USH-Enews Jult 29, 2010 Print Only Edition

SH-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 - 1 & 8 August: Third Summer Dyad-Relationship with the Ultimate - Gail M. Syring, DRE/VC & Carol Davidson and Randi Wuertz, Worship Associates

Wherever one falls on the theological spectrum from theist to humanist, one must consider their personal relationship with the source of all things, the Ultimate.

How do you make sense of the universe when the unthinkable occurs; when tragedy strikes our home, our nation, our planet? Who or what is to blame for the seemingly senseless way of the world? What is the source of the human resilience that allows us to overcome unimaginable obstacles, and still appreciate the profound beauty of living? Join us for a sermon on this topic on August 1st, and a congregational conversation on August 8th. Engage the mystery.

Summer Program - This Sunday, August 1st, our Green Crafting: Protect the Environment while Having Fun! program will continue with Earth Collage. Children ages three and up are invited to classroom D downstairs for this creative project!

Nursery Care is available downstairs as well.

Martha and John Bradley decided to join USH and signed up for the "adopt-a Bay" effort. Through this program the bays were assigned for maintenance and loving care to various volunteers. Unfortunately, John became ill before they could work on their bay. After his death, Martha was asked if she would be interested in redoing the library bay as a tribute to John. She felt it would be a fitting memorial, and give her an opportunity to create a peaceful space where people could sit and talk or reflect.

John died July 23, 2009, just three months after his 59th birthday, and just over four months after being diagnosed with mucosal melanoma. Martha and John were together for 35 years having met when they were both on a trip to Russia, then part of the Soviet Union. He came with a British group, and she with an American group. Subsequently they were married at a Unitarian Meeting House in Macclesfield, Cheshire, England. They lived in Cheshire for two years, then came to the U.S. They have two children, Rachel, 28, and Michael, 27.

As you no doubt have noticed, our hemlock tree on the "lump" among the weeds while narrow and artistic as a planting has not done well in recent years. The Japanese umbrella pine that was chosen to replace the hemlock as a "steeple," is an attractive evergreen that grows to about 30 feet, and is disease resistant. Some miniature boxwoods back up to the old carpet junipers at the front of the space. A white shrub rose and an evergreen bush complete the basic plantings. Martha plans to add perennials and spring bulbs soon.

Martha and her children had a private dedication of the space on the anniversary of John's death. She plans to have a small service of dedication for friends and church members who wish to attend, sometime soon after BJ returns from her summer break.

She hopes people will take advantage of this new space to relax, converse and reflect. Martha extends her thanks to all those who helped her in this project, especially BJ, Bev Prager, and Peter Magistri.

Structured Discussion on Family Enlightening - Last Sunday the second part of the dyad on Family featured a structured discussion on family, and what that means both at home and in the USH religious community.

Worship Associate Liz Garmise set the stage with a second reading of her testimonial from last week on her ambition to have a large family and how she attained that objective by putting one together in the functional sense with the cooperation of close friends and those who have no real family. this view took on additional significance if you heard or read the sermon from last week, where the author noted his preference to see family more as a grouping serving the function than a biological entity.

Several members of the congregation reflected on their own families, and how they were important even as one has to suppress sometimes large differences in politics and religious views. Indeed, they supported the notion of family as both biological and important as a social structure.

Looking at the USH community, one noteworthy series of comments described how a mother found it difficult to explain religious items to her son and how relieved she was to discover the USH community. She had long passed the "tent like church" and had felt alone and isolated on religious matters until she entered.

She declared, "I know I do not do things alone any more." And, "I never felt I was at home until I met the people here. I feel comfortable standing in this sacred space saying weird things, and it is OK."

These comments affirmed Unitarianism in general and USH efforts in particular to accept families of may different sorts without any negative judgment and to affirm the value of a supportive and loving community nurtured with care and understanding. While not ever perfect, we are working earnestly to effectuate those principles to which we subscribe.

Please note many if not most religion shoppers go looking in the summer. We welcome their visits and hope they will find a lasting warmth in our Unitarian Society of Hartford. Among the choices, we would like to be known as the Friendly Church. - David Newton

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Memorial Garden Improved - The USH Memorial Garden with its trees, shrubs, blooming perennials, patio, benches and brass tree of life has recently been improved.

The original pavers accommodated numerous weeds that eagerly took root among the pavers and requiring constant maintenance to keep the area clean. Recently, Barbara Prine undertook the enormous job of cleaning out the spaces among the pavers while removing all weeds. The opportunity for lasting improvement created by her hard work was enhanced when the Sexton, John Bengtson power washed the area thereby removing any remaining debris among the pavers.

Then, on an unreasonably hot day, Barbara Prine, Cyprian Martin, Janice and David Newton placed polymeric stabilizer sand between all of the pavers. This material when lightly watered sets up and eliminates what might be termed the inter-paver space where weeds can grow, creating a finished look to the area and, one can hope, much less demand for maintenance.

This activity followed replacement of the left slabs of concrete exiting the Meeting House at the South Entrance with the concomitant installation of a working drain (emphasis on working as the the previous one appeared to have never been connected to any drainage pipes.)

Many thanks to all who have worked on the Meeting House grounds in recent months. The activity is appreciated ranging from the new concrete sidewalk and drain repair to blooming flowers in various places and new bench and plantings discussed elsewhere in this issue. In addition, we proudly note the RE program has been planting in the flower bed adjacent to the RE classrooms. A sustained cyber cheer is in order for Barbara Prine who helped get the group started, Julie Hassler (and her son Ben who donated clippings from his garden at home), and Esther McKone for this fine work! - David Newton

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! More

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

Dinner & Movie 2010-11 Series Votes Due August 11 - Dinner and Movie Fans are reminded to submit their favorite nine titles photo

from the list of over 50 nominated this June. Film summaries, ratings, and reviews can be found on websites such as Rotten Tomatoes or IMDb, just by typing in the movie title.
Please send your nine titles to pickmovies@ushartford.com. Call 860-693-4269 if you have any questions.
Winning titles will be announced in September; the season will begin Friday, October 8.

Reserve now for $10 Pizza Dinner & Movie on Fri, August 27 - Like pizza and movies? Our first Pizza and Movie night will be Friday, August 27, in Fellowship Hall. We'll socialize with popcorn, soda, and beer at 5:30, dinner of assorted pizzas from Lena's Pizzeria at 6, followed by the movie, then optional discussion.
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The featured movie will be the 1999 PG film "October Sky," about which one reviewer said, "A sweet yet sincere coming-of-age story about fathers and sons, communities pulling together and, above all, heroes."* You can see a trailer for this true story.To reserve a place, email pickmovies@ushartford.com or call and leave a message at 860-693-4269. Tell us how many places ($10 each) and your choice of regular or vegetarian pizza, choice of soda or beer. You can pay with cash or check at the movie. Please do not call the USH office with your reservation.
Please make your reservation by Monday, August 23.

Caring Network - When something happens to you, explore it. You'll probably see that you have something to do with its taking place. You either created it, promoted it, or - at the very least - allowed it. The portable life 101 - 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 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

External Events and Educational Notes

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.

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