USH-Enews for August 22, 2007 Print Only Edition

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Link to various "normal" newsletters.

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 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.

Sunday - 5 August - A Rose Is A Rose Is A Rose (10 AM Service) - We all give labels to ourselves, other people, and our experiences in order to understand and help place them in a certain perspective. How does this practice help and/ or hinder our real understanding of ourselves and others? When and how do labels prevent our understanding of ourselves and others? Is reality, mostly, not what it is but what we have decided it is? - Caroyn Cartland

About Carolyn Cartland continued - Carolyn Cartland has been a member of the Meeting House since 1995. She is currently chair of the Disabilities Sub-Council and a member of the Caring Network; she has served on the Governing Council (twice, once as Secretary), Adult Programs, among other Sub-Councils. She is co-chair of the, Journey Toward Wholeness Transformation Committee, a UUA Board of Trustees appointed committee charged with assessing and monitoring the progress being made by the UUA in becoming an authentic anti-oppressive, anti-racist, and multicultural faith community. She has attended three General Assemblies.

Now a full-time volunteer, Carolyn worked at CIGNA Corporation for 15 years as an Officer in the Healthcare Division prior to obtaining her master’s in Social Work and working at CT Children’s Medical Center and in private practice as a psychotherapist. Carolyn is also chair of the CT Council on Developmental Disabilities, appointed by the Governor, and is a member of the, Bloomfield Commission for People with Disabilities.

Music - Our music today reflects on different voices. Our hymns (some well known, others not) praise the power of uniting as one humanity. The Musical Call to Worship, Anthem, and Postlude embrace the voice of the gospel piano. These jazzy little pieces have a way of inviting others to feel the soul of the performer. While solo pieces, they are truly community performances; relishing in one's ability to simply sway to the heartbeat of the entire congregation. - John Jesensky, Music Associate and Organist

REflections - This Sunday, we will be learning about and making Dream Catchers. Dream catchers originated in the Ojibwa Nation, where they are constructed by tying sinew strands around a round or tear-shaped frame. The Ojibwa believe that a dream catcher hung above the bed will filter a person's dreams, allowing good dreams to pass through while nightmares are caught in the web. - Wikipedia.

Next week, on August 12th, we are pleased to have Carol Davidson teaching Yoga Postures.

Have you ever wondered what happens downstairs after the congregation sings "Go Now in Peace"? More

Note revised August 19 date for Special Congregational Conversation (Talkback) - More

From the Editor: Back from summer vacation? We are looking forward to seeing you on Sunday.

This Week’s Feature Articles

A Few Words from Our President About August. - For a long time I’ve had an interesting relationship with August – in a summer mood sort of way at work, most of the time.

I have scheduled time away from work when I could. When they were younger, I was glad to see our children out of school and enjoying themselves at home, mostly, waiting for school to start again, and sometimes finding myself counting the days. During these August times, I felt blessed with the fullness of gardens and people around me.

It wasn’t that many years ago when things at USH were very quiet during the summer, with no Sunday services for most of the time. That is certainly not so any more. Every Sunday there is a service at 10:00 AM.

While the phone calls and email volume are down a bit during August, there is plenty of activity at the Meeting House and in members’ homes -- by the staff, committees, and work groups. Some gatherings are for their value and enjoyment right now, and some in preparation for the many, many things that begin in early September.

Two individuals whom I wish to recognize for their exceptional gifts to us this summer are President-Elect Heather Ferguson-Hull and Director of Religious Education Gail Syring. They are both at the week-long UU North East Leadership School in Craigville, MA with leaders from other UU congregations from July 29 to August 4. The UU leadership schools are intensive leadership development experiences. Heather and Gail’s attendance is one piece of our overall effort to support and grow our congregation’s lay leadership depth and skills over the coming year, and beyond.

During July, an average of 77 people attended each Sunday, with a high of 94. Check out our August services, including a new member Sunday, and join us. I hope to see you this coming Sunday, August 5, when Carolyn Cartland will deliver the sermon. Please join us this Sunday.

- Bill Young, President; billyoung55(at symbol)att.net or phone 233-3234

Getting to Know You - Margaret Leicach – Board Member & Treasurer - Just suppose we had a renaissance scholar in today’ world. What would be the attributes of this remarkable person? For certain, our elected USH Treasurer and member of the Board, Margaret Keturah Brown Leicach, might qualify for such designation.

Just look at her educational background: Bachelor’s degree from Salem College, Winston-Salem NC - Major in French and Religion, Minor in Psychology and Drama; Master’s degree in Clinical Psychological Research from Wesleyan University, Middletown CT; MBA from the Hartford Graduate Center of Renssalaer Polytechinic, with concentration in Healthcare Management; Licensed Realtor in the State of Connecticut, with certified designation as a Senior Real Estate Specialist.

As you would suspect, this background goes with a considerable diversity of life experience. As Margaret tells us, she has been, a GS camp counselor; tutored HS students in French; worked in a travel agency in Paris; worked in various State Psychiatric Hospitals in PA and CT; worked with individual, couples and family therapy in inpatient, outpatient and private practice settings; designed and managed community mental health programs for not-for-profit agencies; supervised graduate students in Marriage and Family Therapy; taught undergraduate and graduate business students at SCSU, CCSU and U of Bridgeport; started and run a business that provided contracted management to small businesses and not-for-profit agencies; managed information systems and quality improvement functions for two different State mental health agencies; designed and officiated at more than 60 weddings and civil unions as a Justice of the Peace; and worked as a Realtor for Prudential Connecticut Realty in West Hartford since January of 2007.

Margaret is divorced with three grown daughters. Laura, age 42, lives in Wakefield, MA with her husband, Richard, and daughter, Olivia, age three. They are expecting their second child (her second grandchild) in December. Laura is a project manager for the State of MA. Donna, age 41, lives in Minneapolis, MN with her SO, Paul. She is a researcher for the Minnesota Population Center and a practicing Buddhist. Sandra, age 38, lives in Somerville, MA, just completed her nursing degree (while working full time) and is studying for her licensing exam. Margaret's older sister, Pat, lives in Richmond, IL and became a UU in just the past few years. Her younger sister, Jane lives in Branford, CT and is the IT manager for a private not-for-profit healthcare agency based in Wallingford.

Margaret characterizes herself as a UU Buddhist. As she puts it, “I kinda think USH is my hobby/passion, apart from my ‘professional’ pursuits. That’s about all I have time for, though I love drumming and chanting and would do more of both with a bit more time and people to do it with. I eat out a lot – more practical than passion-related, and like to read when I have time – historical novels, mysteries (especially those with a wry sense of humor built in) and meditation/reflection writings.

"I am very excited about the training of our Worship Associates, the increased focus on the quality and consistency of the Sunday morning (and other) worship experiences as well as the development and increased use of our Meditation Sanctuary.

As for thoughts to share with the membership, Margaret feels her periodic letters to the congregation with giving statements cover the subject. - DCN

USH Kitchen Gnome Seeks Help -The USH Kitchen Gnome, whose duties include watching over the kitchen and causing guilt feeling among any who would leave dirty dish towels on the counters and otherwise fail to leave equipment clean and in its rightful storage place, sheepishly reported falling asleep last week when supposedly on duty. During this brief period of inattention, somebody using our new coffee pot, just out of the package for a week or so, misplaced or otherwise made off with the central stem the function of which is to perk the coffee by lifting boiling water from the heating element on the bottom of the pot to the top and dispersing this boiling water over the coffee grounds. If you have knowledge of said essential part of the new coffee pot, please take immediate action to restore the stem to its rightful pot.

The Kitchen Gnome, now suffering from overwhelming employment-related depression and guilt will be grateful and relieved as the restoration of the missing part would mean the matter will never be reported to the employer Board - DCN

Caring Network Seeks Some Help - Has any member or friend of the Meeting House had experience using Home Health Aide services either for themselves or for family members? If you would be willing to share this information with the Caring Network, please contact Diana Heymann at 461-0908 or heydiana(at sign)comcast.net. Thank you!

SUNDAY RIDES - Fall is fast approaching. We need drivers for members who need us to get them to Church! If you can help on any Sunday, at either service, please email Diana Heymann heydiana(at sign)comcast.net or call (860) 461-0908.

Audio Group of B&G Seeks Help - The UU Meetinghouse is developing plans to update our sound system, enhancing our ability to provide hearing-impaired access and creating a recording system for Internet podcasting. We need YOUR HELP in getting technical advice on the system of the future. If you have expertise in sound system design and operation, we want to hear from you !

Comments from musicians are welcome, too, as the vocal music is the major gap in our current audio & recording system. In particular,

If you can nominate some resource persons or organizations or can yourself be of help, please contact the committee audiobg(at symbol)ushartford.com or Ed Savage, edsavage(at symbol)ushartford.com or phone Brian Mullen at the Meetinghouse and leave a message for Ed. Phone 860.233.9897. Thanks for participating in this project !

Caring Network - If you haven't any charity in your heart, you have the worst kind of heart trouble. ~ Bob Hope 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.

Thursday, August 2
7:00 pm Small Group Ministry, David

Saturday, August 4
9:00 am Classroom Renovations, Lower Level

Sunday, August 5
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Monday, August 6
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Murray
7:00 pm Worship Arts Sub-council, Ballou

Tuesday, August 7
7:00 pm Committee on Ministry, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Thursday, August 9
7:00 pm Small Group Ministry, David
7:30 pm Rental, Chapel

Saturday, August 11
9:00 am Classroom Renovations, Lower Level
9:30 am Rental, Chapel

Sunday, August 12
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am Building and Grounds, Murray
10:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm RE Curricula Showcase, 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.

A Meeting With Bo Lozoff - Thursday, August 30, 7:00 p.m. - Unitarian Society of Hartford (free of charge – open to the public)

Bo and Sita are remarkable people...I know of no one who has done so much for so long, with such cheerfulness and joy. -- Dr. Karl Menninger, Menninger Foundation

My personal heroes? I would say Mahatma Gandhi, Albert Schweitzer and Bo Lozoff, to name a few. - Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood

Bo cuts through sentimentality. I think his is one of the best interviews we've ever aired. You can listen to it many times over, getting new insights each time.- Elizabeth Gips, CHANGES Radio

Search the internet for the name Bo Lozoff and you’ll find thousands of websites quoting or honoring this unique, street-wise sage and activist whose fans range from Mister Rogers and the Dalai Lama to Outlaw Biker Magazine. Join us in this very special meeting and find out why.

Bo Lozoff is founder of Human Kindness Foundation and its internationally acclaimed Prison-Ashram Project. His books include, Lineage And Other Stories, Just Another Spiritual Book, It’s a Meaningful Life, Deep & Simple, The Wonderful Life of a Fly Who Couldn’t Fly, and the classic, We’re All Doing Time, hailed by The Village Voice as “one of the ten books everyone in the world should read.” He and his wife, Sita, have practiced intensively in the world’s Great Traditions since their marriage in 1966.

Fool for Christ - A One-Woman Play Portraying the Life of Dorothy Day - September 27

Unitarian Society of Hartford* 50 Bloomfield Ave* Hartford, CT

For over 50 years of her life, Dorothy Day served the poor in New York City. With Peter Maurin, she founded The Catholic Worker Newspaper, out of which grew The Catholic Worker Movement that challenged its members to work for peace and justice while standing in solidarity with the poor. When Dorothy Day died in 1980 at the age of 83, it was observed, “she was the most influential, interesting, significant figure in the history of American Catholicism.”

Please join us in celebrating her life, her message of love, and her vision of a just and equitable world.

Sarah Melici is a veteran actress who has appeared with The New York Shakespeare Festival in Vaclav Havel’s Temptation. She toured in the production of Driving Miss Daisy, under the direction of Charles Nelson Reilly. Her regional theater credits include Agnes of God, Morning of Seven, Steel Magnolias, and Songs from Distant Lands. Ms. Melici’s television credits include Law and Order and the CBS mini-series The Golden Years.

There will be a free will donation taken at the door to benefit the work of several area social justice organizations. Please bring one non-perishable item of food.

Did You Know? - that the Mourning Dove you saw several week back sitting on her nest has started another sitting session. The way we see it, the incubation would work well even with long periods of absence by the parent(s). We think it is rather brave to start another generation in the August heat.