USH-Enews Jult 8, 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 - 11 July - We will expand the sense of community through readings and music and our questions for reflection based on last week's sermon. For example, how does being in our church community help us to feel protected, held or braced for the larger communities in which we dwell? Click here for last week's sermon. This pattern will continue through the summer.

The summer will close with our annual Songs of the Spirit Worship Service and our traditional Labor Day weekend poetry service. Is it different? Yes it is, but so is summer. For those of you who hold internal conversations on the car ride home from Sunday service, for you who enjoy the SGM experience, and for all of us who have wanted a chance to delve more deeply into our sermons and hear what others experience during our hour together, this summer may prove to be very rich indeed.

In order to provide the best musical experience possible during our summer services, both services of each relationship dyad will be held in the Sanctuary.

Summer Program - This Sunday, July 11th, our Green Crafting: Protect the Environment while Having Fun! program will continue with a gardening project. Kids can help plant a sensory garden in one of our bays outside of the classroom. Grab a shovel and lend a green thumb! - Gail M. Syring, DRE

Discussion Topic from Last Week - As most of you know, we have the summer services in groups of two. First a standard service and a sermon, and the following week, a service including discussion of various issues raised in the prior week's sermon. So, you may now read the sermon from last week. (Kayla has also written about it in her normal article below) Click here.

Unitarian Universalist Origins - Sometimes we are so busy being who we are we forget to step back and appreciate those who have devoted their time and effort to telling the world about Unitarians and what distinguishes our religion among various other choices.

Have you wondered about the names attached to the rooms around the Ambulatory? Read on.

We now step back and present a feature article admittedly used before, but for certain worthy of repetition because of its merit and our knowledge that no matter what we do, statistics say we will experience a 10 percent turnover among our members and friends every year. Thus, for recent recruits and those continuing on - Here are Unitarian origins.

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 with a few words about some of our recently elected leaders.

Don Reichler and his wife Cynthia were married right here at the Meeting House 25 years ago this fall, and both their children have been part of the Religious Education Program from K though the youth group. Don has taught RE at every age Pre -K through 8th Grade and has served on the RE Sub-Council as a member and as Chair. Don enjoys the outdoors and youth - hiking, camping mountain biking; he's a Boy Scout Leader and rock climbing instructor. Summer vacations are usually spent at boy scout camp or leading a trip with family and other youth on some back packing experience in New Hampshire.

For his day job, Don is a Systems Engineer at Veeder-Root developing environmental monitoring products to reduce gasoline vapor emissions at retail gas stations. (Mostly quoted from the Annual Report)

Congregational Relationships - Sunday July 4 was Reverend BJ’s last sermon until September. It was also the first in a summer-long series considering relationships. Sunday’s topic was Relationship With the Congregation.

In a wide-ranging sermon which touched on love of country, patriotism, nationalism and the Fern Street Universalist Church, Reverend BJ offered a lot to think and talk about. And we’ll be doing just that—thinking and talking—next Sunday, because this summer’s worship services will be a series of four dyads (groups of two). The first Sunday will be a sermon (like July 4) and the second will be a congregational conversation on the same subject.

Here’s what we might be talking about on July 11, based on Reverend BJ’s July 4 sermon.

Love of Country. Reverend BJ said her first trip outside the United States was in May and June 1976. Upon her return, she “realized how much I love this country.” On other trips (and she has traveled extensively), she has been moved by passenger applause at the end of a trip—for a safe landing and because they were coming home. “To love one’s country is a magnificent emotion,” she said.

Patriotism. Revered BJ defined patriotism as a devotion to and love for one’s country. At one time, she said, nationalism and patriotism were considered synonymous.

Nationalism. Nationalism often evokes a sense of superiority, Reverend BJ said, and can be a narrow, knowingly superfluous emphasis. It appeals to our insatiable yearning for connection. Nationalists may “hate all other countries first.”

Religious Nationalism. Reverend BJ asked some tough questions here.

“Are we guilty of religious nationalism regarding Unitarianism and this congregation?”

“Are we uncomfortable with our nearest religious neighbor, the Fern Street Unitarian church, because they say the Lord’s Prayer and have stained glass windows?”

Reverend BJ mentioned an article in a recent UU World magazine which divided Unitarians into two groups—those in New England with their steady decline and those in the rest of the country which are slowly growing. She suggested that the mega churches in the country are the ones growing because they offer a sense of home, a place to belong to, and pay attention to their congregations’ special needs.

She said our “only chance to become a mega church” would be to partner with the Fern Street Church. “We and they cannot keep doing what we’re doing,” she said.

Reverend BJ reminded us of our rich history here in New England and said Unitarianism “needs each of us. We have to “treasure our church family and extend our circle of care.”

“There will be a lot to talk about next week,” she concluded. - Kayla Costenoble (Here is the sermon)

A Big Thank You - to everyone who helped in making the Memorial Reception that honored Rosie. Your contributions and efforts are deeply appreciated.

Meditation to Continue - Every Wednesday evening, continuing through the summer, we have the opportunity to meditate together. Occasionally, I am asked the question, why meditate? The following video lets us peek in on an interview with Norman Fischer from the PBS program, Religion and Ethics. He articulates so well the healing component of meditation, along with other benefits. It also gives a visual of what to expect if you are new to meditation. Our format is very similar to the session he leads. Please feel free to join us any wednesday evening, no matter your level of experience with meditation. Open to all. We meet from 5:45- 7pm. - Jan Bennett

Adult Programs - We wish to thank all of you who planned and participated in the successful 2009-2010 Fall and Winter/Spring Programs for Adults and Families. More

Multigenerational Dance Event - On Friday, August 6th at 6:30 PM, Randy and Sandra Locke will be offering a joyous dance party for the whole family!

Randy and Sandra are lifelong UUs who have been featured at the Mountain and Ferry Beach every year since 1990. With an inclusive philosophy that dance is for people of all ages and abilities, they will teach a variety of dances that will suit a variety of tastes and styles. There is no need to bring a partner nor for any previous experience!

I met Randy and Sandra at Ferry Beach last year, and their enthusiasm and passion is contagious! Teens, children and adults alike are fervent fans of their accessible style, and they are in great demand at UU congregations across the country.

Join us for music, dancing, food and fellowship at this free event in our Fellowship Hall. No RSVP is necessary, so bring a friend! - Gail M. Syring

The Men’s Luncheon Group will hold their annual picnic on Tuesday, July 20th from 12 to 2 PM on the Meeting House terrace. This will be a potluck with each participant asked to bring a dish for six to eight people, also lawn chairs.

All men of USH are invited; spouses and significant others are also welcome.

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At the last meeting, three participants volunteered to bring chicken, two to bring salads, three for desserts, also one per cold cuts/deviled eggs/drinks. Feel free to supplement these offerings!

If it's raining, the party will move inside. For further information, contact Dick Edwards, 860 - 568 - 4084 - Ed Stubbs

$10 Pizza Dinner & Movie on Fri, August 27 Planned- for Fellowship Hall at 5:30 PM. Dinner will be at 6, followed by the movie, then optional discussion.

Further details on the meal (veg and non-veg pizza with salad) and libations (soda and beer) and advance reservations will be announced in future Enews articles. The film will be either "Up" or "October Sky," both are uplifting cheerful movies with concepts to talk about afterwards.

If you are interested in attending and would like to express a preference for one of the titles, please respond by the weekend to pickmovies(at symbol)ushartford.com - Nita

Educational grants awarded - The Educational Grant Committee of the Women’s Alliance is pleased to announce that in June 2010 it awarded small financial grants to two women associated with USH. The grants are meant to assist in meeting educational expenses and totaled $600.
They are the result of funds earned in sales of baked goods and calendars and also from member donations.

The Women’s Alliance has been providing similar financial help to worthy women for many years.

Caring Network - When the gods choose to punish us, they merely answer our prayers. Oscar Wilde - 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.

Green Topics - Did You Know? - Green Table Summer Hours: 3rd Sunday of the Month (7/18, 8/15). Stock up on your environmentally friendly cleaning and paper goods. Please don't take a vacation from doing what's right for mother earth.

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

External Events and Educational Notes

A very good friend of Bev Prager is renting her Simsbury house for 1 year. If you know anyone looking they can check it out here.

ALS Walk Saturday 25th September More

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.

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