unassuming and faithfully records Sunday services, duplicates them for those who ordered them, labels them and gets them out there to be picked up. Rev. BJ remembers with deep gratitude those that were sent to her in Florida when she and the USH were getting to know each other last summer.
Ed Sax could be called ‘young Ed’ because he works like a man 40 years his junior. How many folks realize that Ed dug out and repaired the building drainage pipe under the library roof this past year? Alone! The result? Classroom A by the downstairs custodian closet is now high and dry. And we now can hang occasional art in Fellowship Hall because of Ed’s new ‘hanger system.’
Margaret Sax. As the USH’s Archivist, Margaret has organized and preserved the historic records of our congregation for many years. Currently the collection is boxed, labeled and shelved in the library. Often the story of our past is researched by calling Margaret and meeting with her at the boxes to explore and learn. Margaret is an example of steadfastness and sustainability.
Louise Schmoll, is the institutional memory of USH events , and still a very hard and selfless worker, behind the scenes, doing drudge work as well as planning. Most recently she has saved one of our most precious banners (the white snowballs!) from mice bites, and she has once again reminded us that we need to do a financial audit!
Hugh Schweitzer. A relatively “new” member of the Society, architect Hugh did a really splendid job during this winter using his professional skills in the acquisition and installation process for the new boilers.
Chris Smith started the Men’s Luncheon Group about 25 years ago (!) and it’s still going strong today; men in the Society meet monthly to socialize, eat, and discuss topics such as education, polities, social and religious issues.Stu Spence. An always-active Co-Chair of the Building and Grounds Committee, Stu has spent a good bit of time recently under the new organ making various connections, is frequently found working with Ed Sax on all manner of electrical issues and may be seen from time to time on the roof with David Newton.
The Caring Network: Individually and collectively, they reach out to members and friends of our congregation in the hospital and in recovery. They drive our members and friends to doctors' appointments and to church, provide food at times and help those in need in other ways.
Newsletter crew - Those who gather to fold, label, sort, and prepare the monthly newsletter for mailing. Regulars include Louise Schmoll, Betty Arnold, Jane Stone, Janice Williams, Ed Richardson, Dick Edwards, John Barlow, Laurie Rollins and, sometimes, Dorothy Fowler, Louise Willett, and Flo Grieb.
Small Group Ministry facilitators and hosts provide ongoing ministry which is much appreciated by the SGM Steering Committee and by all who participate in SGM. Facilitators go through facilitator training, attend regular meetings two to three times a year, and conduct eight-session SGM's usually once a year. They are very giving people, and include: Carol Davidson, Barbara Fraher, Lisa Gabrielle, Carolyn Cartland, Marye Gail Harrison, Heather Ferguson-Hull, Kent Jamison, Margaret Leicach, Fred Louis, Bev Prager, Bill Shoemaker, Bev Spence, Gail Syring, Ginny Berrien, Bill Willett, and Mike Roy.
Hosts open their homes for gatherings, provide refreshments at times, and take responsibility for communicating schedules and postponements. They include: Nita Hansen, Janice & David Newton, Kathie Ferguson, Lisa Gabrielle, Betsey Mahaffey, Margaret & Ed Sax, Helen Michael, Kayla & Earl Costenoble, Cecilia Roehl,and Carol Shoemaker.Editor's note: We simply can't do something like this without omitting some very precious folks. So.. drop the editor a note about any glaring errors and we will make a special effort to recognize them in this space next week. And now, let us have a round of electronic applause for the many good folks, listed above or not, who are USH!
What Else is Happening & Announcements
Summer Sunday Reminder - We will hold one Sunday worship service at 10:00 AM beginning Sunday, June 17 and continuing through Sunday, September 2.
The 2007-2008 Calendar - All scheduled meetings and events should be submitted to the office for inclusion on the new online calendar for next year. If your events are not booked, please send the information to Brian promptly so that they may be included. Here are the current events listed. Bookmark this URL!Attention Young Artists! - Rev. BJ would like to retain and file the art work which is now displayed for use at a future time at the MH. If you are agreeable, please leave the art work in place, rather than removing it next week, and we will file it for a later display.
Life Line Screening Comes to The Meeting House - The Meeting House will be the all-day venue for Life Line Screening on MONDAY, JUNE 11, 2007. Life Line Screening will offer four screenings using Doppler Color Flow Ultrasound:
1) Carotid Artery Screening – looks for plaque buildup in the arteries, which can lead to stroke. (Up to 75% of all strokes are linked to carotid artery blockage);
2) Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm (AAA) test – checks for an aneurysm (enlargement) in the abdominal aorta leading to a ruptured aortic artery.
The majority of people who have a AAA have no symptoms and the
mortality rate for a ruptured AAA is 80-94%;
3) An Ankle Brachial Index (ABI) –screens for Peripheral Arterial Disease (PAD) in the lower extremities. Peripheral Arterial Disease is a strong indicator of heart disease.
4) Bone Density screening tests both men and women for the early detection of osteoporosis.
You must pre-register by calling 1-800-324-1851. (Do not call the USH office.) These screenings are completely painless, non-invasive, and each test requires ten minutes or less to complete. The cost is $35-$45 each or all four for $129.GHICEJ Invites You to a Celebration!! - Please Join Us! - WHEN: JUNE 14th, 2007 WHERE: GRACE LUTHERAN CHURCH
TIME: 5:30 pm to 8:30 pm We have much to be grateful for:
** Another year of intense issue work with some successes in sight!
** Anti-Racism training well underway
** Productive alliances with other groups and organizations
** A successful January Public Meeting
** Membership growth
** Deepening of relationships with one another(We will begin with a short Board Meeting from 5:30 to 6:15PM. Following this, we will have a potluck dinner. Dessert, beverages and paper goods will be provided by GHICEJ.
Please RSVP to Shai Cassell or Margaret Steinegger-Keyser at 548-1744)
Adult Programs: - Space Available in August Small Group Ministry - You Can Still Sign Up for August Small Group Ministry. We are registering for Small Group Ministry in August (5 openings). The July session is full. The group will meet on Thursday evening each week for four
consecutive weeks. Margaret Leicach will facilitate the group, starting on August 2. It will convene at the Meeting House in air-conditioned space. You may sign up by contacting the church office.Caring Network - If I can stop one heart from breaking, I shall not live in vain. - Emily Dickinson 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.
Thursday, June 7
10:00 am Women’s Alliance Cabinet, Library
1:00 pm Women’s Alliance Luncheon, West Hartford
Friday, June 8
5:30 pm Dinner & Movie: “Prairie Home Companion”, Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm Rental, Library
Saturday, June 9
9:30 am Rental, Chapel
Sunday, June 10
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Building and Grounds, Murray
10:00 am Council on Social Justice, Library
10:00 am Children’s Choir, Chapel
10:15 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:30 am Chalice Choir, Chapel
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 noon Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
7:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Monday, June 11
9:00 am – 5:00 pm Rental (Life Line Screening), Fellowship Hall
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Murray
Tuesday, June12
6:00 pm Board of Directors, Library
6:00 pm Caring Network, Servetus
6:00 pm Rental, Chapel
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, June 13
10:00 am – 3:00 pm Staff Retreat, New Hartford (OFFICE CLOSED)
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir, Sanctuary
Thursday, June 14
7:30 pm Rental, Chapel
Friday, June 15
7:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Sunday, June 17
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am Disabilities, Library
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
11:30 am Lay Speaker Training, Ballou
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
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 More general calendar information covering several months may be found here.Further Down The Road (About 30 Days Max)
UU Singles Dinner and Fireworks - If you are single and looking for a way to celebrate
the Fourth, come join us for the evening of Saturday July 7. We will start at the Prospect Cafe for dinner at 6:00. Then we will go to Trinity College for a patriotic carillon concert at 8:00. Then the fireworks will go off at 9:45.
Meet other singles from the three local UU churches and others of like mind. Join the group and participate in our activities throughout the year. RSVP to Larry Lunden, bigcheese(at)yahoo(dot)com,
or 232-2416 so I will know you are coming.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)
External Events and Educational Notes
Fathers Day Cookout - Sunday, June 17, 2007, Noon to 6 PM in Elizabeth Park on the Hartford side, near playground. Food and fellowship provided.This is an excellent opportunity to help bridge the racial divide in Hartford. Sponsored by the Father-to-Father program of My People Clinical Services.
Fathers and mothers bring your children, or if you are unable to bring them, show up so that we can talk about shared parenting.
Volunteers needed to organize and supervise one activity: e.g., kickball, face painting, water balloons, a craft, etc.
More information: Contact John Clapp, Shared Parenting Council of Connecticut, 860-983-3685 or Keon Berry, Father-to-Father, 597-1575Announcing a new event for The Humanist Association of Connecticut - When: Saturday, June 9, 2:30 PM - Where: Unitarian Society of New Haven, Hamden, CT Event Description: Ever since Humanist Manifesto One, humanists have been
arguing about the terms "religious humanism","religion", and whether humanism is a religion, philosophy, or both.
David Schafer, past president of the Humanist Association of America, will
provide some background material and lead a discussion on this intractable problem.We will meet in the library at USNH. Refreshments will be served. - Learn more here
Announcing a new event for The Humanist Association of Connecticut - What: Is Islam Compatible with Western Democracy? - When: Monday, June 18, 7:30 PM - Where: Unitarian Soc of New Haven
700 Hartford Turnpike - Hamden , CT 06517
Event Description: The Humanist Association of Connecticut's monthly meeting for June will feature a panel discussion on "Is Islam Compatible with Western Democracy?" The panelists will be Dr. David Schafer, author of a series of articles in the Humanist on Islam, and Michelle Koth, presenter of "Women and Islam" at one of our prior monthly meetings.
We'll start with coffee and conversation at 7:30 PM. The discussion will follow brief announcements at 8:00 PM.(It is not necessary to RSVP for this event; I'm listing it as a meetup so that you can get e-mail reminders from meetup.com) Learn more here: For more information, call Ed Savage 860-232-5603.Announcing a new event for The Humanist Association of Connecticut Meetup Group! - What: Hartford Area Social Dinner at Mediza, LaSalle Road.
When: Thursday, June 28, 6:45 PM - Event Description: Enjoy the discussion over dinner with other humanists!This month our Hartford-area dinner will be at Mediza, a Mediterranean restaurant in West Hartford. There's ample free parking near the restaurant, as well as an inexpensive lot nearby. Note the meeting time, 6:45 instead of 7:00.
You can get more information about our group at http://www.cthumanist.org - For more information, call Ed Savage 860-232-5603
Did You Know? - Excerpts from, The Solution is You, by Laurie David - The University of Florida at Gainesville has made it a mandate that all new cars purchased for the school's fleet be hybrid or fuel efficient equivalent. (Wouldn't that be a good idea for the U. S. Government's fleet of more than 620,000 cars as well?)
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
