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USH-Enews For June 12, 2008
Photo
Many members gathered for the Annual Meeting after the June 8th service and delicious desserts. New Board Members were elected including Mike Roy, the new President Elect. Bill Young, current President, presided over the meeting and received a standing ovation for his great service to USH during challenging financial and minister recruitment events. Heather Ferguson-Hull, the new President as of July 1st, spoke briefly. The Annual Report was distributed and everyone is urged to read it because it includes informative reports from various Sub-Councils and officers. Along with the few verbal reports at the meeting, a discussion began on the obligations of USH to various Social Justice external organizations and in particular to ICEJ, to which we are pledged for a fixed dollar amount. The new Board has already begun discussion of recruitment and duties of Council Chairs. Photo by John K. Currie
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 AMSunday - June 15 - That Man was Like a Father to Me - BJ explores the question, "What do we mean when we say that about someone, and what do we think when we hear it said about someone else?" Paul Quin will be our testimonial voice.
Music - Our "Congregational Anthem" for Fathers' Day is the beautiful folk hymn
"Bright Morning Stars are Rising." Come sing this wonderful song with the choir and let your spirit soar through your voice.
REflections on Children's Programming -"Children are the hands by which we take hold of heaven." ~Henry Ward Beecher
Perennial Wisdom
Class this Sunday includes a father's tale and the opportunity to make gifts for parents! - Gail M. Syring DREFrom the Editor:
This Week’s Feature Articles
Love is the Spirit of the Church
About the BuildingLove is the Spirit of this Church - Sunday’s well-put-together program celebrated and honored the gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender (GLBT) community during all parts of the service - welcoming, children’s story, reading, music, sermon and benediction. Rev. BJ introduced John Currie, a friend of the congregation, past Board Member of Love Makes a Family and current Vice President of Parents, Families and Friends of Lesbians and Gays (PFLAG), as the creator of this special service.
Jeff Blanchette, introduced by Rev. BJ as one of 12 new Worship Associates, set the tone with the story of his first visit to the Meeting House several years ago. He listened to an announcement during the service urging members to attend a PFLAG rally that afternoon. Based on his past experiences, he really expected horrified persons to get up and leave the church at that point. No one did! Jeff attended the rally and has been with us ever since.
An excerpt from, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s I Have Been to the Mountaintop was read by visitor Obadiah Ballinger, who just finished his Master of Divinity Degree at Yale University and has begun work as the Religious Organizer for Love Makes a Family.
A sermon in two parts was delivered by John Currie. Of Pink Triangles and Gray Rainbows dealt with the inequalities of civil unions vs marriage. John said the Connecticut General Assembly “blinked” in 2005 when it “had the chance to completely embrace our lesbian and gay citizens” with a full marriage equality bill but, instead, settled for a civil union bill.
John suggested that what we need today are non-gay allies to work together to help bring marriage equality to Connecticut. In one of several references during the service to the Good Samaritan story, John asked, “If I do not stop to help our gays and lesbians, what will happen to them?”
Part two of John’s sermon, Sara’s Story, was told as a “modern-day version of the Prodigal Son story” and was, John said, “dedicated to those who have come out.” Sara was a high school girl whose nose ring, clothes, music, and sharing a sleeping bag with another girl during a UU youth retreat at church led her father to insist she end the relationship “or move out of the house.” Sara ran away to New York, got into drugs, became a street person, realized that “My dog back home eats better than I do now,” had the courage to return home and was, to her surprise and delight, met at the bus station by 40 friends and family who welcomed her home.
Rev. BJ then replied to John’s sermons with “a brief comment on sex.” She recalled a remark by a mother of a molested boy who said, “We must all come out of the closet.” Rev. BJ suggested that we are afraid that our need for touch and affection will never be met and we fear that we will not be accepted, loved, fulfilled and connected.
Rev. BJ introduced the concept of “prevenient grace,” which has been defined as “…the divine love that surrounds all humanity and precedes any and all of our conscious impulses.” This suggests that all are highly favored and accepted into the beloved community.
The music for Sunday’s special service was also special. It included “Everything Possible,” composed by UU minister Fred Small to remind us that the only measure of your worth is that you can love anyone, and when you are gone you will be remembered by the love you leave behind. An amazing anthem combined the choir’s Amazing Grace with Jeff Blanchette’s reading of Prodigal Son (Luke 15.) This arrangement was by USH’s bass section leader Tony Nasto - Kayla Costenoble
About the Building - Many came to our Meeting House drawn in part by wonderment at the building, a unique structure in Hartford if not the world. At times we grouse because the building is too well connected to the outer world, with its cold and variable New England weather.Those that planned and designed the structure were into deep symbolism of the Unitarian faith. Surprisingly, many who have attended for years have never taken the time to learn about our demonstration-example of Unitarian symbols.
Now that summer is upon us and gas costs so much actual travel may be limited, why not camp out at your computer for a short time and read about our Unique Meeting House. Begin on the home page under the picture following the link, read about the building. -DCN
Thursday, June 12
5:30 pm Lay Listeners, Jamestone Home
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 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
11:00 am Caring Network Sub-council, Library
11:30 AM BTWWDA, Emerson
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Monday, June 16
10:00 am Archives, Library
7:00 pm Recital, Chapel
Tuesday, June 17
12:00 pm ICEJ Clergy, Library
6:00 pm Worship Arts Sub-council, Ballou
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, June 18
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm NVC practice group, Emerson
Thursday, June 19
7:00 pm BTWWDA, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, June 21
8:30 am (organ) Rental, Sanctuary
5:00 pm Tierra Mezista Concert, Sanctuary
Sunday, June 22
9:00 am Council on Social Justice, Library
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
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.
Last week's sermon, Of Pink Triangles and Gray Rainbows, is posted on the web.
Global Warming - Urge your Representative to Sign the Global Warming Principles Letter. Two weeks ago the U.S. Senate was preparing to debate a global climate change bill that falls far short of both the necessary emissions reductions to avert irreversible climate change and an equitable sharing of the costs. Contact Tom or Joan Kemble for specific details on ways to take action.
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!
- IASC
Caring Network - Unhappiness is the hunger to get; happiness is the hunger to give... If the individual should set out for a single day to give happiness, to make life happier, brighter and sweeter, not for himself but for others, he would find a wondrous revelation of what happiness really is. - by William George Jordan - 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.
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.External Events and Educational Notes
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? - Get paid to recycle. If your computer, cell phone or PDA is in working condition, sites such as MyBoneYard.com, GreenPhone.com and eBay's trade-in site, eBayEZtradein.com will pay you or give you reward points to put toward purchases.
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