USH-Enews for September 6, 2007 Print Only Edition

Home Page for the website of the Unitarian Society of Hartford.
Word Version of this document in color with photographs, which will print nicely for those who use Microsoft Word.
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 - 9 September - Annual Ingathering Service, with Water Ceremony (We begin two services again this Sunday 9 and 11AM.) Bring a vial of water from some place that was important to you this summer as we will mingle the waters together symbolically sharing our separate experiences while recognizing the many things we have in common during our shared religious journey in community.

Music - for Ingathering Sunday we’ve found an unusual welcoming anthem. Several choir members traveled to Brazil this summer with a new choir named Vallis Musicae, and they brought back, “Come Travel With Me,” by California composer Scott Farthing to a text inspired by Walt Whitman. What a spirited way to begin the musical year (at both services), and what a good metaphor for our USH life together.

REflections on Children's Programming - This Sunday will be Ingathering Sunday, an intergenerational service at both 9 and 11, and regular classes will begin on September 16th at 11AM.

A registration table will be available in the lobby to sign children and parents up for the religious education program.

Teacher Training for the 2007-08 school year will be held on Saturday, September 8th from 9 - 1 with lunch included. Please R.S.V.P. with dietary requirements or requests to Gail. There are still openings on our teaching team for the fall, so please consider making religious education a part of your personal ministry for the coming year.

Welcome back! - For many of us, September ingathering finds us once more focused on the New England steady habit of figuratively and literally putting the house in order for the winter. We return to serious work and the kids return to school.

Our pictures this week represent diverse places visited and interesting things encountered, whether you traveled far to experience and learn new things or remained at home entertaining visitors of every description.

We live on the blue planet, unique because of its water, which absorbs excess heat in the summer and furnishes entire continents with warmth during the coldest seasons. It is an unusual substance expanding at the freezing point to cover and protect the creatures below during the coldest times of year. We ourselves are mostly water and our planet is unique because of the abundance of its water.

Thus, it is entirely appropriate that we meet This Sunday and mingle samples of water literally and figuratively from the places we have been as our flock forms once more for the coming seasons.

While your were on your "journey" good old USH continued on with a series of most interesting summer services rewarding to all participants. You will find some of the sermons on the web. In addition, we have been getting to know various members of the congregation. You will find links to their "stories" below.

Family Fun-Raising Event for LGBT Families & Allies - Friday, September 7th 6 PM - 8 PM at the Carousel at Bushnell Park, Hartford More

Annual Fall Work Day - This Saturday, September 8, 9 AM - Noon. Bring trimming, cutting and clean-up tools. If you have any questions or want to suggest an area needing attention (like outside the Library) call Ed Sax 286.9688 Also please note, additional help is need to place the renovated class rooms in good order for Sunday.

The Sixth Annual Hope Out Loud Peace and Music Festival sponsored by the Connecticut Coalition for Peace and Justice and the American Friends Service Committee will be held from 12:00 to 5:00 on September 9, 2007 in Bushnell Park. More

New Teams in Place for Welcoming us on Sunday Mornings! The staff and Membership Committee have put together four welcome teams for ushering, greeting, and generally welcoming our congregation on Sunday mornings. Each team will cover a month at a time on a rotating basis, in other words every fourth month.

If you are interested in learning more about this, or would like to add your name to the roster, please contact Rosie in the office, or Martha Page, Membership Chair. Welcome, all!

For those already assigned a role during the next couple of months, you may (It is under Administration, Sunday duties, on the home web page) now double-check the schedule on the website. This reference may have advantages over the paper schedule mailed earlier. Thank you for your support and participation!

Bulletin Board(s) Updated - Ever wondered just how the many activities of our busy USH community fit into the overall governance structure - and just who is heading up what? Check out the new display on the bulletin board in the lower lobby. Our Board of Directors and Council governance structure is laid out with photos, titles, and names of all the busy volunteers who lead in various areas of USH activity. You may be surprised at just how many there are!

USH Staff pictures are posted as well, and the new members section has been updated with addition of bios and photos. Do take a look! - Anne Bailey

From the Adult Programs Sub-Council - Coming soon, the Fall Programs Fair! On Sunday, September 16, at 10 AM and Noon, you will have a chance to pick up the new Fall Programs Catalog, meet some of the presenters, and register for spiritual, intellectual, fun, and community building programs.

Programs starting in September and early October: Please note an asterisk * identifies the New Programs offered.

"Ongoing Meditation and Dharma Gathering," Began Wednesday, September 5, 6:00 - 7:30 PM, and will be ongoing weekly on Wednesdays beginning at 6 PM. Come on any Wednesday night to participate in sitting meditation, walking meditation and contemplation of Buddhist teachings (Dharma). Facilitated and guided by Rev. Jamestone.

Tai Chi, begins Wednesday, September 12, 6:30 - 7:30 PM for eight weeks. More

" Ember Days," Wednesday, September 19, 12:00 - 2:00 PM, Friday and Saturday, September 21, 22, 6:00 - 8:00 PM. Led by Rev. Jamestone, this first of four seasonal observances will include spiritual exercises and time for personal introspection in silence. Come to any or all sessions.

* "Tai Chi for Health," Saturday, September 22, 10:30 - 11:30 AM. This one session exercise program, using Tai Chi principles, will work on flexibility, balance, increased range of motion, and coordination.

* "The Six Healing Sounds," Saturday, 22, 1:00 - 3:00 PM. During the workshop you will learn the sounds associated with the five elements - earth, water, fire, metal, and wood - and how these sounds create vibrations that can be a means of connecting to different areas of our bodies.

"The Artist's Way," begins Monday, September, 24, 7:00 - 8:30 PM. Using the widely used text, The Artist's Way, A Spiritual Path to Higher Creativity, by Julia Cameron, this class is for those of you whose inner artist is locked deep inside and struggling to get out. Diane Cadrain and Helen David will serve as facilitators for this popular program.

* "View from the Center of the Universe," begins Tuesday, September 25, 7:00 - 9:00 PM. Dick Edwards will lead a four session discussion based on a book by the same title and written by Joel R. Primack and Nancy Ellen Abrams. Matters of astronomical proportions will be discussed.

* "Nonviolent Communication: Toward an 8th UU Principle" begins Wednesday, September 26 (intro lecture), October 3, 10, 17 & 24 - You may attend the intro lecture and not the course or the course and not the lecture or attend both.

"Pathways to Membership," Monday, October 1, 15, 7:00 - 9:00 pm.

* "Mindfulness in Every Day Living," begins Thursday, October 4, 10:00 - 12:00 Noon. This course is for those wanting to bring more balance and joy into their lives. Led by Sylvia Gingras-Baker, LMFT (Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist) and Patricia Barone, MSW (Masters of Social Work), LCSW (Licensed Clinical Social Worker), participants will be guided towards healing and renewal through meditation exercises, presentations, and discussions.

Fall Small Group Ministry Is Gearing Up! - Once again we are excited to announce our fall slate for Small Group Ministry, where small groups meet to
share meaningful readings and life experiences.

We are adding a special offering: a creativity based Small Group Ministry on Monday evenings at the Meeting House, facilitated by Carol Shoemaker and Lisa Gabrielle. This group offers a mixture of arts and crafts experiences with traditional meetings for reflection and sharing.

You may also choose a Tuesday
evening group in West Hartford facilitated by Greg Berg and hosted by Kathie Ferguson, or a Thursday evening group in Simsbury facilitated by Bev Prager and hosted by Louise Willett. An afternoon group will meet on Thursdays at Seabury facilitated by Mike Roy and hosted by Flo Grieb.

Ginny Berrien is convening a repeat group that is continuing from last year.

You may consult the Adult Programs Catalogue for more information. Please sign up at the Adult Programs Fair on Sunday, September 16, or by contacting the church office.

Read more about each of these and the other programs in the Fall Catalog that will be available at the Programs Fair.

Nursing Home Evaluation Tool - For some time the Caring Network has been engaged in finding tools and resources to help our members faced with various life challenges. One such challenge is finding a nursing home for a loved one. Here is a resource that might help you should you be facing this issue:

Here is a helpful website: tinyurl.com/2yepdf. This site identifies every Medicare licensed nursing home in any geographical area you specify. It is an evaluation tool supplying comprehensive information from fire code violations to the number of nursing hours per patient and much, much more. For instance, it identified 47 nursing homes within a 10 mile radius of the Meeting House zip code of 06105. In addition, it is
extremely user friendly.

Good Books Available -The Official USH Used Book Sale will be starting up again September 9. More

Caring Network - Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around. ~Leo Buscaglia - 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, September 6
9:30 pm International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
4:00 pm Rental, Sanctuary
7:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Saturday, September 8
9:00 am RE Teacher Training, Fellowship Hall, classrooms
9:00 am Work Day, Building-wide/grounds
9:30 am Rental, Chapel

Sunday, September 9
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Adult Programs, Library
10:00 am Building and Grounds, Murray
10:00 am Youth Group Soup Making, Kitchen
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Monday, September 10
6:00 pm Information and Advocacy, Library
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Fuller
7:00 pm Worship Arts Sub-council, Ballou

Tuesday, September 11
6:45 pm Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice, Servetus
7:00 pm Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, September 12
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, September 13
6:00 pm Music Sub-council, Library
7:00 pm Rental, Ballou
7:30 pm Rental, Chapel

Saturday, September 15
7:00 pm Rental, Sanctuary

Sunday, September 16
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Adult Programs Fair, Fellowship Hall
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm Adult Programs Fair, 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

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

Artist and Activist Holly Near in Concert - co-presented by The Unitarian Society of Hartford, and Love Makes A Family, Saturday, October 20, at 7:30 PM at the Unitarian Meeting House, 50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT. More information and ticket details.

Ministry Matters: Strengthening Lay & Professional Leadership - A program presented by the UU New England Conference - Saturday October 27, 2007 Beechwood Hotel, Worcester MA 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM ($90 per person). You can download the pdf brochure that is available on this web page.

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)

Two Rooms, by Lee Blessing - Directed by Jared Towler - (Our own Debi Freund appears) 9/21-30 More

Fall Seaside Get-Away - The UU Society of Martha’s Vineyard is hosting its annual Columbus Day B&B week-end October 6 to 8.

Fall is the best season of all on the island. The crowds are gone, the air is crisp and the water is still warm enough for a swim.
Tour five historic lighthouses, bike the back country roads, fish the Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby, kayak inland ponds, hike miles of unspoiled trails. Bring your camera.

Discover classic New England coastal towns and enjoy their fine shops, galleries and restaurants or stroll on miles of uncrowded beaches, then wade on in. The water is fine.

COST: $400 for a party of two (double occupancy); $225 for a party of one. Enquire about their group discount. INCLUDED: rooms in UU homes plus daily breakfasts (2 nights, 2 mornings). Cocktails and seafood supper on Saturday evening, optional island tour on Sunday after the UU service, thorough orientation and suggested itineraries (maps and routes as needed), transportation from ferry pick-up to drop-off and all in between as desired.

EXTRA DAY: Guests may opt for an extra night on the island @ $75 per person.

TRAVELING TO THE VINEYARD: Drive to Woods Hole on Cape Cod (about 4 hours from Hartford area) Large parking area on right a few miles before the ferry landing, indicated by large sign. Transportation to ferry provided. Cars are not essential, but if you want to bring one over, you must have an advance reservation. See www.islandferries.com You can also get there by taking a bus to Boston, then a bus to Woods Hole.
MORE INFORMATION: Contact UUSMV at 508-693-5372 or cdevito(at symbol)comcast.net Website: http://www.uusmv.info

Connecticut Humanists meetings schedule and newsletter available on the web.

Did You Know? - Each year Americans alone throw away 18 billion disposable diapers. In perspective, this is enough to extend from the earth to the moon and back seven times.

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