By Mary Howard

"Winds of Change," this year's Auction, dinner and a new Cakewalk, takes place Saturday, April 18!  The festivities take place at our home away from home in Pilgrim Hall at Sierra Arden UCC (840 Morse Avenue).  If you haven't bought your tickets, get them now!  Tickets are $15 for adults and $5 for children 12 and under, are available Sundays or by calling the UUSS office.

Pre-bidding for silent auction items takes place on Sundays, April 5 and 12.  Register your credit card for easy payment and get a bid number.  Make sure you get your name in on those coveted items!  In fact, you can be assured of winning if you write your name next to the guaranteed bid spot.  The cost is higher, but you won't lose any sleep wondering if you're going to win.  It's also great for those of you who can't come the night of the auction.  You can still be a winner!

Auction night promises to be very entertaining.  We have raffles for all kinds of baskets, gift cards, theater tickets, and more!  And this year, we're having fun with an old fashioned cakewalk.  It's like musical chairs, but the winner takes home a scrumptious cake or pie.   All this--and a Moroccan dinner!  Feast on chicken kebabs and salads, plus a special entree for vegetarians.

Doors open at 5:00 p.m. for silent auction bidding, cakewalks, and dinner.  As the silent auctions close, the raffle fun begins!  With limited space for silent auction clipboards in our new space, there will be many more raffle drawings than in previous years.  Plan for an exciting, action-packed evening!

Don't miss one of the biggest events of the UUSS year.   This is a family affair with prizes and activities for all ages.  Go to http://uuss.org for more information.

See you on April 18th!

Joy, Praise and Thanks

By Rev. Roger Jones

On March 15, our Kids Freedom Club raised $692 to end debt bondage and other kinds of slavery around the world.  They raised freewill donations from a pancake breakfast, for which they had planned for months.  They arrived at 8:30 a.m. and served breakfast to Sierra Arden Church members during THEIR coffee hour. Then they served UUSS.  After noon, dozens of people settled into Rich Howard's Earth Justice Ministry workshop, Justice with Joy.  Thanks!

That day I spoke with a man in his mid-20s--a lifelong UU--who was in town for the Spiritual Activist Leadership Training held in Sacramento by the UU Justice Ministry.  He told me that he had arrived early for church, before his SALT classmates did.  He said: "Three people came up to me here and introduced themselves, and asked if I was new."  This is not always his experience at visiting UU congregations, he said.  He made a point of telling me he appreciated your gestures of welcome.  This gives me joy! Thank you.

The pledge drive for the 2015-16 Operating Budget is wrapping up.  If the trend continues, more folks will add to their monthly pledges, nearing an average increase of 10 percent.  This can prepare UUSS for a strong year:  inspiring services with great music, more activities for small groups, and momentum for new programs.  Thank you! 

Eric Guerra, the chair of the County Planning Commission (which had reviewed and authorized our construction and expansion plans) toured the project with several members on Sunday, March 1, after attending his first UU service ever.  He said it was the most exciting worship service he'd been to.  Thank you!

The March 8 Ceremony of Installation was packed with loving souls and high spirits.  Our 40 guests from the local community and the UU region were impressed by the varied music, the generous refreshments--and the love.  So was I.  The dedicated offering raised $4,300 for two good causes.  The whole thing left me glowing and grateful to be serving with you at UUSS.  Thank you, and blessed be!

Looking forward with gratitude,

Roger

Where's Roger in April?

Sometimes I find an e-mail you sent me days ago, which I hadn't seen.  So, if you write but don't hear back from me, please contact me again.  I do want to connect!

I'm in the office on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons.  I take Tuesdays off as my Sabbath.  Most Fridays, I study and write at home and avoid e-mail.  On Easter Sunday I am guest preacher at the UU Church of Davis (Rev. Banks is on sabbatical).  From April 14 to 16, Rev. Lucy and I will attend the spring meeting of this district's UU Ministers' Association.

My Charge to the Congregation

By Rev. Lucy Bunch

Roger's installation last month was a joyous celebration.   At these events the tradition is for someone to give a charge to the minister - essentially advice and encouragement in his or her new role.   Roger's friend and colleague Rev. Michelle Favreault offered the charge to him in his role as senior minister of our congregation.

And I was honored to offer the charge to the congregation.  Just as a minister needs to consider his new role, so does the congregation need to appreciate their responsibilities toward the newly-installed ministers and to the ministry of the church as a whole.

I have been with you for almost two years, and I have grown very close to this community--the mission and vision of this congregation has become a part of my own sense of the future.   It is from this spirit of love and possibility that I offered this charge to the congregation on March 8, 2015:

• Ask more:   You have known Roger for almost seven years and have come to appreciate his gifts and abilities.  But now is the time to ask more of him.  Ask more of him in his role as senior minister; ask for vision and leadership to lead us to achieve our mission to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.
• Give more:  Ministers receive a lot of feedback, but it is often not very useful.   Positive comments can be vague (nice sermon!) and negative comments often come indirectly (I heard someone complain about your sermon last week).  Give more constructive feedback to your ministers - help us to be more responsive to the needs of the congregation. 
• Give more of yourself to our mission:  More time, more money, more energy, whatever fits your ability to commit in this time in your life.   Let's make this church all that it can be.
• Risk more:   We are a fairly bureaucratic congregation which is fitting for a community with many state workers.  But we don't want to let our bureaucracy stifle innovation.   I ask you to risk more; we want to manage risk, not minimize it.   Some of you may think I am crazy to ask this since we are in the middle of a $3.3 million renovation, but I don't want us to rest on our laurels.  Risk being a great congregation.
• Love more:  Don't be stingy with your love - for yourself, your family, for your congregation, for the world.   Our world is full of fear right now and love is the best antidote.  With our shared love and commitment to healing the world our church has the possibility to counteract fear. Love is the healing force at the center of our mission.

With bright blessing on Roger's installation and for our future,

Rev. Lucy

Where's Lucy in April

My office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons or by appointment, except for the third week of the month, which is my furlough week.

I am still coming off my high from Roger's installation and I think it was very successful.  Thank you to everyone who participated and made it such a wonderful event.

In my opinion, the choir was fabulous, the sermon was moving and all of the other pieces were sincere and spiritual.  It was such an honor for me to participate, even if I did get a little weepy.  It is times like this I understand why I am a Unitarian Universalist and proud of my church and my fellow congregants. 

Looking ahead, we have more exciting things coming for our congregation.  The Spring Auction is only about a month away and by the time you read this it will only be about two weeks away.  I hope we get a large turnout because I know there will be many great offerings.  My husband and I plan to offer our BBQ and another trip to the wine country.  Last year's events went really well and I know everyone had a great time.

If you haven't been by the UUSS building lately, please do so because the progress is just amazing.  We are hoping to be back in our home in the fall.  Although the building may be finished, there will still be lots to be done and with more furniture and equipment to purchase, we will be doing additional fundraising.  It will be just like moving into a new home and then you look around and say, "Oh, I forgot I needed this or that."  More information on the building will be coming from the Building Steering Committee.

The Pledge Drive has been very successful.  I want to thank everyone for their generosity and we really appreciate it that many of you were able to raise your pledges by the 10 percent we were asking for, or more.  I can't say enough about how well the Stewardship Team works together and a special thank you to Lauren and Chuck for doing this for the fourth straight year.  Your two are such troopers!

Finally, the Board's favorite time of the year is coming up - THE BUDGET!

In April the board will be putting together a spending plan for the next church year.  We will again hold meetings with the congregation to get your comments.  Hopefully, we will be able to give the congregation a balanced budget that will contain all of the things from our wish list: making Lucy full time, giving our hard-working staff a raise, funding all of our programs and hopefully some new ones, and hiring a part-time Music Director.  And who knows, we might even have another surplus!  Please get involved in this critical process.

Happy Spring!

For UUs who have aged out of SHYG and any others in their 20s and 30s: Let's do lunch.  Gather in a corner of Pilgrim Hall at coffee hour on the fourth Sunday of the month and choose a place to go for lunch and UU fellowship.  Ride sharing encouraged.  All UU young adults and their guests are welcome.  Contact newcomer Derek or Rev. Roger Jones with questions.  More young adults have been attending on other Sundays, too, but be sure to show up April 26.  Derek has reactivated the UUSS 20s-30s Facebook page, too.

This Saturday, March 28, 2015, 3:00 p.m.

890 Morse Avenue (at Northrop), Sacramento

Tickets $10, $5 for students 25 and younger Hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Society Sierra Arden Congregational Church

A benefit for My Sister's House, Sacramento  

            Prelude and Fugue in C sharp major in book 1 by J.S. Bach 

Waltz Op.64 No.2 by Frederic Chopin

Waltz Op.69 No.2 by Frederic Chopin

Ballade G minor Op.23 by Frederic Chopin

"Ragtime" by Claude Bolling, with Mary Blanchette, violin

"All of Me" by Jon Schmidt

About Pianist Ina Jun

Worship and choral accompanist, Unitarian Universalist Society

Instructor at New Songs School of Music, Elk Grove

B.A. in piano performance, summa cum laude, 2014

The Hartt School, University of Hartford

Entering M.A. student in piano performance, fall 2015

California State University, Sacramento

About Violinist Mary Blanchette

Violinist with Sacramento's Philharmonic, Opera, and Ballet since 1974.

Studied at Eastman School of Music and University of Illinois.

Teacher of elementary music in Arlington, VA; San Antonio, TX; and 1975-2000 at Folsom Cordova Unified School District, and has taught privately.

Musician and member of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento.

About My Sister's House

 Celebrating 14 years as the Central Valley's only nonprofit provider of domestic violence prevention, advocacy, and shelter services for

Asian and Pacific Islander women.  A freewill offering will be taken.

Some 5,000 UU's from near and far will attend the 2015 GA. Delegates learn about and vote on the business of our UU Association of Congregations.  We hear inspiring music, sermons, lectures, and reports from denominational officials, scholars, and commissions.  Contact Christine Gerwig if you plan to go; the Program Council (PC) is keeping a list to facilitate car pools or roommates.  The PC will organize a pre-GA orientation in May at UUSS.

Discount registration ends April 30. Lodging is scarce by now, though. See www.uua.org/ga to explore details about GA.  Volunteer shifts at GA can gain you a reduced registration fee, but those jobs go fast.

UUSS has eight lay delegate slots and two slots for our ministers.  Let  Linda Clear know if you'd like to serve as a voting delegate.  NOTE:  Anyone may attend GA without being a delegate. 

If finances are an issue, see Financial Aid for GA at the web site, and contact Rev. Roger.  If you'd like to donate to UUSS to help some of our High School Youth Group youth attend as part of the GA Youth Caucus, contact Rev. Roger or Miranda Massa.

By Rev. Roger Jones

We extend our condolences and love to Elayne McCartney whose husband, William, died in January and whose Celebration of Life was held March 6, in Roseville.  Several UUSS members attended and/or have contributed to the UUSS Endowment in memory of Bill, who was a member for 37 years and served as UUSS president in 1976.  Read Bill's Sacramento Bee obituary here.

We extend our condolences also to Lindsley Cross on the passing of her beloved husband, Peter Cross, in March.  Though no longer UUSS members, they both were involved in a UUSS Ministry Circle.  Also, Peter is remembered as a loyal Grasshopper (on the volunteer team for keeping the grounds of our home campus).  His memorial service took place March 16 at Effie Yeaw Nature Center.  Read Peter's Sacramento Bee obituary here.

We extend our condolence and our love to Glory Wicklund, whose older brother died in March in her hometown of Spokane.  We also extend our love and condolences to Kathleen Mead and Christopher and Erik Jensen on the loss of her father (and Erik's grandfather) in March.  If I have missed other losses in our UUSS family, let me know.

Course donations:  If no fee is listed for an Adult Enrichment class, a freewill donation to UUSS is encouraged to help cover overhead expenses. 

Rides:  If you need or wish to offer a ride to any event, see the sign-up sheet at the Adult Enrichment table in Pilgrim Hall each Sunday.

6 to 6:35 p.m., Wednesdays, April 1, 8, 22, 29, at 2425 Sierra Boulevard

Whether you are new to mindfulness meditation or have practiced for years, we invite you to share in the support of others in a simple practice of noticing. We gather at 6 p.m., hear opening words at 6:10 and sit for 20 minutes.  This leaves time for choir practice or other evening meetings.  Freewill offering accepted (Buddhists call it dana) for UUSS Adult Enrichment.  When Roger's not here, others will set the timer chime!

With Rev. Lucy Bunch

Sunday, April 19, 2 to 4 p.m., and Tuesday, April 21, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

This class is a follow-up to the class on Islam offered in February.  Using a combination of lecture, small and big group discussion, and creative exercises we will explore the world's oldest religion.   Sign up at the Adult Enrichment Table on Sunday, or in the office Monday through Friday (483-9283 or [email protected]).

On March 31, the UUSS Book Readers will be reading The Book of Unknown Americans: A Novel by Cristina Henriquez.  The next meeting is Tuesday, April 28, 7:00 p.m., 2425 Sierra Boulevard.

All are welcome to attend.  For more information, contact Jim Glidden by email or at (916) 649-9697. 

Tap into the vast resources that are available on line to help people discover family lineages.  Both free and subscription resources will be covered.

This two-part class, taught by Betty Crockford, will take place on Saturdays, April 25  and May 9, at UUSS.  Participants are asked to bring laptops to use UUSS Wi-Fi.

Sign up at the Adult Enrichment table; maximum six people. New UUSS member Betty P. Crockford is a Volunteer Field Genealogist trained by the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  She has researched innumerable ancestries.

This will be a workshop in Room 7/8 at UUSS Thursday, May 7, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m.  Paula Joy Welter (63) discovered the joys of bicycling at age 50.  She can share logistics with anyone who wants to pedal more, weigh less, and go greener!  Learn about:

• Safest routes to pedal, in and around Sacramento
• Commuting to work:  Crazy or within reach? 
• Accessories for carrying things
• Bike models (including trikes)
• Bicycle touring - where to start! 

Though we won't be riding, bring your bike if you wish, especially if you have questions.  Paula Joy will bring her touring bike to show you.  Some of her adventures on that bike are at http://www.pedalinjoy.blogspot.com.

American River Parkway Clean-up Day, Saturday, April 11

With Chris Lord

The second Saturday morning of every month is when UUSS volunteers clean up a stretch of the American River Parkway not far from Howe and Sierra.  If you are interested, contact Chris Lord, who shows up every time, along with a few other members.  Or just show up!

Folks gather by 9 a.m. and work until 10:30 a.m.  Meet at the parking lot at the West end of Northrop Avenue (see 2010 Northrop Avenue, Sacramento in Google Maps).  Chris has written:  "Bring a pair of gloves if you have them.  Also helpful may be one of those claw picker-uppers, and sturdy shoes and long pants to follow the paths.  Or you can stay on the main trails. We keep track of the hours for reporting to the American River Parkway Foundation."

Helping Neighbors in Need at Sierra Arden Food Pantry

By Joan Rubenson

Please bring canned or boxed food items, bath towels, winter jackets, sweat shirts, and blankets in good condition for donation to Sierra Arden UCC's Food Closet for those in need.  They serve people who live in ZIP codes 95825 and 95864 and would love our help.  A collection box is available near the Connections table in Pilgrim Hall after services.  Contact Joan Rubenson if you need more information at (916) 363-2415.

Rev. Dr. Sándor Kovács, Hungarian Unitarian Church in Transylvania 

Twenty years ago as a young new Unitarian minister in Transylvania, Sándor spent a year as a special scholar at our UU seminary in Berkeley.  Since then, he's earned a Ph.D. from Szeged University in Hungary.  He teaches Unitarian history and the history of religion to seminarians in Kolosvar (Cluj), Romania, the home base of the Hungarian Unitarian churches.  This semester he's teaching UU seminarians in Berkeley and visiting several pulpits.  Come meet him!

Folk harpist and composer Christine Bonner

Our own member and cellist Paula Joy Welter brings folk harpist Christine Bonner to offer music for us.  Christine is a descendant of the Berryessa family; several of her compositions honor the early Californios.  Her hauntingly beautiful music has been featured on PBS's Central Valley Chronicles and California Heartland.  She and her husband, Rob, run Rainbow Music in Colfax.  Hear music at www.worldmusictradition.com . Her CDs will be available at coffee hour March 29.

By Susan Madden

Starting this weekend, Theater One presents Getaway Service Guaranteed, an original work by Lonon Smith.

Five characters collide, fight, and shift alliances while waiting for the bus to come. Directed by Kent Gray, the cast includes Lisa Derthick, Lonon Smith, Jamie Hughes, Taylor Lewis, Bill Wilkins, Jason Vitaich, BJ Nash, and Deborah Shalhoub.

March 27 through April 18 at the Ooley Theater (28th Street near T in midtown), with shows Fridays and Saturdays at 8:00 p.m. and Sunday matinees on March 29 and April 12, at 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $10. For more information, call (916) 524-1032.

By Lauren Davis-Todd, Co-chair, Stewardship Team

bunny and slip under the couch.  Instead, I signed up to work in the snack shack and donated to the candy bar fund.

To my knowledge, no one mistakes Little League's main function as fundraising and volunteer recruiting, but without it, the kids don't play ball.

Similarly, the Stewardship team raises the issue of money, but "the purpose of Stewardship is giving, not fundraising." (Kennon Callahan)

The Stewardship Team members write inspirational messages, make posters, stuff envelopes, orchestrate yearly pledge renewal efforts, serve soup, and wear bright yellow t-shirts.

But, what is important isn't really what we do, but the spirit in which we do it. Our investment in this ministry is about interacting with other congregants in celebrating and discovering our own generosity and joy in giving. 

But, if we don't ask for donations and volunteers, we don't give others the opportunity to give and experience the ministry of Stewardship.

By Derek Czajka

As we enter into spring, the 20s & 30s Group continues on its path from the past few months. Apart from our first two lunches in February and March, members of our group participated in this past month's Games Night, and we were recently invited to join the Davis UU Young Adults on a hiking trip at Stebbins Cold Canyon. Our next lunch will take place on April 26. Meet us at Coffee Hour after the Sunday service at SAUCC. I will also once again encourage group members to attend this month's Games Night on Friday, April 10, which will be the last of this church year.

As we grow, we will continue to seek input from all those in our congregation between the ages of 18 and 39 who would like to participate in our community. I encourage you to visit our web site at http://uuss.org/20s30s where you will find the latest news of our group, and/or to e-mail us at [email protected] with any questions or suggestions for future activities. Thanks to all those who have joined us through the early part of this year, and I look forward to what will come in the spring.

Sunday, April 5, Easter Sunday

9:50 a.m.         Easter egg hunt hosted by SAUCC

10:00-11:30    Child care available - age 5 and under

10:15-11:30    RE classes 

Friday, April 10
5:30  p.m.        Games night/potluck at UUSS

Sunday, April 12

10:00-11:30    Child care available - age 5 and under

10:15-11:30    RE classes 

Sunday, April 19

10:00-11:30     Child care available - age 5 and under

10:15-11:30     RE classes

Sunday, April 26 

10:00-11:30     Child care available - age 5 and under

10:15-11:30     Service for all ages 

By Theo Claire-McKown

I've been going to UU youth empowerment conferences since sixth 

grade, and these spaces have kept me afloat through 

the most difficult times in my life. These "cons" provide a space for youth to turn to

each other for support and advice; to learn leadership skills necessary to navigate through increasingly complex stages of life; learn from each other and from UU adults; grow into the roles of activist, adviser, adult; and safely examine, question, and explore what it means to be human and what it means to be a UU.

The most recent con, Elections Con 2015 hosted by the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Redwood City, was the first YRUU conference hosted under Northern California Unitarian Universalist Camps and Conferences (NCUUC) instead of the Pacific Central District, and I am so happy to report that it was a success. This past conference, I led a workshop exploring the concept of self-care and how to self-care when struggling with mental illness, in which youth could candidly share their experiences with the mental health system; I helped the youth cooks organize meals for over 100 other youth and adults; I led small group activities such as discussion groups or games. I also spent the last two nights as a chaplain, meaning that I--as a youth with training--offered myself as a resource to listen and support the youth in seeking help and adult counsel when necessary. I empowered youth to take an active role in their wellbeing. 

Cons are such a complex organization with so many niches and opportunities for leadership--there is a role for everyone who wishes to step up. Operating on the basis of non-theistic circle worships, cons also offer a space for youth to explore themselves and their spirituality--worship led by youth and for youth offers a specifically-tailored spiritual experience for youth and teens. I wish to thank all members of UUSS for their support of youth--from the bottom of my heart.

A daylong workshop with SoulCollage® and Labyrinth walks. 

Saturday May 16 (rain or shine) 10:00 - 4:00 Lunch provided 

With Rev Lucy Bunch  and Rev Connie Beall, certified SoulCollage® facilitator. Come join us on a journey of discovery of what is blossoming for you this Spring.

  SoulCollage® is a creative and satisfying collage process.  Each participant will make one or more collage cards and we will use the cards intuitively to answer life's questions and participate in self-discovery.    Two facilitated labyrinth walks during the day will help us deepen our understanding.  

Sliding scale $50-$75 

(scholarships available - no one turned away for lack of ability to pay)

Share your special niche with the children and youth of Religious Education! Painting, yoga, dancing, and special crafting and much more are accepted avenues of expression. Can you create art with nature or make gods eyes? Can you sing or have a basket of musical instruments to share? Let's build a summer of spiritual and artistic classes for Summer ArtWorks 2015. We'll still be in our rented space at SAUCC. With hope, I imagine willing adult volunteers coming together to enrich the lives of our children and youth this summer. Programming can be arranged for grade school children as well as youth and teenagers. In the months leading up to our return at the brand new church on Sierra Boulevard, what can you kindly contribute as we embark on many new adventures?  I would love to hear from you if you would like to be a part of the fun. Please contact me at [email protected].

• Sunday, April 5, arrive at SAUCC by 9:45 a.m. to participate in the  Easter
   egg hunt.       

• All ages Games Night/Potluck at UUSS on Friday, April 10. This is the last one for the year!!
• This month's all-ages service will be on Sunday, April 26. There will be no RE classes on this day but child care is offered in the Nursery for those in Kindergarten and younger. For children attending service, there will be coloring pages and crayons available at the RE Table that morning. Don't forget to sign in!
• RE calendar details and other informationhttp://uuss.org/Groups/RE/index.php

By Carrie Cornwell

On Friday, April 10, UUSS will hold its LAST monthly all-ages games night of this church year in the Fahs Room at UUSS.

 The doors to the Fahs Room will open at 5:30 p.m. for those who want to gather for a potluck dinner, which we will eat at 6 p.m.  Game playing begins at 6:30.  For the potluck, bring a dish of any kind to share.  It can be something you made, your mother made, or you bought on the way over to UUSS.  Game playing commences at 6:30 and includes kid games, toddler games, card games, board games, and word games. 

In recent months, the group has played lots of Scrabble and Rummikub, but often someone brings a new game for folks to try out.  At the March Games Night, Eric Ross established himself as Rummikub King, so come take him on and grab that title.

April is our last games night of the year, so come or you will miss out until next fall or maybe even longer.  For more information, call or email Megan Snyder (916) 333-8203 or, Ginny Johnson (916) 649-0575, or Carrie Cornwell (916) 442-1637.

See you there!

If you receive the Unigram by email then you will have learned by now that our  new website is up and running now at www.uuss.org!  Check it out and let the Office know if you have questions about something you don't see there.  There are a few items to be added.  If you are a pledging friend or Member who needs an updated Membership Directory, please call the office for the time being. 

Deep thanks to Dirk Tuell, our website developer, and the website committee members, who have partnered with him to make sure our site is both visitor-friendly and user friendly for all the many activity groups, committees, and ministries of the congregation.  Thanks also to the Endowment Trustees for granting funds to cover the very modest cost of this new development at UUSS.  

 Thanks also to our staff members for continued posting to our UUSS Facebook page.