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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 July 30 & August 6, 2009
Jump to: Sunday Service; Calendar; What's Happening; Feature Articles; USH Needs You!; External Events; Further Down the Road; Social Justice Journeys; Green Topics ; A Matter of Opinion;
Savor the MomentUSH-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.
See first two August services listed under Sunday, below.
16 August - Entering Older Adulthood: in Celebration of Hope - While aging begins with conception, the arbitrary demarcation between middle and old age is the age of sixty-five. Crossing this threshold can bring a time of personal reflection and a search for possible guides for this new life phase. Revisiting the Unitarian Universalist core value of gratitude emerges as one such guide – not only for older adulthood but for the entire life span. - Sue Smolski
Sue has been a USH member since 1981. A three time General Assembly delegate and delegate to several Clara Barton Regional Meetings. She was the final chairperson of the Denominational Concerns Committee before our re-organization. A participant in our Aging Resource Ministry, she has just completed her first year as a Worship Associate. Sue is an advanced practice registered nurse in geriatric mental health and psychiatry. She has always considered herself to be a great aunt to her brother’s two daughters. It is now official – she is a Great Aunt to her nieces’ three children – Ryan, Lauryn, and Max – whose growth and development informs her work with older adults.
In the music arena, this will be John's last service with us.
23 August - Songs of the Spirit - Maggie Greene - Not our typical Sunday service, this will be a sacred song circle. It is an opportunity to share inspirational and empowering songs from all spiritual backgrounds. One song typically follows another organically, with limited facilitation and no introductions or spoken words between songs. It is a time for sharing music that lifts our spirits, touches our hearts, heals our souls, feels our "oneness." Don't worry about your voice! You will not be judged.
This is an Inter-generational service and we guarantee you'll leave smiling. The service will be facilitated by Maggie Greene with help from Fred Louis. Maggie has been regularly attending the Meeting House for 12 years. She has participated in the Social Responsibility Committee, small group ministry, the Artist's Way classes, the Chancel Arts, the Caring Network and has facilitated poetry events.
Maggie is a registered nurse working at a Bristol elementary school. She is also an accomplished poet, devoted mother to daughters Nora and Brigid, loving partner of Fred Louis, lover of all the arts and nature, and, of course, an enthusiastic singer.
30 August - Preparing for Mabon: The Feast of the Ingathering - Gail M. Syring - As the summer draws to a close, and we begin our preparations for the fall, our minds turn to our community. Mabon, or the Autumnal Equinox is the celebration of the ritual of thanksgiving for the fruits of the Earth, and the recognition of the need to share our abundance to bless the coming winter months. As we prepare to enter this time of mysteries and of balance, we gather together to celebrate the fruits of our own personal harvests.
Our pulpit guest for this celebration of our earth-centered traditions will be Gail M. Syring, Director of Religious Education at the Unitarian Society of Hartford. Gail has been a member of USH since 2006, and is a student at Hartford Seminary.
This will also be the first Sunday for our new Associate Music Director.
September Services
6 September - Poetry Sunday - Ordering Our Days - Joan Sereda
Worshipping Together Since 1830
Summer Schedule One Service 10 AMThis is a Two Week Issue 7/29 & 8/6
Sunday - 2 August - Direct Experience of Transcending Mystery and Wonder - Such experience, affirmed in all cultures, moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces that create and uphold life (paraphrased quote from UUA listing of our sources). - Sue Kinney
Did you know that the UUA has named five sources from which our living traditions draws? Come hear how a pragmatist, scientist and realist comes to some understanding of the ultimately inexplicable.
Sue, our President Elect, is a physician, and long time member of USH having served in many different offices and capacities.
Sunday - 9 August - An Attitude of Gratitude (or what I have learned from my dog) - Liz Garmise will explore the spiritual connections that we make when we practice gratitude in our daily lives. This will be the next to the last service that John Jesensky will be with us delighting us with Katie's and his musical talents. We will enjoy some of his favorite music as we contemplate all of the things for which we are grateful.
Liz and her family have been members at USH for 12 years. Liz has served on the Religious Education Committee and as its Chair and is currently the Chair of the Worship Arts Sub Council. Liz, her husband Stu, children Ben & Dave and beloved dog Willie live in Marlborough.
Music: on August 9th we will have a kind of music appreciation event as we will have our next to last opportunity to hear both John and Katie providing music. The following Sunday will be John's last.
REflections on Children's Programming
Harry Potter Summer Program
August will be filled with mysticism and magic as we view parts of Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban and Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Take a look at this month's offerings:
August 2nd: Harry tries to learn to glimpse the future in his tea leaves and crystal ball. We will explore the yearning to know the future and the tools used to try to understand the mystery.
August 9th: What were Harry, Ron and Hermione looking at through the telescope during their Astronomy O.W.L. exams? Let's learn about constellations and how they are used practically and prophetically.
August 16th: The first test in the Triwizard Tournament: Dragons! Listen to the myths of the dragons and make a dragon mask for yourself.
August 23rd: This will be a multigenerational musical Sunday called "Songs of the Spirit". The entire family can attend this annual chapel service and join in the spontaneous and spirit-filled singing.Come experience the magic!
What Else is Happening & Announcements
USH Needs You! - A USH Lending Resources Librarian - Rev. BJ would like to make books and tapes from the minister’s library available for lending and is seeking a ‘librarian team’ to maintain this resources. Please contact Gail Syring if you’d find joy in such a project this summer.
Memorial Gardens - Weeders Sought - We are looking for help weeding the two memorial gardens Mid-August, Mid-September and Early and Late October. Email dcnewton@snet.net to sign up for a slot. Three or more hours weeding gets rewarded with a chocolate mousse! See above
Adult Programs - Seeking Proposals - To obtain a Program Proposal Form, you may go to http://www.ushartford.com./ From the Spiritual Life pull down menu (on the left side of the home page), click on Adult Programs. In the first paragraph, click on download the form in Microsoft Word. The form is also available at the USH office. Please attach to the completed Proposal Form a detailed paragraph in Microsoft Word (if possible) about the program that can be used for promotion. Please email the completed Proposal to Nancy Reed or Janice Newton by Monday, August 10 so that your proposed program can be reviewed and included with the other 2009 Fall Programs for Adults and Families.
Caring Network - Chance favors the prepared mind -Louis Pasteur - 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.
A Matter of Opinion:
From the Editor: Please note, this is a two week edition. Suggestions for Contributors.
August Services Announced
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them
And a Little Child Shall Lead Them . . .is not exactly the 100 percent correct title for young Wil Huntington’s takeover of the Sunday service on July 26, but it’s close.
Wil played the piano for the Musical Call to Worship, the Offering of Gifts and Music, and the Postlude. He led us in two spirited hymns—sans hymnals. And the New York University student held our attention as he told the story of his recent two weeks in Uganda. He was one of only two undergraduates in a group which taught dance workshops to young people (the oldest of whom was 14), most seeing white faces for the first time.
Wil is studying anthropology and psychology in performing arts rituals. He said he had planned to begin his talk discussing ancient art, rituals, theory, aesthetics and philosophy, but these didn’t cover what he wanted to say. Just as he had to simplify his first lesson plan for the Uganda kids, so he had to learn to mold different ideas of what one thinks of as success. He wanted to reach and embrace the “little child within us.”
His justifiably proud parents Susan and Charles Huntington and his little sister Maya sat in the front row of the packed Chapel as Wil led the service.For Wil, the “immensity of the Uganda experience” was symbolized when he found himself standing on a tiny island with Lake Victoria on one side and the Nile on the other. Working with the children, most of whom were orphans, led to feeling the “pure, undying love from these kids.” They were a diverse group, speaking a great number of different languages, from many different cultures and unable to understand one another. He appreciated experiencing a “child-like approach to life” when all is in the here and now, life is slower and the outlook is positive.
Religious Education Director Gail Syring’s A Time for All Ages” set the tone for Wil’s talk. She read Dr. Seuss’ Oh! The Places You’ll Go with its emphasis on “your head full of brains and your shoes full of feet” and its wise conclusion that “life’s a great balancing act.”
For those of us clawing our way into the 21st century, viewing with alarm/trepidation today’s electronic marvels, the little drama before the service began gave us a twinge of amusement. All the fancy computer equipment that was needed to set up a power-point presentation was wheeled into the packed Chapel in the old blue wheelchair that usually sits in one of the coat closets. Despite a great number of savvy helpers, and after a pause for “some technical difficulties,” it still would not work. So we were invited to listen to Wil, then view his pictures of the Uganda kids on his laptop during coffee hour. - Kayla Costenoble
On the Calendar
Sunday, August 2
10:00 am WORSHIP, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Tuesday, August 4
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, August 5
5:45 pm Meditation and Dharma Gathering, Emerson
italicized 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!
Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)
A Concert for Justice - The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice is pleased to announce…. A Concert for Justice - Come and be treated to an evening of Klezmer music; Anhared Stowe, Principle Second Violinist of the Hartford Symphony, with pianist Pi-Hsun Shih; And much, much more! Sunday, October 4th, 2009 at 4 P.M. United Methodist Church 571 Farmington Avenue, Hartford, CT Your generous contribution at intermission is an investment in Justice. Call 860-548-1744 for more information. 47 Vine Street, Hartford, CT 860-548-1744 - Shai Cassell
Ordering Our Days - Poetry Sunday 9/6 - Mark your calendar. More
Music for You to Give and Receive at the Meeting House—This Fall! More
Social Justice Journeys (From the UUA) And from USHTop 10 Reasons to Air Dry Your Clothes - More
The green table will be open for business the first Sunday of the month during the summer months. Support our earth with healthy products for cleaning and living. .
Got an item to share with others? Post it on the bulletin board at the bottom of the stairs and help someone financially and environmentally.
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 07/30/09 6:13 PM)
Green
Topics - Green
Sanctuary Sub-Council -