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50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
Tel: (860) 233-9897 / FAX 233-1333
Email: firstunitarian@ushartford.com
Reverend Barbara Jamestone, PhD
USH-Enews For December 21, 2006
Jump to: Calendar; What's happening; A matter of opinion; External events; Further down the road; Our roots; The bottom Line
Last Sunday the choir and supporting orchestra prepared for their presentation of the Christmas Story by Heinrich Schutz at the 9 and 11 AM services. Approximately 40 individuals were involved in the production, one that will be long remembered by appreciative audiences at both services.The USH-Enews is a weekly email newsletter sent to 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 USH-Enews click here.
MEETING HOUSE HOLIDAY OFFICE HOURS. The Meeting House office will be open through Friday, December 23, during the regular hours: Monday though Friday, 9:00 am to 3:00 PM. The office will be CLOSED during the following week Tuesday, December 26 thru Friday, December 29, and will reopen Tuesday, January 2, 2007. Happy New Year!!
Office hours: M-F 9-3 (excluding W 10 -11); Rev. Jamestone: Phone: 860 233-9897; Email: RevBJ@USHartford.com - Office hours: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Friday - Available at the noon hour and at other times by appointment.
Worshipping Together Since 1830
Services held at 9 and 11 AMSpecial Note: 1:45 PM Thursday:
Dear Friends,
This past Tuesday the 40-year old furnace at the Meetinghouse failed for the last time and will have to be replaced. Planning was already underway to replace the furnace this coming summer. Finalizing estimates, purchasing new equipment, removing old asbestos, and installing a new furnace will take approximately two weeks.Furnace or no, life at the Meetinghouse will go on. On Sunday, December 24 and Sunday, December 31, we will be worshipping together in Fellowship Hall instead of the Sanctuary at 10:00 a.m. on both Sundays. We will use electric heaters for that enclosed space. Our 10:00 a.m. Christmas Eve service will be a lovely hour of sitting close, enjoying the life that children bring to a space, singing together, and some BRIEF remarks from the minister! A heated nursery will be provided for tiny children. The 10:00 p.m. service on Christmas Eve is canceled. These holiday services will be a wonderful memory, which we will surely embellish over the years! Don't miss it!
Best, Rev BJSunday (Note special Time of Services) 10 AM (Fellowship Hall)- All Day, All Night—Angels watching Over Me - Rev Jamestone (please see feature story!)
Music: 10 AM The children will sing songs of the season, and the adult choir gaily frolics on “Tomorrow shall be my dancing day” by John Gardner.RE: Don't forget your Guest at Your Table (GAYT) boxes this Sunday! At both services December 24th we will ceremoniously gather together our donations from the GAYT boxes. Our Middle School class distributed these collection boxes before Thanksgiving to support UUSC programs that help provide clean water, support workers rights and address other inequities around the globe. Never got a box? Just grab one on the way in from the tables at both entrances. If you'd like this donation to be reflected in your giving statement, completely fill in the bottom of the box. Thanks for your support!
And - If you do not plan to be at church on the 24th, please turn in your boxes the next time you attend after that. Put them on Brian's desk in the main office.
What Else is Happening & Announcements
Holy Cows and Other Signs of Hope - sermon is now on line.
Collection of backpacks, suitcases and duffle bags continues. Drop them off at Sunday services. - Traci Hardison
A new display appears on the bulletin boards at the foot of north stairs giving information about the fall class of new members as well as information about staff and Board members. Thanks to Anne Bailey for this super display!
Dec 31, one service 10 AM - thanks Patrice Fitzgerald
SMALL GROUP MINISTRY - Our Spring 2007 Small Group Ministry sessions will begin at the end of February.
We are accepting registrations now. More information.
USH Annual Winter Spirituality Retreat - time for deeper personal reflection supported by our caring community. - Begins Friday 1-19-07 at 5 PM; ends Saturday 1-20-07 at 3 PM at Connri Conference Center. More information.
LET'S DO IT AGAIN ! You can register for a new round of Circle Dinners. Current registrants have one more dinner - scheduled for January 6.
SO NOW IT'S TIME TO PLAN A NEW SET OF DINNER DATES - for March 3, April 7 and May 5. Participants will be mixed at random to attend dinners in each others' homes. (But not everyone will host.) Hosts supply the entree. Their guests are assigned to bring either appetizers, salad, vegetable or dessert. It's a fine way to be with old friends and meet new ones in a more intimate setting than the Sanctuary or committee meetings.
Registrations are $2.00 per household - to cover mailing costs. Register in Fellowship Hall on Sundays between services. Deadline: February 4. Or, might you want to be listed as a potential substitute? For more information, call Marion Kelliher 286-2740.
Invite Someone New to Sunday Services - more
From Adult Programs -
Registrations for the following programs will be taken this Sunday during coffee hour following the 9 and 11 AM services. There will be no registration table on the 24 and 31st, but You may call the USH office at 233-9897 to register for the following programs, and payment may be made with a credit card. Also, you might want to check out the book cart for a gift idea during this holiday season.
Tai Chi and Feldenkrais will be starting Wednesday, January 3, 2007 for 8 weeks*** SPECIAL FREE OFFER for those of you who would like to try one session. You are invited to come to the first class of Feldenkrais, 5:15 - 6:15 pm or Tai Chi, 6:30 - 7:30 pm on January 3.
Curious about what a Feldenkrais session looks like, feels like? The beginning of this Australian video shows several folks performing the movements in a therapeutic setting. While this video goes on to proclaim healing attributes of Feldenkrais, we aren't promising that. But you will experience a beneficial awareness of habitual movements and the mind/body connection. You can improve your overall well-being. See the video.Then, try a free session yourself! Wear comfortable layered clothing and bring a mat and flat pillow or foam board. Our instructor Monika Forstner has trained in Feldenkrais in Germany for four years and is a Feldenkrais practitioner.
Tai Chi is a martial art that improves your flexibility, balance, endurance, concentration and inner peace. Movements are slow, rhythmic and gentle. Wear loose, comfortable clothing and soft, lightweight shoes, although bare feet are fine as well. Our instructor, Monika Forstner, has taught various forms of Tai Chi for ten years and is a nationally licensed AMTA member.
On January 12, the USH Friday Dinner and a Movie program will offer pot roast and "Prairie Home Companion." "Robert Altman adapts the radio to the screen, or the screen to the radio, in this affectionate, mortality-fixated salute to old-timey music, values and the timeless allure of Powdermilk biscuits." *Get tickets during coffee hour at the Adult Programs table or call the USH office and use your credit card. If you prefer a vegetarian meal, please indicate when making your reservation.*Thanks to Rotten Tomatoes website
Two Year Calendars are on sale now by the Women's Alliance. Stop in Fellowship Hall after services each Sunday through Jan. 7, still just $2 each or three for $5.
Caring Network: Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could only do a little. ~Edmund Burke - You are the ears of the Caring Network. Tell Janice Newton 677-1121 when you learn of our members enduring the stresses of life so we can reach out to those in need. - Offer your services.
ON THE CALENDAR:
Saturday, December 23
9:30 am – 2:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Sunday, December 24, Christmas Eve – NOTE TIMES!
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:00 am Intergenerational Worship Service, Fellowship Hall
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
Monday, December 25 thru Friday, December 29
OFFICE CLOSED -- HAPPY HOLIDAYS!
Tuesday, December 26
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, December 31, New Year’s Eve – NOTE TIMES!
9:00 am Music Rehearsal, Sanctuary
10:00 am Worship Service, Sanctuary
11:00 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
Monday, January 1
OFFICE CLOSED -- HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Tuesday, January 2
6:00 pm Finance, Library
7:00 pm Religious Education, Servetus
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, January 3
10:00 am Staff Meeting, Minister's Study (Office Closed)
5:15 pm Feldenkrais, Fellowship Hall
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir, Sanctuary
Thursday, January 4
7:00 pm UPA, Servetus
Saturday, January 6
Circle Dinners, various homes
Sunday, January 7
8:00 am Music rehearsal, Sanctuary
9:00 am Worship Service I, Sanctuary
10:00 am Coffee Hour I, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Youth Group soup making, Kitchen
10:00 am Growth & Renewal Task Force, Library
10:00 am Adult Programs, Fellowship Hall
10:00 am Welcoming Congregation Interweave, Channing
10:00 am Children's Choir, Chapel
11:00 am Worship Service II, Sanctuary
12:00 pm Coffee Hour II, Fellowship Hall
12:15 pm "C Cubed", Coffee, Carrots, & Conversation for first time visitors, Minister's Study
To get on the calendar, call 233.9897Further Down The Road (About 30 Days Max)
Save the Date and Plan to Join Us
on Tuesday, January 23, 2007 for the
3rd Annual Public Meeting of the
Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity and Justice. moreUUSC JustWorks Camp - Participate in the Katrina rebuilding effort by taking part in the JustWorks camp in New Orleans FEB. 3-10. More information
From the Editor: For several years I have made it a habit to change the home page picture of the Meeting House to a snow scene when we have our first snow storm of the season. Waiting... (Later).. Perhaps a little more warm weather will be just fine! See feature story below.
***
This Week’s Feature ArticlesWear very WARM Clothing and Go Easy on Fluids before Sunday Services - We know we have a lack of heat problem and may have a drained plumbing system as well.
USH had a boiler failure yesterday, Wednesday December 20th. Review of the situation by our vendor, Mechanical Maintenance, revealed portions of the burner had "rusted out" and significant burning of gas was occurring in the burner casing, where it should not. In the circumstances the boiler was red tagged, meaning it is out of action, and the gas supply was locked down. As we go to press, appropriate folks are scrambling to respond to the emergency. The response includes accelerated action on a number of fronts.
This is the rest of the story.
In its wisdom last spring, the Building and Grounds Sub-Council swept aside lesser capital projects for FY 06-07 in order to concentrate available funds on boiler replacement, a very significant capital expense. The Endowment Committee, to whom capital projects are presented, agreed with B&G and decided a good first step was employment of a consulting mechanical engineer to assess the need and estimate project expenses.
Progressive Engineers in East Hartford was employed to review the situation earlier this fall recommending immediate replacement of the boiler in its written report to B&G.
Returning to the Endowment Committee, B&G under the leadership of Co-Chairs Stu Spence and Ed Sax and the overall architectural help of Hugh Schweitzer, Chair of the Council on Administration and Architect with Clohessy, Harris & Jauser LLC, requested a capital appropriation of approximately $75,000 to replace the boiler this summer. The Endowment Committee approved the request in days. A design - build, or engineer - design - build project plan was contemplated.
Mechanical Maintenance (MM) was interviewed by the B&G Committee a few weeks ago and promptly began to assemble a design-build quote. MM is the outfit that has successfully kept the "furnace" going many years after it should have been replaced and services a number of large company buildings in this geographic area. They are an employee owned company specializing in heating system maintenance and also experienced in boiler replacement.
Part of the replacement project requires some asbestos removal. Ramco, a company doing such work, submitted a bid on the asbestos abatement portion of the project a few days ago.
Plans were to select an outfit to move this project forward at the January B&G Meeting.
Now everyone is moving at top speed to expedite the boiler replacement project or repair on an emergency basis. It is expected the building may turn very cold and it may well become necessary to drain plumbing.
You do understand this story may change in the hours and days ahead. We have excellent leadership in the wheelhouse and will navigate these stormy waters successfully.
The bottom line is this. Come to services in your very warmest possible clothes and coats, contribute body heat, and enjoy a community event you will be able to relate to children, friends and grandchildren for years to come!
And for those who wonder why an Endowment fund is essential. Suppose there were no such fund and we were simultaneously facing the financing of the replacement or repair? - DCN
Sometimes it is Just a Matter of Food - Incomprehensible in this area, yet true. As Peter Magistri recently said at the 9 AM service:
Good morning, my name is Peter Magistri and I’ve been an active member here for about 10 years and a part time sexton for eight of those years.
The Social Responsibility Committee, now known as the Information & Advocacy Sub-Council has been an outlet for me to act on peace and justice issues near and dear to my heart.
One such issue is poverty
I learned many years ago how easy it was to act on this tragedy from Steve Shepard who was part friend and part mentor and a fully compassionate individual.
Steve showed me how one container of food per week could be multiplied to help feed Hartford’s hungry at the Horace Bushnell Children’s Food Pantry.
That is still the mantra today: one can per week. Many of you have been doing just that and you know how easy it is.
Well, I don’t do it.
The fact is, it isn’t on the top of my to do list on Sunday morning. You may have this same problem.
Not one to present a problem without a solution, I offer you this: throw one item into a grocery bag each time you food shop. Bring it in when it’s full. Nobody will complain that it isn’t one item.
Every couple of months I bring in a full bag.
Four or five times a year we also deliver a large bag of returnable bottles and cans that the food pantry turns into more groceries.
This all equates to thousands of dollars annually that we never miss yet is so well received.
Finally, each year the Feinstein Foundation matches monetary gifts to the food pantry so today we’re asking that you write a check out to the USH with the Horace Bushnell food pantry noted on the memo line. The Meeting House office will be happy to take the check during the week as well.
Won’t you please join in? It couldn’t be easier.
A Matter of Opinion: (space for comment on USH issues) - Editor retains the right to make minor changes – letters should be issue oriented)
Dear friends,
It was great to see so many of you last month over Thanksgiving weekend. For those of you I didn't see (and for those who had more questions!), here's an update on how things have been going for us over the last four months.
We had the nicest weekend of the whole summer for the wedding, but the heat and humidity came back with a vengeance the following week. Allison and I spent it finishing our packing and the next weekend hit the road for our three-day journey to Colorado, spending nights in Ohio and Iowa. (We went through a lot of "vowel states" on the way!) The first week we started setting up our new home, getting furniture --- most importantly a bed, since
the fun of an air mattress wears off after about a night --- and unpacking when our "relocube" arrived. We also picked up our gifts at a friend of Allison's grandmother and then tried to figure out what to do with a small mountain of cardboard boxes, big plastic bags, packing paper and bubble
wrap. (There's no redemption value to cans or bottles here, but thankfully Denver has a good recycling programme.)We live at one end of a ridge in Aurora, east of and a little higher than the mile-high city, so every morning as I leave for work (at the University of Colorado Health Sciences Center) or school (at the Iliff School of Theology) I usually get a wonderful view of the mountains, a nice way to start the day! Work has been going well --- I'm maintaining a computerised microscope system that other researchers use as well as doing a bit of research of my own into the properties of kidney cell membranes --- and after an intensive quarter at school we're now on a break until January. One of my classes next quarter is Unitarian Universalist History, with Rev. Peter Morales of the Jefferson Unitarian Church in Golden, so all those
Skinner House books I bought at General Assembly over the last few years are taking care of the reading list! There's another break between quarters, but only a week, in mid-March, and since that's around my birthday, too, Allison and I are planning a trip to Santa Fe NM, about five or six hours south from here. (We've become somewhat blasé about the sheer scale of the country out here. Q: What's east of Denver? A: Kansas.)This is my fourth major move (from one time zone to another) in the last fifteen years, and though I dislike the process of moving, I'm pretty good at quickly settling in. Allison's taking a more gradual approach, this being the first time she's ever lived any significant distance from her parents and friends, so this move has been harder on her than on me. Our furry friends (three rabbits and two cats) made the trip okay, though our twelve-year old tabby, Nadia, got progressively more and more sick a couple of months ago, and there was unfortunately little we could do for her.
Losing her was possibly the hardest thing that's ever happened to me. We've since adopted Reggie, who is now about seven months old and alternates between running around the place (and over all the furniture) at high speed, pouncing on our feet --- his claws I can trim; kitten teeth are another matter --- at the slightest movement, very loudly demanding food (and only the good stuff, mind you), snuggling in our arms, and being fast asleep on the back of the sofa by the window.We enjoy having visitors, if any of you are thinking of making a trip out West. It was great to see Marye Gail and John a couple of months ago, when they came out to visit one of Marye Gail's sons and his (now) fiancee who also live in Aurora. So, if you're planning a trip to Colorado, or might have time to swing by Denver on your way to somewhere else, look us up!
With best wishes and hoping you all have a joyous and peaceful holiday season,
Andrew.
External Events and Educational Notes
A Few Words About Our Roots From The Book, Hartford Unitarianism 1844 -1994 by Freeman Meyer:
During the early 1980s the Society Council decided to provide Lauriat with some much-needed professional assistance, and se out to hi8re an associate minister. The Rev. Judy Deutsch, from Sudbury, Mass., was hired in 1982 and served for two years. A social activist, Deutsch was a catalyst for getting members involved in community affairs, especially the fight against homelessness.
Income USH
Members &
FriendsOperating Expenses Endowment cotribution to Operating Budget
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
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