USH-Enews for November 8, 2007 Print Only Edition

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We all live on the edge in one way or another

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 - Veterans Day Service - In 1938 Congress passed a bill that each November 11 "… shall be dedicated to the cause of world peace and ...hereafter celebrated and known as Armistice Day." Today we trace the history and purpose of this National Holiday, and its relevance for UUs as peacemakers.

Music - Choir rehearsals will move to Fern St. for several Wednesdays. On Nov. 14, Nov. 28 and Dec. 12 our choir will rehearse in combination with the West Hartford Universalist choir as we prepare together for our Music Sundays. "The Peaceable Kingdom" by Randall Thompson is the featured work for Music Sunday at USH on Dec. 9 and at UCWH on Dec. 16 (both services at both churches). This beautiful unaccompanied composition is based on the Book of Isaiah and offers an indictment of war's injustice and a vision of a world at peace. Our choir sings a preview this Sunday: the achingly lovely "Paper Reeds By the Brook." Also for Veterans' Day our baritone soloist Tony Nasto sings "In Flanders Field" by the radical Connecticut composer Charles Ives.

REflections on Children's Programming - Thanksgiving Service
Sunday, November 18th will be an intergenerational Thanksgiving service, and therefore there will be no religious education classes. Please join us for a thanksgiving ritual, and the introduction of the 2007-2008 "Guest at Your Table" program.

Arts Sunday - Sunday, November 25th will be our first Arts Sunday, when all the children in attendance will participate in a multiage art project. Join the RE Family as we Make Our Own Musical Instruments in the Spirit Play classroom after the Time for All Ages. Individual classes will not meet separately. Gail Syring, - DRE

Are you headed for Omaha or Ithaca? If this means nothing to you, you will probably enjoy last week's sermon, now posted on the web along with the associated excellent readings.

From the Editor: Contributors please take note. Next week's USH-Enews will be a two week issue covering 11/18 and 11/25 Sunday activities.

A Family Event - We go to religious education or to the services. We participate in the B&G clean up days or we do not. Some pursue social justice projects and others study spiritual practice. Many pursue uplifting music while still others add aesthetic touches to hangings and the chancel depending on the nature of services. And, so it goes throughout the year, except for the one outstanding and truly unique intergenerational USH community event.

Festival of the Season is THE intergenerational event of recent years. There are activities for children and adults alike. One and all may participate in the potluck dinner and festive singing, a true family affair in recent years and particularly in this, the year of the family. From the Angel Tree contributions and food collection for those less fortunate than we, to Santa and holiday singing around the Meeting House Ambulatory, there are activities reminding us of richly diverse holiday traditions so representative of our past and present religious journeys.

Join in this joyous family affair! Sign up to for the pot luck dinner and purchase your tickets soon to aid those working hard to plan this event.

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- Mark the date, Saturday December 1st 3:00 - 8:30 PM. Tickets for the dinner ($5 individual; $15 for a family) will be on sale Sunday and from the office. If you are interested in helping please contact Patrice Fitzgerald (particefitzgerald(at symbol)gmail.com)

Board of Directors Holds Half-Day Session on November 3 - The Board of Directors held a mini-retreat at the Meeting House on Saturday, November 3 from 8:30 AM to 12:30 PM. After lighting of the chalice and opening words by Rev. BJ, the group participated in an exercise to help learn a little more about one another. There was a segment on “policy governance,” what it means, how it relates to our structures and what it implies for Board activities and focus.

The group spent time identifying and clarifying priority focus areas for the Board as we go into 2008, and beyond, a discussion to continue at the next Board Meeting. At the end of the morning, the draft recommendation of the task force on congregation position-taking was distributed, to be reviewed prior to the November Board Meeting.

For additional information about the session, please talk to any of the attendees: Bill Young, Heather Ferguson-Hull, Nina Elgo, Margaret Leicach, Karla Principe, Marye Gail Harrison, Carolyn Cartland, Brian Mullen and Rev. BJ. - Bill Young

Thanksgiving Dinner At the Meeting House - Join us for dinner at the Meeting House on Thanksgiving Day, November 22, at 4 PM. Come alone or bring your friends and family.

Turkey and beverages will be supplied, but you have to bring that one dish that means Thanksgiving to you – stuffing made from an old family recipe, creamed onions, sweet potatoes, green beans, squash, or cranberry sauce cooked up the way your mother made it. Whatever dish it is that means Thanksgiving for you, bring enough to share with others.

Desserts? Apple pie, pumpkin pie, berry pie, mincemeat, or chocolate cake - there’s never too many on Thanksgiving. And of course, fresh whipped cream in large quantities.

If everyone brings enough, we’ll send you home with enough food for that holiday tradition, the late nite snack.

Just so we have enough turkey, call or email Nita at 693-4269 (bonnieandroberta(at symbol)comcast.net) or Ron Friedman at 523-1105 (ronfriedman1(at symbolcomcast.net) and let us know what you’ll be bringing to the dinner. Also let us know how many of you will be coming, so we know how many places to set.

Let us know as soon as you can, so we can plan – last day would be Sunday, November 18.

What Else is Happening & Announcements

Our Award Winning Youth Group is Again Soliciting Funds through the Sleeping in Boxes Event November 10-11 More

Building Peace: Women Making a Difference - Saturday, Nov. 10 at the University of Hartford. Keynote speakers from the UN, Women Waging Peace and practical workshops on peacemaking from the personal to the national levels. $30 fee. - Joan Kemble

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. More

GHICEJ PRESENTS Universal Heath Care, 2008 Is it Dead, or Just Sleeping? - Date: November 12, 2007 - Time: 6:00 PM to 8:30PM Location: St. Patrick, St. Anthony, Franciscan Center for Urban Ministries, 285 Church Street, Hartford, CT

The Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice is reaching out to its members and other people of faith to engage with each other about the urgent need of universal health care for all people in Connecticut.

When you expend yourselves on behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness. (Isaiah 58:10).

John R. Battista, M.D. is a practicing physician at the StayWell Health Clinic, a federally qualified health center in Waterbury, Connecticut which serves the poor and uninsured, and in New Milford, Connecticut. He is the President of the Connecticut Coalition for Universal Health Care, a leading organization supporting single payer, universal health insurance in Connecticut. He is the author of the Connecticut Health Care Security Act to enact a Canadian style health insurance program for the state of Connecticut. He has testified as an expert on universal health insurance before several Connecticut legislative committees and served as a consultant on universal health insurance for two Green Party presidential candidates.

Dr. Reza Mansoor, Hartford Hospital Cardiologist, member of the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut says, "Universal health care must be considered a basic right, along with food and shelter." In an Article written by The Hartford News Staff Writer Andy Hart, Dr. Mansoor was quoted as saying; “The United States, by contrast, is one of world’s richest countries but still does not provide healthcare for all its people. It’s not a question of whether we can afford it, we can afford it”.

“High Quality, Affordable Health Care For All in Connecticut is Within Reach!”- Shai Cassell

Wed, November 14, is baking day at the Meeting House. Goodies will be made for the December 9 bake sale sponsored by the UAMW. Proceeds will benefit a variety of women's programs in the Hartford area. All bakers are invited to join us in the Meeting House kitchen at 9:30.

People's Action for Clean Energy: More Solutions to an Inconvenient Truth - Saturday, Nov 17, 5 PM at USH; exhibits and pizza; 7 PM Annual meeting; 7:30 awards; 8 PM Amazing Powerpoint Presentation "Heading Toward Zero Energy Buildings." Information: (860) 693-4813 or www.pace-cleanenergy.org - Joan Kemble

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

Horace Bushnell Children's Food Pantry Needs Turkeys - At last word, the food pantry needs donations for 200 more turkeys. If you can donate, please write a check to the H B Food Pantry; put it in the collection basket or leave it in the office.

Last week there were 139 people in the two services, but only 37 food items in the bin. Please make it a habit to take an item for each person every week. There is a desperate need. - Joan Kemble, IASC

From the Adult Programs Sub-Council - On Sunday following the 9 and 11 AM services, stop by and take a look at the Book Cart located near the Registration Table . Among the books that are available to purchase are:

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Universalism in America by Ernest Cassara, Ed.
Creators on Creating by A. Barron, F. Barron,and Montuori.
UU Pocket Guide, 3rd edition by John Buehrens, Ed.
A Simple Guide to Zen Buddhism by James Ford.

Be sure to mark your calendars for the next Sunday afternoon program, "School of the Americas" Watch, on December 2 at 1:00 PM in the Chapel. USH members Maggie Greene and Fred Louis are ardent participants in this annual November demonstration at Fort Benning, Georgia. They will give personal accounts of these efforts designed to close a US facility that exports political suppression to Latin America.

Location: TBA Special Guest Speaker: Rev. Michael Williams - We will come together to worship, pray, sing and

Be inspired. As we enter a new calendar year, let us be reminded of why we must continue to be the voice for justice and equity in the greater Hartford area

Caring Network - Kindness can become its own motive. We are made kind by being kind - Eric Hoffer
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.

Please take a moment to thank the following people who volunteer to teach and assist our Religious Education classes on a regular basis. Our children would be lost without them! Wendy Avery, Nora Berg, Janine Chapdelaine, Liz Garmise, Stu Garmise, Tony Griffith, Paul Hansen, Laurie Kelliher, Ann LaPorte-Bryan, Ed Lyman, Kelly Lyman, Kim Miller, Nancy Nelson, Steve Oppenheim, Don Reichler, Jesse Richter, Lisa Sementilli, Brian Smith, Gretchen Spector, Robert Spector and Sheila Ward.

Gail M. Syring, DRE

Thursday, November 8
5:15 pm Lay Pastoral Listeners, Emerson
7:00 pm NVC, Emerson
7:30 pm Rental, Ballou

Friday, November 9
5:30 pm Friday Dinner and Movie, “The Color Purple”, Fellowship Hall

Saturday, November 10
10:00 am Rental, Chapel
4:30 pm Rental, Sanctuary
Overnight: Youth Group Sleeps outside in boxes

Sunday, November 11
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Youth Choir, Chapel
10:00 am Building and Grounds, Murray
10:00 am Comfort Shawl Knitters, Lower Lobby
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:20 pm Adult Programs Sub-council, Fellowship Hall
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel

Monday, November 12
6:30 pm Survivors of Incest Anonymous, Fuller
7:00 pm Artist’s Way, Servetus
7:00 pm SGM Creativity, Murray

Tuesday, November 13
6:00 pm Caring Network Sub-council, Servetus
6:30 pm Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall

Wednesday, November 14
9:30 am Alliance Ministry to Women Bake Day, Kitchen
6:00 pm Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi practice, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Universalist Church, Fern St.
7:30 pm NVC I practice groups, Emerson

Thursday, November 15
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
5:15 pm Lay Pastoral Listeners, Emerson
7:00 pm NVC II, Emerson
7:00 pm Cleanwater.org Event, Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm Rental, Ballou

Friday, November 16
7:30 pm American Harmony concert, Sanctuary

Saturday, November 17
5:00 pm PACE (Peoples Action for Clean Energy) Event, Fellowship Hall

Sunday, November 18
8:00 am Music Rehearsal, Chapel
9:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, CHAPEL
10:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Youth Choir, Chapel
10:00 am Disabilities, Library
11:00 am WORSHIP SERVICE, SANCTUARY
12:00 pm Coffee Hour, 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

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. More

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)

Sunday, November 11 Sixth Annual Interfaith, Multi-Cultural Kristallnacht (“Night ”) Remembrance More

Did You Know? - Did you know Clara Barton took a job with the U. S. Patent office, before finding her true talents on the battlefields of the Civil War?