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USH-Enews August 27, 2009
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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 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.
Worshipping Together Since 1830
Summer Schedule One Service 10 AM
Sunday - 30 August - Preparing for Mabon: The Feast of the Ingathering - 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.
Music - This will be the very first Sunday for our new Associate Music Director. He is a superlative organist and pianist, very experienced making music with congregations and choirs, and he will be a tremendous asset to our music program and our congregational life. You may remember Mark Child has a background in choral directing and a fine tenor voice. He has been the Organist and Music Director at West Hartford Methodist Church for over 20 years. His bachelor’s degree is from Bucknell University, and he received a double master’s degree from Hartt as an organ student of John Holtz.
As to the actual music -
Entrance Voluntary: Choral preludes on "Beach Spring" and "The Ash Grove" - David Cherwien
Musical Call to Worship: "Be Thou My Vision" - arr. Mark Hayes
Offering: Psalm 24 - Emma Lou Diemer
Postlude: Final from Symphony No. 1 for Organ - Louis VierneREflections on Children's Programming
Registration for 2009-10 RE Classes
Classes will begin on Sunday, September 20th. All children and youth must be registered for classes. To fill out the electronic registration form, you may download a Word document or PDF. Email the Word document back as an attachment or print the pdf , complete the hard copy and send it to the office. Electronic returns to DRE@ushartford.com.From the Editor:Suggestions for Contributors.
This Week’s Feature Articles (see below)Small Group Ministry for Fall of 2009 - Registration is now open for Small Group Ministry. Please call the office to register.
The success of SGM continues for good reason! Get to know other members and friends better while discussing spiritual and life topics openly and in depth. Share insights you have gained and concerns you have been struggling with, and explore the spiritual dimension to your life in a non-judgmental atmosphere.Groups of 7-10 people follow a common format at each meeting: check-in, chalice lighting, reading on a meaningful topic, questions and sharing of personal experiences following a covenant of close listening and right relationship, and closing reading.
Groups are scheduled for different days of the week in various locations and at different times, and normally meet eight times. Interested persons are encouraged to identify accessibility concerns (including assisted listening devices or allergies) to Mike Roy so we can address these concerns to the best of our ability. Pre-registration is required. Participants are notified of details before sessions begin. Register by calling the office at 233-9897. These six new groups will begin in October 2009.
Start Dates/Locations:
1. Tuesday evenings (7:00-9:00 PM), October 27, Bloomfield (Rev. BJ’s home) - Facilitator Rev. BJ, Host Carol Davidson. - This SGM will focus its readings and reflections on “faith.” This SGM will start with four sessions and continue to eight, if the group so desires. Newcomers to SGM (or to the Meeting House) are welcome!
2. Wednesday evenings (7:00-9:00 PM), October 14, Simsbury - Facilitator Fran Carnevale, Host Ann Carnevale - This SGM is an LGBT affinity group, with straight and supportive friends welcome.
3. Thursday evenings (7:00-9:00 PM), October 29, West Hartford - Facilitator Gail Syring, Host Kathie Ferguson
4. Friday evenings (5:30-8:00 PM), October 16, USH Meeting House. This Family-Friendly group is open to everyone, but will especially accommodate adult members and friends with younger children. Format changes are:
• Six meetings, instead of the usual eight
• Dinner of pizza and salad for adults and kids, costs shared by all
• USH provides childcare at no charge
• Dinner from 5:30-6:30 pm; SGM from 6:30-8:00 PM
• Meet on Friday evening (no school next day!)We welcome participation by parents, whether single or partnered. Both spouses or partners can choose to participate, or just one spouse or partner may participate. Facilitated by Bill Shoemaker.
5. Wednesday afternoons (2:00-4:00 pm), October 14, West Hartford - Facilitator Bruce Robbins, Host Betsy Mahaffey
6. Sunday afternoons (4:00-6:00 pm), October 18, USH Meeting House - Facilitator Marye Gail Harrison, Host TBA
Fee none
Contact Mike Roy, 860 561-4061, Michaelroy25@comcast.net
Ministry. Please call the office to register. More
Free Concert at the Meeting House - Saturday August 29th, 2009 8:00 PM More
About Getting Older, a sermon Kayla wrote about last week is now available on the web.
USH Needs You!
The first Sunday of every month, beginning in October, join Rev. BJ and staff musicians for a half hour post service “Chapel Sing,” which will begin 15 minutes after the worship service ends. You’ll have the chance to call out your favorites, and to get better acquainted with our “Teal UU Hymnal Supplement” as well. - BJBuilding and Grounds plans Workday - Mark you calendars now. The annual fall B&G Workday will be on Saturday September 5th 9 AM to Noon. There will be a general clean up of the grounds and Building preparing for the coming season.
Classroom Clean-up - help needed on Saturday, September 5th from 10:00 AM to noon. The Building and Grounds folks will be doing the heavy lifting for the premises, and the RE folks would love some help to get the classrooms ready for the Fall RE programs. We are especially looking for small hands to make sure markers still work. Please join us! - Sheila Ward
ADULT PROGRAMS
2009 FALL PROGRAMS FOR ADULTS AND FAMILIES - It won't be long before the USH Fall Programs will be starting! You may have already read about some of the programs in the E-News, including Small Group Ministry, The Women's Alliance Retreat, and the movies selected for the Friday Dinner and Movie Series. On September 6 stop by the Programs Table in Fellowship Hall to take a look at the New Notebooks that will include the programs offered this fall. During coffee hour on Ingathering Sunday, September 13, you will be able to register and ask questions at the Programs Table. Your favorites -Small Dinner Parties (formerly Circle Dinners), Friday Dinner and Movie evenings, Artist's Way, Small Group Ministry, and Tai Chi will be back!
New offerings to look for:
Compassionate Communication Practice Group, 2nd and 4th Thursdays, starting September 10, 5:00 - 7:00 PM. Paul Quinn will facilitate this program to provide a safe space to give and receive empathy using the Non Violent Communication process. Participants must have a basic understanding of NVC by reading Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life by Marshall Rosenberg and/or participation in a NVC workshop.
"Menu for the Future", Mondays, every other week beginning October 5, 4:30 - 6:00 PM.
Our Chosen Faith, 2nd and 4th Wednesdays starting October 13, 7:00 PM.
Caring Network - The only security is the ability to change - John Lilly - 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.
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.Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)
The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society - Have you read this charming novel of WWII, set on the isle of Guernsey? It will be the focus of a discussion during the Women's Alliance Retreat Oct. 23-25 this fall. MoreA Concert for Justice - October 4th More
Music for You to Give and Receive at the Meeting House—This Fall! More
Social Justice Journeys (From the UUA) And from USHGreen Topics - Green Sanctuary Sub-Council - You can bring #5 plastics (all those yogurt containers!), batteries, light bulbs, etc to Whole Foods Stores for recycling. Yea! less garbage that will be hauled and burned.
A Matter of Opinion:
Jason & Demarco in Concert 10/25/09: Center Church - The First Church of Christ in Hartford
An Open and Affirming Congregation of the United Church of Christ More
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