USH-Enews for October 18, 2007 Print Only Edition

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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.

Worshipping Together Since 1830 - Services at 9 & 11 AM

Sunday - 21 October - Our Faith in Social Justice - How does the UU value of celebrating love in all its forms related to our Social Justice passion? The interface between social justice advocacy work and spiritual discipline will be explored. The special offering will be for True Colors, which supports GLBT youth.

What is True Colors? True Colors works to create a world where youth, adults and families of all sexual orientations and gender identities are valued and affirmed. We challenge all forms of oppression through education, training, advocacy, youth leadership development, mentoring and direct services to youth and those responsible for their well-being. We can be reached at 888-565-5551, or on the web

BTW - Total collected for Association Sunday (last week) was $1,249. Attendance at 9:00 was 29 and at 11:00 was 129. With the 1:1 match, USH was responsible for a contribution of just about $2,500.

Music - Ken Bartschi plays Bach – some introspective pieces from the Well-Tempered Clavier at 9:00 AM, and then a brilliant Prelude and Fugue at 11:00. The organ is known as the King of Instruments, and this week we’ll be hearing many of its multiple colors on both the reed organ and the pipe organ. Ken brings deep interpretive skills and awesome technique to the music of the greatest organist and composer who ever lived, Johann Sebastian Bach.

Who is Ken? Ken is a long-time member of the congregation and choir who occasionally serves as substitute organist. He looks forward to using the new Vocalion organ for hymns and other service music in the Chapel.

REflections on Children's Programming - Welcome New Members
This Sunday, immediately after the 11 AM service, children are encouraged to participate in an art project designed to help us welcome new members to USH. Please join us in the Spirit Play classroom during coffee hour. No R.S.V.P. necessary.

World Religions Field Trip - Our middle school class will be visiting the Universalist Church of West Hartford on Fern Street. Permission slips will be distributed next week. Parents who are available to drive/chaperone the visit will be deeply appreciated. Please contact Gail at: dre@ushartford.com. - Gail M. Syring DR

The sermon, Of Glass Houses and Music of the Ages, by John K. Currie and the response by BJ is now available for reading.

Board Minutes for October are Available.

From the Editor: We have a vocalion organ! And, it is older than any of us and working very well. I think there must be a lesson here. - Read all about the history of such organs.

Help build USH-Enews Readership - Each week about 185 visitors look at the USH-Enews between Thursday and Sunday for one reason or another pausing a few seconds to a few minutes. If you enjoy the publication, mention it to others around the Meeting House. You will uncover those who have computers, but have never looked at a USH-Enews and may not know any such thing exists! We can't send them an email because we probably do not know their email address. So... let us use tried and true old technology, word of mouth! Thanks for your help - DCN

This Week’s Feature Articles

Photo
(Photo by Denise Ackeifi)

Traveling and Living in Ghana
Events of Grace
A Seminar on Aging Gracefully
Who is the Welcoming Congregation? And, furthermore, what do we do?

Events of Grace - Sunday was a triple-header at the USH - we celebrated our new reed organ, we took part in a country-wide Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) Sunday collection, and we were moved by our own Karl Peters’ sermon on, Events of Grace.

The 1888 Vocalion reed organ was donated to the USH by UCC Rev. Marjorie H. Davis, in memory of Rev. Davis’ brother, Norman A. Hall. The cost for the awesome task of taking it apart, moving it here, reassembling it and installing it in our Chapel was covered by a generous gift from Karl Peters. Rev. Davis and Karl Peters were roundly applauded for their gifts during a formal dedication of the new organ. Then, thanks to technological wonders, those in the Sanctuary were able to hear the organ for the first time as, across the way in the Chapel, USH Music Associate John Jesensky played it in its permanent new home. Following the service, our multi-talented John invited people into the Chapel for a “live” demonstration. He “admitted” he had never played this type of organ before.

A testimonial by USH Board President Bill Young described the three ways the money we donate to the UUA is used: national UU awareness counseling, congregational growth grants, and diversity ministry planning. Sunday’s offering will go to the UUA to help the 1,000 member congregations, including our own, who are participants and recipients of UUA services. Bill asked the congregation to donate “funds beyond our regular giving.”

Calling himself a “philosopher of religion,” Karl said he likes Rev. BJ’s description of God as “Good Orderly Design,” but his own translation of it is “Good Original Direction.” He developed his ideas of “events of grace” many years ago. In an event of grace, he suggested, something good happens beyond one’s control. This helps us grow, allows new self-understanding and leads to new ways of relationships and new ways of life. These events transform how we understand ourselves in relation to others.

Karl suggested that we become more aware of events as they happen rather than afterward, by listening to what’s going on and by being open to being led by events. He gave examples of events of grace from his own life, including a protest outside the main post office in Hartford (involving an attempt to send packages weighing more than 12 ounces to Iraq) which transformed him, usually a philosophical professor wanting to see all sides of an issue, into someone actively involved in protesting the Iraq war. Events of grace, he said, can lead to transforming our identity, can spur us to actions for justice and peace and can move us to concrete action. - Kayla Costenoble

And for further information about moving our new organ, and Vocalion Organs in general, see: Squeezing the organ parts into the Meeting House; A vocalion organ that looked like ours before the decorative pipes were shortened; photos of vocalion and other reed organs; technical description and history; Catalog of all known (100 or so) Vocalion Organs and where they are now; links to sound clips; a look inside one.

A Seminar on Aging Gracefully - “It is more and more important to do your planning early,” Attorney Marcia Hess told the group of about 30 USH members at last Sunday’s post-service, Toward Aging Gracefully, seminar in Fellowship Hall.

A partner in the law firm of Bickford, Kramer and Hess (specializing in Elder Law), Ms. Hess touched on a large variety of topics, including estate planning, state taxes, probate, power of attorney (POA), living wills, conservators, organ donation, trusts, wills, gifts, Medicaid, long-term care and reverse mortgages.

Acknowledging that her comments would be general rather than specific, Attorney Hess stressed that getting documents together is very important. She mentioned wills, POAs, and living wills (as of October 2007, these can no longer be part of a POA).

Ms. Hess stressed the importance of living wills. They deal with life support systems, name the person a doctor speaks to, name a health care agent (a person who can get medical records and can hire/fire doctors), name the person to act as a conservator for you (beyond the POA), and allow you to donate your body and/or organs.

If your estate is currently over $2 million, trusts can be considered. However, the Connecticut laws regarding assets and estate taxes are fluid. From 2006-2008, CT estate taxes begin with estates over $2 million; in 2009, it is $3.5 million; in 2010 it is gone; in 2011 it starts over again at $1 million.

“Connecticut laws are not very forgiving or flexible regarding Medicaid ,”Attorney Hess warned. The state looks at all assets on the day a person goes into a nursing home and can’t come home. Before a single person can qualify for state assistance, her/his assets must be down to $1,600. The limit for a married person is $101,640, but the house, car and some personal things are exempt.

Sunday’s informative seminar was sponsored by the Aging Resources Ministry (ARM), a branch of the USH’s Caring Network and by the UAMW (Unitarian Alliance Ministry to Women). ARM had its initial planning meeting on November 26, 2006. Its purpose was to research and compile a guide of resources for services to help aging people and/or their caregivers. Chaired by Betty Palmer, ARM presented copies of its, A Resource Guide to Aging Issues, at the conclusion of Sunday’s seminar. In addition, many books on the issues of aging are now available for borrowing in the library in David’s Den at the Meeting House. - Kayla Costenoble

Who is the Welcoming Congregation? And, furthermore, what do we do? - Guess what? friend, foe, ally or queer – we are all – all of us at USH - Welcoming Congregation, and we do a little bit of everything. We take photographs, we teach RE, we facilitate SGM, we minister to the ill or needy, we lobby the legislature, we clean up the grounds, we organize concerts, and bake cookies, we attend services, we recruit new members, we pledge our resources, - all this and more. And, yes we attend meetings and have a formal Sub-Council of the Council for Social Justice, know as the Welcoming Congregation.

Confused? Well, frankly so am I. Several years ago our congregation worked diligently to join a full half of the UU Congregations in becoming a formally designated Welcoming Congregation. Our Meeting House now proudly wears a rainbow sign proclaiming that to all who drive by on Bloomfield Avenue. Perhaps more importantly, our members and friends share that energy within the Meeting House walls.

So where do we go from here? We have a vital community and we’d like to keep it that way, right? I think most will agree that the next logical step for the Welcoming Congregation is to form an Interweave Chapter. Right now our committee members are investigating this avenue. Interweave goes beyond our four walls (yes, I know we are round) and reaches out to the larger community. Interweave Membership involves two primary goals: the creation of local groups for queer (LGBTQI, if you prefer) UU’s for support, socializing, sharing life issues; and outreach to the larger queer community to publicize the religious alternative offered by Unitarian Universalism.

To those ends our present committee is considering social events that include surrounding UU congregations, creating a visible presence at local PRIDE events, reaching out to local queer youth groups, supporting performances such as Toscano Peterson. In fact, we will have a Welcoming Congregation table during intermission at the upcoming Holly Near Concert.

Meanwhile, some more concrete changes are taking place – our Webpage is under construction, as is our bulletin board in Fellowship Hall. The goal is to keep these current with useful information on both a local and larger community level. We need all of your energies and ideas. Our next meeting will be held on November 2nd at 6 PM at the Meeting House. Come out, come out, wherever you are!!!! And come to the meeting prepared to make a difference and probably a few new friends.

Peace. - Lisa T Gabrielle, Chair, Welcoming Congregation.

What Else is Happening & Announcements

Holly Near Concert is sold out!

(Photos by Denise Ackeifi)

Traveling and Living in Ghana - Our Youth Director, Denise Ackeifi, traveled again in Ghana this summer. Come find out about this English-speaking, largely Christian country, see pictures of people and places, hear of her experiences. She will also give suggestions for outreach efforts. Denise raised her daughters in USH programs and has directed the high school program for many years. Bring along a sandwich. 1-2 PM in the Chapel.

National Weekend of Faith & Action on the Death Penalty - This weekend is an opportunity for faith communities and individuals to examine the death penalty from a UU perspective. UU Resolutions opposing the death penalty have passed at five General Assemblies, beginning in 1961. Our Washington Office for Faith in Action, in alliance with Amnesty International, urges all UUs to advocate for the cessation of capital punishment. Stop at the Fair Trade Coffee table to pick up stickers and to talk about it with Joan and Tom Kemble, your representatives to the CT Network to Abolish the Death Penalty. - IASC (Information and Advocacy Sub-Council - Social Justice)

Want to Give it a Try (just in case) - Sometimes a Circle Dinner participant can't attend as planned. That's when we need a list of substitutes we could call upon if needed.

A substitute who says yes will be asked to bring a dish (appetizer, salad, vegetable or dessert) to the home of the evening's host and will join the other Unitarian guests around the table. It's a very pleasant way to visit with old friends or meet new ones.

Maybe you'd never be called upon to substitute, and even if you are, you could always say no. However, how about putting your name on the list ("just in case") ? Please contact Marion Kelliher, 286-2740, or marion.kelliher(at symbol)gmail.com

From the Adult Programs Sub-Council - Stop by the Registration Table in Fellowship Hall following the 9 and 11 AM services on Sunday. While there, you may want to check out the Book Cart to find a book for yourself or as a gift:

o Articulating Your UU Faith by B. Wells and ten Hove, J.R.
o The Circle of Simplicity by Cecile, Andrews.
o Understanding the Bible by John Buehrens.

For additional information about the fall offerings, the Fall Programs Catalog is available on the web.

Mark your calendars and register for the next Friday Dinner and Movie, November 9th, that will feature, The Color Purple.

President Sinkford Delivers Petitions for Peace. Read about it while this links is current.

National Advertising Campaign for Unitarian Universalism Continues in October! - The Unitarian Universalist Association will be running four ads this fall in Time Magazine, the oldest and most recognized news publication in America.

This is our first advertising campaign in over 50 years. The ads will hit newsstands on Oct. 26, Nov. 23, and Dec. 21, and their Cover Dates will be Oct. 15, Nov. 5, Dec. 3, and Dec. 31 (Person of the Year Edition), respectively. Look for the ads and let’s be proud to share the good news of our faith with new visitors! The UUA has resources to help our congregation get ready to receive visitors. More .

Art News - October 21 through November 18 the Meeting House is host to another talented Farmington Valley Artist. Andi Thorne applies her watercolors to a variety of subjects. This exhibit focuses on a subject dear to New Englanders.

Environmental Justice Conference - The Ct Coalition for Environmental Justice 3rd annual conference will be Saturday, Oct.27 at the UConn School of Business, 100 Constitution Plaza in Hartford, 8:30 AM. Our own organization of CUREJ (Congregations United for Racial Equity and Justice) has partnered with CCEJ in its efforts to clean up the environment in the Hartford Area. A selection of 14 workshops will be provided. More - or speak to Kembles on Sunday. - IASC

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.

Caring Network - "Service to others is the rent you pay for your room on earth." - Muhammad Ali - 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.

Further Down The Road (About 30

Interested in a Christmas Eve Candlelight Service? - This year, Christmas Eve, December 24th, falls on a Monday and Rev BJ will conduct a special intergenerational service at 4 PM. Following that, she will be getting on an airplane to fly home to spend Christmas Eve with her family for the first time in many years. As the Worship Arts Sub-Council, we support her decision to be with her family for a traditional holiday reunion.

We also acknowledge that a group in our congregation has traditionally enjoyed a later candlelight Christmas Eve service devoted primarily to music. Mattie Banzhaf would be delighted to provide music for a traditional service this year if someone or a small group would be willing to coordinate the overall service. If you would be interested, please let us know and we will arrange a planning meeting to take place in early November and will provide support for you.

Contact: Amy Hines amyhines92(at symbol)msn.com Worship Arts Subcouncil

Concert to Benefit Homeless Shelters - There will be a concert to benefit area homeless shelters at the Universalist Church of West Hartford 433 Fern St, West Hartford, CT 06107 on Sunday Nov 11 at 3 PM. Called "Heaven’s Bells," the focus of the music and poetry will be the sounds of bells and carillons. Groups performing include the Bell Choir, The Universalist Church Choir, the Children’s Choir and the Youth Choirs as well as soloists, a four-hand piano duet and organ works. Included is a world premiere of a work commissioned for this concert by the Bell and UCChoirs by composer Theodore Hine called "This is My Symphony." An offering will be taken at intermission: admission is free and the public is welcome. Handicapped accessible.

Mr. Hine received his B.A. cum laude in music from Harvard College, where he studied composition with Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Bernard Rands and sang in the Harvard Glee Club under Dr. Jameson Marvin. Mr. Hine earned his M.Mus. in composition from the San Francisco Conservatory of Music in May of 2006.

Mr. Hine is a certified teacher and an accomplished singer and instrumentalist; he has performed with numerous ensembles across the United States and around the world. Most recently, he sang in the San Francisco Choral Artists under Magen Solomon. Mr. Hine also performs, both as a singer and as an instrumentalist, with the Nothingset Ensemble – a new music ensemble that he co-founded and for which he serves as Artistic Director. Mr. Hine is a member of the American Music Center, the American Composers Forum, and the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers. - Call 860-233-3669 ext 107 for more information.Cheryl Wadsworth - Music Director

Randall Thompson’s Peaceable Kingdom - will be the featured work when the Unitarian Society of Hartford and the Universalist Church of West Hartford combine their choirs for services on Dec 9 and Dec 16, 2007. The services on 12/9 will be at USH on Bloomfield Ave in Hartford at 9 and 11 AM. On 12/16 they will be held at the Universalist Church at 433 Fern St. in West Hartford at 9 and 11 AM.

The Peaceable Kingdom is a masterpiece of the a cappella choral literature that takes text from the prophecy of Isaiah. It is not often heard and will be presented in its entirety with reflections by the ministers at each church. The most well-known movement is ‘The paper reeds by the brooks’ which paints a stark landscape of environmental disaster. The vision of the work is that of an apocalypse where the evil are punished and the righteous celebrate with singing and gladness of heart.

Directed by Cheryl Wadsworth and Martha Banzhaf, the services will include other works by Thompson as well as hymns and readings. A free-will offering will be collected at each service. The churches are handicapped accessible and for more information call 860-233-3669 ext 107.

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)

External Events and Educational Notes

Pasture-raised lamb for sale. Whole or half. call Tom Kemble, 633-4503

Training for Lay Pastoral Listeners - - 5:15-6:45 PM Thursdays October 18 - Nov 15 More

On the Calendar

Thursday, October 18
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
3:30 pm Univ. Hartford parking lot usage
5:15 pm Lay Pastoral Listeners, Emerson
7:00 pm Rental, Ballou

Friday, October 19
Evening Circle Dinners, Various homes

Saturday, October 20
7:30 pm Holly Near performance, Sanctuary (SOLD OUT!)

Sunday, October 21
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Disabilities Sub-Council, Library
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm Music Sub-council, Sevetus
1:00 pm Traveling and Living in Ghana, Chapel
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Monday, October 22
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Fuller
7:00 pm Artist’s Way, Servetus
7:00 pm Small Group Ministry, Murray

Tuesday, October 23
6:30 pm Festival of the Season Planning, Library
7:00 pm Council Chairs, Minister’s Study
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, October 24
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm NVC, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Tai Chi, Emerson
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary

Thursday, October 25
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
5:15 pm Lay Pastoral Listeners, Emerson

Saturday, October 27
5:30 pm Rental, Sanctuary

Sunday, October 28
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Youth Choir, Chapel
10:00 am Adult Programs, Library
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm “How it Works at USH: USH Governance 101”, Chapel
1:00 pm “Ghosts of Abu Ghraib”, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
4:30 pm Rental, Fellowship Hall

Getting to Know You: Past profiles:
Bill Young - President
Heather Ferguson-Hull - President Elect
Nina Elgo - Board Secretary
Margaret Leicach - Treasurer
Karla Principe, Board Member - Council on Community Within Elected At-Large
Mattie Banzhaf, Music Director
Bill LaPorte-Bryan Chair Council on Social Justice
Patrice Fitzgerald, Chair UPA
Kelly Lyman - Chair, Council on Spiritual Life

Did You Know? - Credit-card and other revolving debt per household increased from $600 in 1972 to $7,300 in 2006.

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