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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 December 31, 2009
Jump to: Sunday Service; Calendar; What's Happening; Feature Articles; External Events; Further Down the Road; Social Justice Journeys; Green Topics ; A Matter of Opinion;
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 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
One Service 10:30 AMSpecial Announcement: during the evening of Wednesday, January 6th the Ushartford.com website and all email boxes ending with ushartford.com will vanish for a time. Our email accounts and associated web will be moving to a new server and associated control panel. Please note normal email service will be disrupted for a time, perhaps a day or so, we do not know for sure.
If you need to reach BJ during this period, use bjamestone(at symbol)comcast.net and if you need the webmaster, use dcnewton(at symbol)snet.net. It is probable that there will be a significant loss of the listservs during an uncertain period at about this time also.
As in most things of this nature, probably later service will be better and more dependable. Thank you for noting this situation and whatever patience may be required until we are fully up to speed yet again. - David Newton, Webmaster
Sunday 3 January Hilaritas: Goddess of Good Cheer - Our annual commemoration of the happy and familial spirit of the winter holidays. Wear your holiday garb and enjoy the musical gifts among us, as we celebrate our human potential to create light in darkness. - Rev BJ
Music - Sunday 1/3 is "instant replay" (or rather, first play) of Hilaritas which was snowed out on its scheduled date, Dec. 20th and rescheduled as a happy start to the new year. The idea is to extend the joys, generosity and spirit of Christmas throughout the year, and this will be reflected in much of the music. Patrice Fitzgerald, who truly embodies the spirit of the Hilaritas goddess, sings with her husband Richard Leslie, who also adds some trumpet riffs. And of course there will be carols for the congregation to sing as well.
REflections on Children's Programming
Multigenerational Worship Service - This Sunday, January 3rd, we will gather together to celebrate the spirit of Hilaritas and Christmastide. Please come dressed in your finest holiday apparel, or as your favorite verse from the 12 Days of Christmas. Joyful singing and stories will be shared by all.
There will be no individual classes this week as all children are invited to participate in the worship service. There will be childcare for children under three in the nursery.
Regular Religious Education classes will resume next week, January 10th. - Gail M. Syring DRE
Things You Could Do for USH
Welcome one another and visitors warmly
Donate your old gold and silver jewelry or gold and silver household items that you no longer want and are cluttering your life. Donate them to USH and we will turn them into cash for the general fund. Just drop your unwanted items off in the box in the lobby. -Lisa Sementilli
“MAN ON WIRE”
Twin Towers High Wire Walking Documentary
January 8 ~ USH Dinner & Movie
Our Friday, January 8 Dinner and Movie night will feature the exhilarating 2008 documentary "Man On Wire.” One critic wrote, "It's a rare tale of dangerous obsession rapturously fulfilled, a reminder that even the most quixotic of undertakings can knock over a windmill now and then."
You can watch a trailer here. Our menu will star coq au vin, with a vegetarian lasagna also available. We will begin at 5:30 with libations and popcorn, dinner at 6, movie at 7, with optional discussion afterwards.
Please make your reservation by calling the USH office at 860-233-9897 by Monday, January 4. Do advise us if you prefer a vegetarian meal.
Family Potluck Supper and Games Night - Come along and enjoy a meal and a game with us. It’s January 29 in our Fellowship Hall. Arrive 5:00-ish. Dinner 5:30 - 6:30 Games to begin around 6:30 after clean-up. Our Family Friendly Small Group Ministry participants will join us for the potluck supper and will then go to their own gathering and we will then let the games begin.
Bring a dish to share, a beverage, and your favorite game. All this for $5 for families and $2 for an individual. You can sign up and pay at the Programs Table during Coffee Hour; it helps us with set-up. Or just come with potluck… we’ll make room at the table for you. - Carol DavidsonTai Chi Class for Beginners Contemplated - Options for times are Wed. evenings from 5:00 to 6:00 P.M. or Mon. or Tues. afternoons at a time to be determined. If you are interested please call Ginny Hedrick at 860.677. 9272. If possible classes could start in Jan. 2010.
Small Dinner Parties - In 2010 Small Dinner Parties will be on February 6, March 6 and April 17. With advance notice, a substitute can be found if the registrant must miss a date.
The purpose of these Dinner Parties is social comradery among new and old members of USH. Six to ten adults are randomly assigned in different groupings for each dinner. The host furnishes the entrée, beverage and bread. Guests are assigned to bring appetizers, salad, side dish or dessert.
Not everyone can host, but to meet the need for hosts, registrants whose homes can seat six are asked to offer to host one dinner.
Registrations will be taken in Fellowship Hall during Coffee Hour on January 10, 17 and 24. Fee is $2.00 per household for paper/mailing expenses.
Registration Deadline: January 24.
DATES: February 6, March 6, and April 17
FEE: $2.00
CONTACT: Marion Kelliher, 286-2740.Adult Programs - Stop by the Programs Table this Sunday, January 3, to register for the Friday Dinner and Movie on January 8. The featured movie will be Man on Wire. You may also register by calling the USH office at 860- 233-9897.
To start the New Year off, why not try Tai Chi? A Beginners class is being considered to start in January. If you are interested, call Ginny Hedrick at 860 677-9272 with your preferred time -Wednesdays, 5:00 - 6:00 PM, Monday or Tuesday afternoons (time to be determined).
Have you been planning to submit a Proposal for a course, workshop, or Sunday afternoon program? Please do so by Monday, January 4, so that it can be included with the other offerings in the Winter/Spring Programs for Adults and Families notebooks.To obtain a Program Proposal Form, you may go here. From the Spiritual Life pull down menu (on the left side of the home page), click on Adult Programs. In the first paragraph, click on download the form in Microsoft Word. The form is also available at the USH office. Please attach a detailed paragraph in Microsoft Word (if possible) about the program to the completed Proposal Form that can be used for promotion. Please email the completed Proposal to Janice Newton or Nancy Reed no later than Monday, January 4 so that your proposed program can be reviewed and included with the other 2010 Winter/Spring Programs for Adults and Families..
Caring Network - A civilized society is one which tolerates eccentricity to the point of doubtful sanity. - Robert Frost, poet (1874-1963) Be yourself, everyone else is taken. - 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.
Further Down The Road (About 30 Days)
Social Justice Journeys (From the UUA) And from USH
From the Editor: Suggestions for Contributors.
Web and Email to be disrupted
Charles Huntington III Memorial Service
First Graders need some Help
Surviving the Holidays1 + 1 = 2 - IS STILL TRUE IN 2009!!
It's back to basics!! But some of the first graders at Hartford's Rawson School on Holcomb Street need some extra help in learning some of the very basic math facts: Like counting up to 100. Like beginning addition. Like counting backwards from 20.
It doesn't take a rocket scientist to give these kids the extra, life-saving boost they need. Be a Tutor! Work one on one with some of the sweetest boys and girls you will ever meet. Work on the terms that best fit your life--once a week for about an hour or, hopefully, longer and/or more often. You decide!
For more information, contact Earl or Kayla Costenoble to volunteer and/or learn more. They've been doing it for years. Contact them at:
noblearl(at symbol)comcast.net or call 860-243-2425 (Tutoring Program sponsored by the Greater Hartford Interfaith Coalition for Equity & Justice (GHICEJ) visit: www.ghicej.orgThe Holidays: How can I survive them? - The holidays can be a time of joy, gratitude, and appreciation for our families, friends, and loved ones, a time to treasure memories and delight in the activity and business of shopping, parties, and presents. And, for many of us or for our families and friends, they can also be times of great emotional, financial, and physical stress, exhaustion, full of memories of sad times, difficult and lost relationships, and a deepening sense of disappointment, isolation, and loss. It is at these times that we need the love, support, and understanding of our faith community. It is at these times we can truly care for each other and ourselves. And it is at these times that we would do well to recall this list of “stress busters” from the Mayo Clinic:
Tips you can try to head off holiday stress and depression:
1. Acknowledge your feelings. If a loved one has recently died or you aren't able to be with your loved ones, realize that it's normal to feel sadness or grief. It's OK now and then to take time just to cry or express your feelings. You can't force yourself to be happy just because it's the holiday season.
2. Seek support. If you feel isolated or down, seek out family members and friends, or community, religious or social services. They can offer support and companionship. Consider volunteering at a community or religious function. Getting involved and helping others can lift your spirits and broaden your friendships. Also, enlist support for organizing holiday gatherings, as well as meal preparation and cleanup. You don't have to go it alone. Don't be a martyr.
3. Be realistic. As families change and grow, traditions and rituals often change as well. Hold on to those you can and want to. But accept that you may have to let go of others. For example, if your adult children and grandchildren can't all gather at your house as usual, find new ways to celebrate together from afar, such as sharing pictures, e-mails or videotapes.
4. Set differences aside. Try to accept family members and friends as they are, even if they don't live up to all your expectations. Practice forgiveness. Set aside grievances until a more appropriate time for discussion. With stress and activity levels high, the holidays might not be conducive to making quality time for relationships. And be understanding if others get upset or distressed when something goes awry. Chances are they're feeling the effects of holiday stress and depression, too.
5. Stick to a budget. Before you go shopping, decide how much money you can afford to spend on gifts and other items. Then be sure to stick to your budget. If you don't, you could feel anxious and tense for months afterward as you struggle to pay the bills. Don't try to buy happiness with an avalanche of gifts. Donate to a charity in someone's name, give homemade gifts or start a family gift exchange.
6. Plan ahead. Set aside specific days for shopping, baking, visiting friends and other activities. Plan your menus and then make one big food-shopping trip. That'll help prevent a last-minute scramble to buy forgotten ingredients — and you'll have time to make another pie, if the first one's a flop. Expect travel delays, especially if you're flying.
7. Learn to say no. Believe it or not, people will understand if you can't do certain projects or activities. If you say yes only to what you really want to do, you'll avoid feeling resentful, bitter and overwhelmed. If it's really not possible to say no when your boss asks you to work overtime, try to remove something else from your agenda to make up for the lost time.
8. Don't abandon healthy habits. Don't let the holidays become a dietary free-for-all. Some indulgence is OK, but overindulgence only adds to your stress and guilt. Have a healthy snack before holiday parties so that you don't go overboard on sweets, cheese or drinks. Continue to get plenty of sleep and schedule time for physical activity.
9. Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending just 15 minutes alone, without distractions, may refresh you enough to handle everything you need to do. Steal away to a quiet place, even if it's to the bathroom for a few moments of solitude. Take a walk at night and stargaze. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing and restoring inner calm.
10. Rethink resolutions. Resolutions can set you up for failure if they're unrealistic. Don't resolve to change your whole life to make up for past excess. Instead, try to return to basic, healthy lifestyle routines. Set smaller, more specific goals with a reasonable time frame. Choose only those resolutions that help you feel valuable and that provide more than only fleeting moments of happiness.
11. Forget about perfection. Holiday TV specials are filled with happy endings. But in real life, people don't usually resolve problems within an hour or two. Something always comes up. You may get stuck late at the office and miss your daughter's school play, your sister may dredge up an old argument, your partner may burn the cookies, and your mother may criticize how you're raising the kids. All in the same day. Accept imperfections in yourself and in others.
12. Seek professional help if you need it. Despite your best efforts, you may find yourself feeling persistently sad or anxious, plagued by physical complaints, unable to sleep, irritable and hopeless, and unable to face routine chores. If these feelings last for several weeks, talk to your doctor or a mental health professional. You may have depression.
Take back control of holiday stress and depression
Remember, one key to minimizing holiday stress and depression is knowing that the holidays can trigger stress and depression. Accept that things aren't always going to go as planned. Then take active steps to manage stress and depression during the holidays. You may actually enjoy the holidays this year more than you thought you could.
And it is at these times that we would do well to remember that we are not alone if we share our experiences, our thoughts, and our feelings with Rev. Jamestone, a trusted confidant from the Lay Listeners, Caring Network, or some other appropriate friend from the Meeting House.
On the Calendar
Friday, January 1, New Years Day
OFFICE CLOSEDSaturday, January 2
11 am Huntington Memorial Service
Reception Following the Service
Sunday, January 3
10:30 am Worship, Sanctuary
11:30 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
11:45 am USH Connections, Lower Lobby
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Tuesday, January 5
5:00 pm NVC Gathering, Minister’s Study
6:00 pm IASC Potluck & Meeting, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, January 6
10:00 am UUAW (Women’s Alliance) Cabinet Meeting and R&RR Luncheon, Library
5:45 pm Meditation and Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Thursday, January 7
6:30 pm Stewardship Sub-Council, Library
Friday, January 8
3:00 pm Seabury UU Gathering, Bloomfield
5:30 pm Dinner & Movie, Fellowship Hall
Sunday, January 10
9:00 am Building and Grounds Sub-council, Murray
9:00 am Comfort Shawl Knitters, Lower Lobby
9:00 am Welcome Volunteers Appreciation Breakfast, Fellowship Hall
10:30 am Worship, Sanctuary
11:30 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm Callings Support Group, Servetus
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Monday, January 11
7:00 pm Artist’s Way, Servetus
Tuesday, January 12
5:30 pm Finance Sub-council, Library
7:00 pm Board of Directors, Library
8:00 pm AA, Fellowship Hall
Wednesday, January 13
5:45 pm Meditation and Dharma Gathering, Emerson
6:30 pm Tai Chi, Fellowship Hall
7:00 pm A Chosen Faith, Servetus
7:15 pm NVC Practice Group w/ Jan Bennett, Emerson
7:30 pm Choir Rehearsal, Sanctuary
Thursday, January 14
9:30 am International Women’s Circle, Fellowship Hall
6:00 pm NVC Gathering, David
Friday, January 15
5:30 pm Family Friendly SGM, Fellowship Hall
Saturday, January 16
2:00 pm The Sweetest Key, Sanctuary
Sunday, January 17
10:30 am Worship, Sanctuary
11:30 am Coffee Hour, Fellowship Hall
12:00 pm Chapel Sing, Chapel
12:00 pm Interweave Sub-council, Library
3:00 pm Rental, Chapel
Please notify Brian Mullen of all additions or changes to the calendar. Follow this link to all our scheduled events
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 HartfordLet us know of any comments, errors and corrections - thanks (revised 1/3/10 8:47 PM)
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