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50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333
Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com
Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD
USH-Enews For July 19, 2007
Jump to: Calendar; What's happening; A matter of opinion; External events; Further down the road; Did You Know?
Thanks to Bill LaPorte-Bryan, who sent this photo along for our use this weekThe 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 During the Summer at 10 AMSunday - 22 July - Starry, Starry Night - (10 AM Service) Do you watch for Venus at sunset? Did you know Sirius, the Dog Star, is the brightest star in our sky and inspiration for Sirius in the Harry Potter stories? Can you find the North Star that led escaped slaves to freedom? As sophisticated urban people, how do we stay connected to the inspiration of stars, which all humans have experienced until recent times? Marye Gail Harrison will continue the cosmological thread, “We are Stardust,” which she began to explore at the January Spiritual Retreat and in the AP course, “An Amazing Journey,” following Michael Dowd and Connie Barlow’s work at USH last fall. - Marye Gail Harrison
Music - Sunday's music revolves around the celestial. "Vincent," paints a beautiful and moving picture of the late Vincent Van Gough's life, including his most famous work: Starry Night. "O Brother Sun," charmingly points out the wonderful gifts that our solar system provides for us. Singing our music, the beginnings of our new Celebration Choir. Our Worship Associates joined together to initiate this fantastic new group, and have done a wonderful job! You can expect to hear a lot more from the Celebration Choir in the next year!
REflections - We are particularly pleased to announce that this Sunday, July 22nd, special guest and black belt Wendy Woodworth will be offering a Martial Arts Lesson for our kids during the 10 am service. Come join us to experience the connection between martial arts and our seven principles in daily living. Next Sunday, July 29th we will be exploring the Buddhist tradition of Sand Mandalas and creating sand art.
Have you ever wondered what happens downstairs after the congregation sings "Go Now in Peace"? Join us for lunch and a Curricula Showcase on Sunday, August 12th at noon. We have several new lesson plans to debut, including "Honoring Our Mother Earth", "UU Superheroes", and "In Our Hands", a social justice curriculum. Over lunch you will be able to experience a lesson plan, discuss the new school year, and offer input on the future of the RE program. All are welcome. R.S.V.P. to Gail at: dre(at symbol)ushartford.com or 860-233-9897.
What Else is Happening & AnnouncementsIf you go to trial, will there be enough evidence to convict you of being a Unitarian? - The sermon, Learning the Principles by Heart, by Leslie Becknell read by Amy Hines last Sunday has been linked from our sermon web page.
Board Meeting Minutes for 07-10-07
CCEJ Picnic at 5:30 - 7:30 PM July 20th CUREJ is an organizational member of Connecticut Coalition for Environmental Justice (CCEJ), which is having a picnic at 10 Jefferson St, Hartford, (use driveway on left side of building and take first parking lot on right behind the building). There will be a guest speaker from the CT League of Conservation Voters, as well as a raffle. Hamburgers and hot dogs are provided. Call Dawn Simonsen 548-1133 should you need more information or transportation, and tell her what you will bring or ask what she needs for the pot luck. Child care will be provided on the grounds. Email: ccej@environmental-justice.org.
Dharma Gathering - The 6:00 PM Wednesday Dharma Gathering has been taking place regularly in the Meditation Chapel (formerly Emerson), including last evening. The Gatherings will next meet on September 5, at 6:00 PM when regular weekly meetings will resume. Please join the group then. All are welcome to drop in!
Greetings from Adult Programs - Are you free on Thursday mornings from 10 AM to 12 noon?
Coming in the Fall we have a new offering: Mindfulness in Everyday Living, led by Sylvia Gingras-Baker, LMFT and Patricia Barone, MSW, LCSW. To quote them, “this course is for those wanting to bring more balance and joy into their lives. Through meditation exercises, leader presentations and discussions, participants will be guided towards healing and renewal. We will be using the work of Thich Nah Hanh, Tara Brach, Jon Kabat-Zinn and others.” The dates will be 9/27, 10/11, 10/25 and 11/8. Let Ginny Berrien know if this interests you at 860-243-0149 or v.berrien(at symbol)comcast.net.
SGM - Want To Beat The Heat? Try Small Group Ministry! In summer we run shortened Small Group Ministry, with only four weekly meetings. It will convene at the Meeting House in air-conditioned space. We still have openings for August. Margaret Leicach will facilitate the group, starting on Thursday, August 2. If you haven't tried SGM before, the summer session is a great way to test the waters. You may sign up by contacting the church office.
Caring Network - Don't let what you cannot do interfere with what you can do. ~John Wooden - You are the ears of the Caring Network. Diana Heymann is the Chair of the Caring Network. Please tell Diana (heydiana(at symbol)comcast.net) 860.461.0908, or call the office when you learn of any 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.
Sunday, July 22
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
11:00 am Council on Social Justice, Library
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Monday, July 23
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Murray
7:00 pm Small Group Ministry, David
Tuesday, July 24
6:00 pm, Human Resources, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, July 25
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:00 pm Performing Arts Potluck Picnic, Elizabeth Park
Thursday, July 26
7:00 pm Small Group Ministry, David
Saturday, July 28
10:30 am Rental, Chapel
Sunday, July 29
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Italicized entries are non-USH events.
Please notify Brian Mullen (233.9897) of all additions or changes to the calendar. More general calendar information covering several months may be found here.Further Down The Road (About 30 Days Max)
Note revised date for Special Congregational Conversation (Talkback) - This summer on August 19, the Worship Arts Sub-Council invites the congregation to a conversation to share our experiences with holding two services on Sundays. This talkback will take place immediately after the single service at 10:00 AM on August 19 (note revised date) in the Chapel. Rev. BJ will be our summer guest minister that day and she will facilitate the conversation. This is a change from the schedule published in the Messenger!
- How do you think the two services functioned?
- Is it different than you thought it would be?
- What changes are you looking for in worship?
Worship Arts invites you to come and share your thoughts about the worship services. If you will be away on August 19, please email Rev. BJ (RevBJ@USHartford.com) or Amy Hines (amyhines92(at symbol)msn.com or 860-693-3663) with your thoughts and they will be read at the meeting.
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From the Editor:
This Week’s Feature ArticlesAfter the Fall -- An Essay on Gratitude
Heather Ferguson-Hull, President Elect –You may remember Heather bouncing about at the stewardship event this year, Bringing in the Green as BJ's life was "acted" out.
Heather graduated from the American School in London, subsequently earning a BA with Honors in Psychology at Wesleyan University. Later she attended the University of Washington in Seattle attaining her MSW.
Subsequently, Heather worked at an adolescent inpatient facility in Massachusetts, and later as a school social worker for four years. She has been an “at home worker” (yes, stay at home moms are working!) since her second child was born while becoming an active volunteer for her alma mater, church(s), and kids’ schools during the past ten years.
Heather met her husband Rich, who is from Madison, CT, at Wesleyan University and they married in 1992. Rich is an animator, and is currently a freelance director, primarily for Cartoon Network. He works at home, and travels to Atlanta often. They have two sons: Evan (12) and Alec (10) who are both avid readers and enthusiastic musicians. You may also know Kathie Ferguson, Heather’s mother, who joined USH over a year ago.
Asked about her dreams for USH, Heather said, “After the overwhelming success of our recent stewardship campaign, I hope that members will be inspired to be as generous with their time as they were with their money. Our society depends on so many people, not just the leadership, giving of themselves in ways large and small. In particular, I hope many members, not just parents, will consider volunteering in our reinvigorated RE program, as it is a wonderful opportunity for connections to be made between generations. When we all share in the work of our Society, no one becomes over-burdened, and we can honor our pledge of not asking more of people than they can joyfully give. I hope our community will grow, and grow together, this year.”
Aside from these consuming activities, Heather particularly enjoys being part of a book group, and has a love for Scrabble, walking, theme parks, water parks and especially Disney World.
Heather bumped into UUism when, as she puts it, “One of my close friends in college was a UU, and as she told me about her faith, I realized that UU values and beliefs were very much in line with my own. I attended services occasionally while in graduate school in Seattle, but I didn’t join a church until after I was married and we bought our first house on the South Shore in Massachusetts. I joined First Parish Church in Duxbury in 1994, and then joined USH when we moved to West Hartford in 2002. Being a UU is an important part of my life, as wisdom from diverse sources inspires me to live more fully, and challenges me to contribute to the making of a more loving and just society. - DCN
Past profiles:
Bill Young - PresidentAfter the Fall, An Essay on Gratitude - Saturday, July 14, 2007 - Life is both fragile and resilient. How do we reconcile these two truths? Last Sunday I tripped in my own bedroom. In trying to catch myself, my arthritic knee buckled, propelling me forward head first into the wall.
For a brief second blackness welled up like water filling a tidal pool, only to empty out again. As full consciousness returned, I quickly realized I couldn’t move my arms.
Panic. How could I dial 911? How could even pick up the phone? One second, two seconds went by. For the first time in my 62 years my arms would not obey my head. Three seconds, four. “Move, damn it. Move.” Five seconds, full sensation flooded back in; they moved.
This morning, six days later, I sit on my deck with one of those Darth Vader collars around my neck sipping my coffee. I realize I could be sitting here paralyzed instead with a broken neck. I suffered what the neurosurgeon called a “concussion to the spinal cord.” As far as I know, there will be no lasting effects except gratitude. The residual numbness in my left wrist has since dissipated. My arms are sore. Nothing a little Tylenol can’t take care of.
The doctor said the part of the fourth vertebrae that broke isn’t needed. The MRI shows the bone that wraps around the spinal cord itself to be intact. Smiling, he assures me, “That’s what counts.”
I take him at his word, but still I think to myself, “I would rather be whole.” I was lucky. A little to the left, a little to the right, if my chin hadn’t taken some of the blow as it hit the radiator (You should see the dent in the radiator!), perhaps the story would be different. How much of our fragile lives come down to something like this?
I think about all those who weren’t so lucky. I think about how life can turn on a dime. I think what a miracle it is that my neck could take the kind of blow it did and still be intact. We sit on a precipice all our lives, waiting for the next shoe to drop, and when it does, we take a deep breath (or not) and go on (or not). Perhaps you have something to be grateful for this day. All I know is that I am grateful to have this pen in my hand and to be able to write this. - Kent Jamison
P. S. I have my neighbor Enid, my girl friend, Thona, who took my desperate call, the Canton Police and the Canton EMT’s who immobilized my neck and carried me out of my house to thank for this happy ending.
Kent Jamison is a long time member of the Society. A past member of the old Board of Trustees, he and Bev Spence, have, until just recently, helped direct our Small Group Ministry program.
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 NotesWes Christensen Memorial Golf Classic - The 3rd annual golf classic will be held on Saturday, September 1st, 2007, at Gillette Ridge Golf Club in Bloomfield.
The golf scramble will be followed by dinner and a raffle to benefit the A.L.S. Association, Ct. Chapter. A.L.S. (known as Lou Gehrig's disease) is a fatal degenerative nerve disease. So far no cause or cure has been identified.
We are looking for golfers and support in the form of donations of raffle items, tee or prize sponsorships, as well as direct donations to A.L.S.
All net proceeds from this event will provide services to patients and their families and contribute to ongoing research.
For further details call Eric Christensen: 860-874-8194.
Escape to Vermont - September 21-23, 2007 - The Thirteenth Annual B&B Weekend offered by the UU Church of Rutland, VT.
Enjoy the beauty of Vermont, UU hospitality, and a choice of guided activities: hiking, kayaking, visiting the studios of local artists, soaring tour, touring historic sites and quaint towns, and much more.Registration by August 1, $250 (single) and $450 (double). After August 1, $300 (single) and $500 (double). For more information contact uufoliagevermont@yahoo.com or (802) 353-7969. www.rutlanduu.org
Did You Know? - - Marye Gail Harrison and Amy Hines wondered if we could include the Live Earth Pledge Form applicable to global warming concerns and illustrative of things we all can do to act as better stewards of our Earth. Fits right in under our Unitarian Principles - respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part - Here is the link
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 HartfordLet us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 07/18/07 06:32 PM)
