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USH-Enews For October 9, 2008

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Witch Hole - Acadia National Park, ME

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 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
Sunday, 9:45 AM and 11:15 AM

Sunday -12 Oct. - The two Cultures: Science and the Humanities, Reconciled - Modern developments in science, specifically discoveries about chaos, self-organizing systems, and far-from-equilibrium thermodynamics have changed our view of how the world works.  The old, Newtonian view led us to believe that a lot of the physical world was capable of being analyzed and controlled. It said that the universe was running down, that it was decaying and dying. Now we realize that that’s wrong:  that most things are beyond our powers of analysis, and certainly beyond our control. The universe is actually creating more complex forms, and that that evolution is inevitable. The implications for spirituality are that we are part of a directed, creative universe much larger than ourselves, that our everyday actions have consequences we cannot predict. We learn to be humble in our exercise of power….and more.

Jim Ligas, a long time member of the Unitarian Society of Hartford, is a practicing physician and professor of medicine. Although medicine is a primary interest, Jim says "Ultimately, I think it’s hard to practice medicine without being a philosopher, a political activist, an educator, and a spiritual human being, even though we usually don’t succeed in filling all these roles."

Jim Ligas was born in Ohio and began his adult life as an aerospace engineer. He received his MD and PhD in biomedical engineering from Case Western Reserve University and completed fellowships in General Surgery and Critical Care. He worked at the UConn Health Center for 20 years and is now at Baystate Medical Center.

After beginning his spiritual history as a Catholic, Jim meandered through the spiritual desert for about 25 years before finding a spiritual home at the Meeting House about ten years ago. He thinks of himself mainly a Buddhist.

Jim is the father of five children. Three have graduated from college, two are married, one is in college, and one still lives at home.

Music - About the performer: The piano soloist is a familiar face in our congregation. Born in Taiwan, Pi-Hsun Shih has resided in the USA since 1990. As a collaborative pianist, she has performed with
musicians throughout North and South America, Hong Kong, China, and Taiwan; including performances with members of the Empire Brass, Emerson String Quartet and solo appearances with the Mexico State Symphony Orchestra, Sao Paulo Symphony in Brazil and Hartt Symphony in Connecticut.

She earned her Doctorate from The Hartt School and is currently on the faculty of Hartt School, Community Division and the Center for Creative
Youth at Wesleyan University. She recently formed a piano duet, Duo Asiana, with her sister Yu-Chen Shih. In addition to the standard piano duet repertoire, they specialize in music written for one-piano four-hand.

About the composer: The art-music composer of today faces challenges of identity, attempting to create music that embraces a diversity of styles, but also developing a personal language reflecting one’s artistic orientation and communicating effectively with the audience. This issue is of particular relevance to composers who grew up in non-Western cultures, struggling to mediate between Western music and music of their original culture. Shih-Hui Chen is one example. She grew up in Taiwan, acquiring her basic musical training there, and earned a doctoral degree from Boston University while continuing her education in the United States. A prolific composer, she has written for a wide range of genres, including solo, chamber, orchestral and film music. Her works have been influenced by traditional Chinese as well as Western concert music. Like the interaction between yin and yang, these two opposing yet complementary forces continue to shape Chen’s aesthetic and her music, resulting in music that explores the representation of “Chineseness” within predominantly Western compositional frameworks.

REflections on Children's Programming -

Religious Education Classes: October 12th

Spirit Play: St. Francis and the Animal Blessing
Grades 2 & 3: St. Francis Day
Grades 4 & 5: Joseph and His Dreams
Grades 6-8: Symbols & Ethics
Youth Group: NO YOUTH GROUP MEETING
 
Intergenerational Worship Service

Next Sunday, October 19th, there will be no individual religious education classes.  The intergenerational worship service will include a Blessing of the Animals.  Families are encouraged to bring their pets, photos of pets, or beloved stuffed pets to participate in the service.  A "no pets" section of the Sanctuary will be available.

From the Editor: Those working on the Green Sanctuary Project suspect we readers seldom reach the bottom of the USH-Enews page. So, this week, try reading from the bottom up! In all seriousness, we do try to provide sets of links to help the speed browsers among you move quickly and yet miss no relevant details.

This Week’s Feature Articles

Volunteer Coordinator Sought
Rest and Reason
Sign Up
Classical and Broadway

Volunteer Coordinator Sought - Have you ever wished it were easier to find just the right volunteer for that committee position you need to fill? Or have you wondered what types of opportunities there at USH that could take advantage of your skills or those few free hours that you have available? Are you curious about the many volunteer activities that help keep this place running? We are a growing, dynamic community with lots of volunteer needs to fill and many people who are looking for the right spot for their talents and time. To help bring these powerful forces together, we are planning to add a new part-time staff position of Volunteer Coordinator. This position will focus on strengthening the connections between USH and its members by promoting fulfilling volunteer activity within the Society.

You could be our link to the perfect person for this position. Please think about your network of friends and associates, and let us know if you think the USH Volunteer Coordinator may be lurking among them!

What will a Volunteer Coordinator do? We believe the role will entail about 15 flexible hours per week to execute core responsibilities like interviewing members to assess volunteer skills and interests, identifying volunteer needs within USH, and matching available members to appropriate volunteer roles. In addition, the Volunteer Coordinator will maintain a volunteer database, identify training needs and deliver training. By communicating regularly with the Minister, staff, and committee chairs regarding volunteer activity and program initiatives, the Volunteer Coordinator will surely become a valuable support to the overall functioning of USH.

To recruit for this important position, we are casting a wide net to identify candidates. A search committee has been established and they are looking for independent, self-directed individuals who have a minimum of two years’ experience in volunteer management, proficiency in Microsoft Word, Outlook, and internet navigation strong organizational and communication skills and a proven ability to communicate and work effectively with diverse (including religiously diverse) individuals and groups.

If you know of individuals who fit this profile and who would like to join in making USH an even better place to be, please let them know about the position and have them contact Becky Pardoe at rebecca.pardoe@sbcglobal.net, with a resume and any other information about their qualifications.

Rest and Reason - Early in Sunday’s service celebrating the Jewish High Holy Days—Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur—Reverend BJ asked her congregaton, “Who has ever done something you wish you hadn’t done?” And all hands were raised in wry acknowledgement.

In what she warned would be a “long children’s story” (there were no children at the second service), Reverend BJ offered her version of the Bible story of Elijah. In her version, Elijah and one child were not eaten by the bear that ate all the other children, but survived so they could learn the power of forgiveness and listening to others. “If we respect ourselves and others,” she said, “we get to play happily in the sandbox of life”

One verse in particular stood out (for me) during Reverend BJ’s reading of a poem by Rashani. “There is a sorrow beyond all grief that leads to joy.” This leads to a place inside which is unbreakable and whole, she commented.

“Rest and reason are two of the best gifts Jews have given the world,” Reverend BJ said in beginning her sermon. The custom of the Sabbath—a day of rest—gives us time to experience and be sustained by the sacred. As for reason, to Jewish people the key figure is not a preacher but a rabbi, a person who is a teacher and yet a fallible human being. Rabbis debate the deeper meanings of religious law and rituals in a spirit of dialog and debate, and have the courage to question.

The High Holy days give us a chance to rest in faith and a reason to respect ourselves and others, Reverend BJ said. She suggested that UUs have a chance to dialog and debate our “beloved” seven principals. (Note: The Unitarian Universalist Association is currently engaged in a review of its Principles and Purposes. A Commission on Appraisal has been getting opinions resulting from thoughtful reflection and conversation from denominational groups. Recommendations will be submitted to the UUA board in January 2009. If they are approved, they will go before the 2009 General assembly for preliminary approval by majority vote.)

Our closing hymn Sunday (Who Can Say from the Days of Awe section of the hymnal) was, as usual, most appropriate. We sang, “May we now forgive, atone, that we may live.” - Kayla Costenoble

October 25th - Unitarian Society of Hartford present - “Classical & Broadway; a perfect marriage” A benefit concert featuring mezzo-soprano Patrice Fitzgerald and baritone Richard Leslie

What: The Performing Arts Committee of the Unitarian Society of Hartford continues its 2008-2009 season with a spectacular musical evening of vocal gems ranging from Handel’s “Largo” and Verdi’s “Il balen del suo sorriso” to tunes from Oklahoma! and Sweeney Todd. Hartt graduate Patrice Fitzgerald, longtime soloist for the Unitarian Society, joins husband Richard Leslie, a baritone and student of John Macurdy of the Metropolitan Opera. Accomplished pianist Stephen Scarlato will join the newlyweds on a musical journey from the 18th century Italy to contemporary Broadway.

When: Saturday, October 25th at 7:30 p.m.

Where: Unitarian Meeting House, 50 Bloomfield Ave., Hartford, CT (near the intersection of Bloomfield Avenue and Rte. 44/Albany Ave.)

How: $12 in advance/$15 at door
For reservations, call (860) 233-9897
For more information, visit www.ushartford.com
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What Else is Happening  & Announcements

We note with sadness the death of Lisa Spencer 10/2 and Ron Sexton's Mother 9/29. In addition, we understand Gail Syring's Grandfather passed away.

Warm Winter Clothing Needed The Horace Bushnell Church distributes clothing to those using their food pantry. They would love to have
your outgrown or unused items. If you forgot today, bring them to Fellowship Hall next Sunday.
Write yourself a note so you won't forget! See the October Messenger for details or talk to Joan Kemble.

From Green Sanctuary/GreenTable:  Have you been using the Citra-solv (de-greasing orange scented cleaner) and LOVE it? If so, don't throw out that plastic sprayer you bought it in; bring it back in to the Green Table for more Citra-solv from concentrate. How green is that?

On October 19, please see the informational display in Fellowship Hall on Green Cleaning, provided by our very own Mary Sherwin and the CT DEP. More

Games night? - I have been thinking about starting up a family-friendly potluck supper & game night for adults & kids at the Meeting House. I hope to find someone who has a similar interest so we can work together to make this happen.  I'm thinking about Friday evenings, perhaps once per month or every other month as scheduling permits.

It would go something like this. On a Friday or Saturday evening, we would come together in Fellowship Hall, folks would bring either home made food or pick up a pizza or prepared food at their favorite market & we would all dine together, after which the games would begin. In the past the games for the kids have included twister, chutes & ladders, scrabble Jr - you get the picture. Adults have played various word games using dictionaries, bridge, cribbage, etc.

If you would like to work on this idea, please contact Esther McKone.

Alerting ALL Women-Folk at USH - Retreat Save the Date: October 24-26.

- Senexet Update - Planned wheelchair lift at Senexet has been delayed. It was promised for Sept, but will NOT be installed before our weekend in October. Entrance to the building is up 3-4 steps.
There is a bedroom and accessible bathroom on the main level with two beds. So additional stairs are not necessary. Contact Louise Schmoll if this affects your attendance. More

Last Chance to Sign Up for Fall Small Group Ministry - Groups are filling up and starting next week, so you must sign up by this Sunday for fall Small Group Ministry, where small groups meet to bond, share, and deepen understandings.

Only a few spaces are left in the groups meeting on Wednesday afternoon (1 space left) facilitated by Bruce Robbins, Tuesday evening (3 spaces left, starts October 21) facilitated by Jeff Blanchette, and Thursday evening (3 spaces left) facilitated by Charles Huntington.

We also offer a family-friendly SGM (3 spaces left) facilitated by Greg Berg, which is open to everyone, meets on Friday evenings, and provides free childcare and pizza dinner (cost shared by participants). New this fall is a Social Justice Small Group Ministry (5 spaces left), which includes actual social justice work (a soup kitchen, for example) and a meeting with a legislator. This group is open to everyone and will convene on Monday evenings starting October 20, and is facilitated by Mike Roy and hosted by Fred Louis.

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. You may consult the upcoming Adult Programs Catalogue for more information. Please sign up this Sunday in Fellowship Hall or by contacting the church office. - Mike Roy

Adult Programs

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Registrations for the Fall Programs including Circle Dinners, Small Group Ministry, and the Women's R & R Retreat Weekend, October 24-26 will continue this Sunday during coffee time in Fellowship Hall. Please note the terrific opportunity to attend an introductory informal session (at no charge) to Iconography by Ser Seskevich discussed below.

This Sunday don't miss the third in the series of An Exploration of Ragtime, Blues, Tim Pan Alley, and Jazz, Sunday, October 12, 1 PM in the Chapel. Sit back and enjoy this last in the series of an exploration of these four different musical styles, Dick Edwards will narrate the tour with the help of Sid Garvais at the keyboard. Come and hear the music "we grew up on and learned to love". You may want to bring a sandwich to have before the program. There is no fee or registration.

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NEW! Iconography, Saturday, November 1, 9-10 AM. An introduction and informal session  to iconography is being offered by USH member Ser Seskevich. Ser is a former Franciscan Monk of the Byzantine Rite and an experienced artist. After he left the monastic order, he started his own business, specializing in Russian icons and design and construction of church furnishings and the Russian Banya (onion dome). At the introduction, Ser will display some of his work and answer questions about the process of iconographic painting. Registrations for the 7 week course will be taken after the introductory session and dates will be determined by the participants.

Copies of Nonviolent Communication: A Language of Life, by Marshall Rosenberg will be available at the Book Cart located near the Registration Table on Sunday.

Heating Assistance Needed - More

Caring Network - Joy increases as you give it, and diminishes as you try to keep it for yourself. In giving it, you will accumulate a deposit of joy greater than you ever believed possible. - Norman Vincent Peale - 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.

On the Calendar

Thursday, October 9
7:00 pm  Rental, Ballou
 
Friday, October 10
5:30 pm  Dinner & Movie, Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm  Rental, Chapel
 
Saturday, October 11
10:00 am  Rental, Chapel

Sunday, October 12
8:45 am  Building and Grounds, Murray
8:45 am  Comfort Shawl Knitters, Lower Lobby
9:00 am  Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:45 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
10:30 am  Music rehearsal, Fellowship Hall
10:45 am  Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:45 am  Coffee, Fellowship Hall
11:15 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:15 pm  Coffee, Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm  Exploration of Ragtime, Blues, Tin Pan Alley & Jazz, Chapel
3:00 pm  Rental, Chapel

Monday, October 13
7:00 pm  Artist’s Way, Servetus
7:00 pm  Rental, Ballou

Tuesday, October 14
3:30 pm  Univ of Hartford, parking lot usage
7:00 pm  Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm  AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, October 15
3:00 pm  Watkinson cross country event, Grounds
5:30 pm  Lay Listener training, Ballou
5:45 pm  Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm  Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:15 pm  NVC Practice Group, Emerson
7:30 pm  Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, October 16
6:30 pm  UPA, Library
7:00 pm  Artist’s Way, Servetus
7:00 pm  NVC Gathering, Emerson

Friday, October 17
1:00 pm  Transitions Group, David
5:30 pm  Family-friendly SGM, Fellowship Hall  

Saturday, October 18
7:00 pm  Rental, Chapel
 
Sunday, October 19
9:00 am  Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:45 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
10:45 am  Coffee, Fellowship Hall
10:45 am  Music rehearsal, Chapel
11:15 am  WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:15 pm  Coffee, Fellowship Hall
1:00 pm  BTWWDA, Emerson
3:00 pm  Rental, Chapel 

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!

External Events and Educational Notes

How Many US Hartford Members Does it Take…to advocate for marriage equality in our community? At least one—you! Love Makes a Family is training advocates for a focused and time-limited religious initiative on marriage equality for same-sex couples. Free trainings with dinner included are scheduled in West Hartford (Oct. 22nd), Norwich (Oct. 27th), Fairfield (Nov 6th), and New Haven (Nov 17th). To learn more and sign up, please visit www.lmfct.org or contact LMF's Religious Organizer, Obadiah Ballinger, at (203) 464-3455 or obadiah@lmfct.org."

Thanks so much for your help. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Thanks,

Obadiah Ballinger, M.Div.
Religious Organizer, Love Makes A Family

Habitat for Humanity Benefit -The University of Hartford, in cooperation with WWUH radio (91.3 FM), has created a way to use music to help its Hartford-area neighbors. The MUSIC for a CHANGE benefit concert series, launched in the spring of 2000, has raised thousands of dollars for Greater Hartford charities and nonprofit organizations working to improve the lives of our neighbors.

On Saturday, October 18th Hartford Area Habitat for Humanity will be the featured nonprofit at the Aztec Two Step concert.  Not only is the University of Hartford allowing us a chance to promote our mission, but they are also donating a portion of the profits to Hartford Habitat.  Please come out and join us!  Show your support for Hartford Habitat, and hear some great music at the same time!

Aztec Two Step (performing the Simon and Garfunkel Songbook)
Saturday, October 18th
9:00 pm
Millard Auditorium, University of Hartford

$25 in advance/$30 day of the show

For more information about the concert, go to http://www.hartford.edu/mfac/
For more information about the band, go to http://www.aztectwostep.com/

Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)

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 -

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Did You Know? - Green Sanctuary Sub-Council - will be meeting the first Wednesday of the month. All are encouraged to come to add their ideas and help create a greener USH and community.

Help us recycle/reuse:  Clear out those gift baskets and spray bottles (now empty) and bring them to the green table where we will put them to good use.  You can also bring cell phones you no longer use to be donated to a good cause.

What's GUSHING in Fellowship Hall?  Our new homemade (Meeting House made) all purpose cleaner. Bring in an empty spray bottle for a filling for $2 or buy a 32 oz spray bottle of it for $4. Earth-friendly.  Proceeds of all green table sales to support earth-friendly product use at the Meeting House.

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Green Sanctuary Program Continues - 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