|
Join Our List |  |
|
|
|
A Month of Sundays
| | |
Services and Religious Education at 10:15 am at
890 Morse Avenue
Nursery Care Staff on duty from 10:00-12:00
October 5
Unitarian Universalism and Christianity
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Rev. Roger Jones & Lay Leader Mary Howard
Music by pianist Ina Jun and guitarist Ross Hammond
Our denomination has its roots in Christianity with distinctive messages on both the Unitarian and Universalist side. Many UUs were raised Christian but put aside this faith or have unresolved conflict from their experience. Is Christianity a part of our past, or is there value in the Christian message for contemporary UUs? This Sunday we explore our Christian roots and hear and the words of contemporary UU Christians.
October 12
Deliver Us from Facebook: Technology As Salvation
Rev. Roger Jones, preaching, with Lay Leader Kevin Sitter
UUSS Choir with Interim Conductor Meg Burnett & Pianist Ina Jun
We have more methods to communicate, new technologies to save time, but so much of the time we feel separate from human connection, too busy, distracted, or frantic. This service will not be on Twitter, Instagram, or Tumblr, so just come on over and sit for a spell with a number of living, breathing members of the human family.
UUSS Congregational Business meeting follows in Pilgrim Hall.
October 19
Intentions: The Road to Where?
Rich Howard, preaching, with Lay Leader Michael Erwin
Music by pianist Ina Jun
What if the roads to everywhere were paved with our intentions? We might pay a bit more attention to how we speak, act, and maybe even think! This service will look at the power of our intentions to shape the ripples from our interactions with our friends, family, strangers, and the earth.
With Mary and family Rich has been active in UUSS for decades, serving as a trustee, youth group advisor, OWL teacher, pledge drive co-chair, furniture mover, and a logistics chief for our Building Project Steering Committee. He's also president of Sacramento Insight Meditation and an environmental consultant.
October 26
Samhain, D�a de los Muertos, and All Souls
Service for all ages with Rev. Lucy Bunch and Rev. Roger Jones
Lay Leaders Kevin Sitter, Charlotte Selton & Christopher Jensen
UUSS Choir with Interim Conductor Meg Burnett & Pianist Ina Jun
In a new tradition, we recognize those with an October birthday, and the youngest and oldest of this group light the Chalice. Join us for a story, a ritual, special music and reflection on the time when the veil between this world and the next becomes thin. No RE program today, but our Nursery staffers are always on duty.
|
|
October's Shared Offering Supports
| | Children's Receiving Home
At UUSS, we share every weekly offering with the greater community. This month, our offerings go to the Children's Receiving Home of Sacramento, which is committed to positively impacting the lives of children, youth, and families affected by abuse, neglect, behavioral health issues, and trauma. Their wide range of services includes emergency shelter, an independent living program, and outpatient medical and mental health services.
For June, we sent $2,148 to the Senior Safe House; for July, $1,698 to Sacramento SPCA; for August, $1,890 to WALK Sacramento. Thank you!
|
|
Senior Minister's Message:
| | |
My Doctoral Thesis: A Progress Report
By Rev. Roger Jones
First thing: I am not in a Ph. D. program. (I'm in awe of the scholars who do that amount of work, so I don't want to be assumed to be in their league.)
I'm pursuing a D. Min., a doctor of ministry, at Pacific School of Religion (PSR). I started part-time in 2011 and hope to finish in 2015 or 2016.
Last year, with so much happening at UUSS, I took no classes, but I did enjoy a few of my Tuesdays off from UUSS by taking Amtrak to Berkeley, going to chapel, and enjoying cafeteria conversations with a mix of students, clergy, and professors from around the world and various denominations. I met several promising UU seminarians both at PSR and at the nearby Starr King School for the Ministry, a UU school.
My original topic was to be on the clergy in the island village churches of the
UU Church of the Philippines. Yet with my new position here, I would not have time to conduct the research there, and my energies are focused more than ever on life at UUSS. So now, UUSS is my thesis topic. I will explore our congregation's history and the context in which we serve-the western region and local area, recent economic and social trends, and especially the changing landscape of religious participation in this country. My aim is to review our history and our context to help us think about strategic planning for our future.
Now I'm taking an independent study course with PSR's history professor. I'll write a paper about the history of the Alliance at UUSS, using the well-kept archives and I'll interview some of you. I'll look at the denominational history of the Alliance of Unitarian Women and consider the waves of feminism in which the Alliance grew and changed. Thank you for the support and interest that so many have shown in this work!
Yours in service,
Roger
PS-Be sure to note the Sierra Arden United Church of Christ (SAUCC) potluck invitation for all the congregations using that campus: Noon Saturday, October 11, at 890 Morse Avenue.
Where's Roger in October?
Here at UUSS--and at the USA-Mexico Border
I'm available by appointment with you and in the office weekday afternoons. I usually take Tuesday off as my Sabbath. Fridays, I study and write at home. I'll post variations weekly in the Blue Sheet. Lucy and I meet with the UU Ministers Association for our Pacific Central District on October 17-19.
As described in the September Unigram, I fly to Tucson October 21 for a border areas witness journey for clergy led by the Unitarian Universalist Association president, Rev. Peter Morales, and the director of the UU College of Social Justice, Rev. Kathleen McTigue. Click here to read about the trip.
|
|
Sunday Sound System at 890 Morse Avenue
| | |
Megan Brooks has a control panel in the balcony and welcomes volunteers to take turns in staffing it - a great way to support the congregation and learn this skill. E-mail Megan Brooks or see her Sunday, or call the Office and leave your name and number. Thanks!
|
Building Renovation Project Update - Work Has Begun
|
| |
By Dennis Clear, Project Steering Committee
Jackson Construction completed the subcontractor bidding process in August and, after reviewing the final budget, our contract for this project was signed. Once that agreement was in place, the
 security/safety fencing was installed and work began in September. We have our county permits for the site (grounds) work and demolition, and continue to work with Jackson and the county for the next permit - the one for actual construction of the renovated buildings.
We hope to post photos of the demolition work on the UUSS website to help you follow the progress of that phase. The removal of the interior of the social hall and sanctuary is essentially complete. The abatement work is also substantially finished.
On the grounds, removal of the exterior concrete sidewalks, patio and asphalt parking areas has started. Demolition of the library, offices, custodian room, kitchen and foyer took place the week of September 15 and the physical changes have been dramatic. Considerable progress has been made in a relatively short time. We realize many members are curious about this project and may wish to see these changes and the work on site. However, the area within the fence is a construction site and safety is essential, so access is limited to construction personnel. Any visitor to the site will need to be escorted by the contractor or one of UUSS' project managers. Further details and specifics on visits will be provided in the weekly Sunday Blue Sheet and at the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, October 12. |
|
Being Neighborly at Sierra Arden UCC
| |
The church in the chapel across from the sanctuary asks us to keep the sound to a minimum while we are entering. Their service starts at 10:00am. The name tag racks are by the rose garden between the sanctuary and Northrup Ave. If you have any other ideas on how to reconfigure things let Stanton know.
|
|
Making Room Reservations
| | |
Whether you would like a room for a UUSS event at 2425 Sierra Blvd. or at 890 Morse Ave., please make a reservation through our office staff (and please do not contact SAUCC directly). Call, e-mail or stop by UUSS in Room 9. We want to keep or expand our activities in this exciting year, so be sure to go through the UUSS office so our staff can coordinate everything. Thanks!
|
|
Call to Meeting-Notice of UUSS Congregational Meeting
| | |
Sunday, October 12 in Pilgrim Hall at 890 Morse Avenue, 11:45-12:45.
Child Care provided until 1 p.m., but likely won't be needed that long
Come to hear reports from our President, Treasurer, and ministers. Get an update on our Building Renovation Project and our "Bridge the Gap" special gifts appeal to reduce the amount of a building loan for the project.
Members will vote to select 12 not-for-profit service organizations to be UUSS community partners for the shared offering every Sunday in 2015. Non-members and friends are welcome, but we need a quorum of UUSS members to conduct business.
|
|
Community Partner Nominations Due September 30
| | |
By Cathy George, Secretary, UUSS Board of Trustees
We will vote to choose the 12 Community Partners for 2015 at our congregational meeting, October 12. If you'd like to nominate a nonprofit service organization, please fill out the Community Partner Nomination Form available on the UUSS website (uuss.org/Forms). You must be a UUSS member to nominate partners and to vote at the meeting. You may e-mail the form to Cathy George at [email protected] or, if you can't access the web site, contact me by phone at (916) 454-3350. Nominations will be accepted through September 30.
|
|
Assistant Minister's Message
| | 
All Together Now
By Rev. Lucy Bunch, Assistant Minister
One of the benefits of our time at Sierra Arden - and
continuing when we return to our newly renovated sanctuary -- is that we all worship together at the same time. To enhance this shared experience Roger and I ha
ve launched a new format for our monthly all-ages services. You may have noticed some new elements in the water communion ceremony on September 7. We will have special music including a birthday song, chalice lighting by our youngest and oldest birthday celebrants, stories, special ritual, and lots of fun. Beginning this month the choir will be with us on All Ages Sundays as well. In October our all-ages service will celebrate Samhain, Day of the Dead, and All Souls; it will be on the last Sunday of the month with special music, stories, and seasonal rituals.
And besides being all together on Sundays, we are also meeting in small groups for our Spiritual Deepening Circles. As of this writing we have 80 people signed up for circles and 18 facilitators - a total of 98 members, friends and newcomers to make up our inaugural group. The curriculum, related readings, and a blog and comments will be posted monthly, so those of us who are not in a circle can follow along on the journey.
Where's Lucy In October?
I serve this congregation three-quarters time. My office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons with the exception of the third week of the month, when I'm not here. Please call or email if you would like to visit so I can make sure to be available for you. This month, I will be with you for the Sunday services of October 5 and 26.
|
|
Contributions in Loving Memory
| | |
Donors who wish to make a special contribution to UUSS in memory of someone or in honor of someone or some occasion often give to the Endowment Trust, the Heritage Fund, or the Building Fund. Some gifts have been made recently in memory of both Shirley Hewitt and Beth Bennett. They are much appreciated by UUSS, and seem to honor the spirit of the departed. Thank you very much for these tributes.
|
|
| |
By Miranda Massa, Religious Education (RE) Coordinator
- Trick or Treat for UNICEFis around the corner.
 Contact Miranda if you would like to lead this fundraising project with our children and youth.- Spirit Play Training with creator Nita Penfold planned for Saturday, October 4.
- All ages Games Night/Potluck at UUSS on Friday, October 10
- All congregations international potluck at SAUCC on Saturday, October 11
- Congregational Meeting (with child care) at SAUCC on Sunday, October 12
RE calendar details and other information
Religious Education (RE) Calendar, October 2014
Saturday, October 4
9:00-5:00 Spirit Play Training, by registration only, 890 Morse Ave.
5:00-7:00 Potluck picnic in view of our construction project, 2425 Sierra
Sunday, October 5
10:00-11:30 Child care available - age 5 and under
10:15-11:30 RE classes
11:30-12:45 Kids' Freedom Club Meeting
Saturday, October 11
12:00 All congregations international potluck at SAUCC 890 Morse Ave
Sunday, October 12
10:00-11:30 Child care available - age 5 and under
10:15-11:30 RE classes
11:45-1:00 Congregational Meeting with child care
Sunday, October 19
10:00-11:30 Child care available - age 5 and under
10:15-11:30 RE classes
Sunday, October 26
10:00-11:30 Child care available - age 5 and under
10:15-11:30 All Ages Service
Opportunities for Adult Volunteers
Religious Education is underway at our Home Away From Home. With the hustle of church life at SAUCC, it is always a pleasure seeing the faces of families from our UUSS Religious Education program. There are multiple opportunities for adults with and without children to volunteer in RE. Little, medium, and big projects are always in the works. Contact Miranda to discover where your volunteer interest awaits.
2013-14 UUSS RE Class Breakdown
- Child care (infant through age 5 & Kinder), UUSS Nursery
- Spirit Play (1st through 5th grades), Classroom A
- JHYG-Jr. High Youth Group (grades 6, 7, 8), Classroom B
- SHYG-Sr. High Youth Group (high School to age 20), Classroom C
MUUGS Fall Retreat
October 24-26 will be a weekend of middle school UU's gathering for friendship, leadership, and fun. MUUGS or "Middle School Unitarian Universalist Gatherings" is a district wide program open to youth in grades 6-8. Sr. High Conference coming up the second weekend of November.
|
|
Adult Enrichment Programs!
| | |
Course donations: If no fee is listed when an Adult Enrichment class is offered, a free-will donation to UUSS is encouraged for overhead expenses.
Yoga Mondays at 2425 Sierra with Paige Labrie
Paige has taught at UUSS and in our region for many years and is a regular volunteer in Religious Education. She invites you to try a session first for free, then decide whether to pay for a series. Held in UUSS classrooms. Come a little early for your first time!
- Yoga in a Chair (for all abilities) - Mondays 10:00-11:00 a.m.
- Yoga on a Mat (bring one if you can) - Mondays 7:00-8:00 p.m.
Aging Parents-Issues for Adult Children in Shared Decision Making
With Maureen Sullivan, Esq., attorney for estate planning and elder law concerns
- When is it time to discuss with your parent(s) changes to their environment or living situation for their continued well-being?
- What do you do if they disagree with you? Have they prepared, at minimum, an advanced directive for health care decision-making?
This course is for middle-aged adults who have aging parents for whom they expect to be responsible in terms of care and advanced-care planning. We will discuss types of care and the expense of long-term care if it is not covered by Medicare (and most care is not). We will provide information to help you:
- think about when your parent(s) need assistance.
- obtain an evaluation of their mental and physical status.
- consider available options such as home relocation to an assisted-living or smaller environment.
- find a good provider for home care or home health care especially with limited resources
- learn what is available in the local area through the County.
- learn about new technologies in use now to assist aging individuals with staying in their home.
Date/Time: Tuesday, October 21, 6:30-8:30 PM.
Location: UUSS home base, 2425 Sierra Blvd., in the Fahs Classroom
Host: Judy Bell, UUSS Adult Enrichment Committee
Class Fee: We request a freewill donation to UUSS Adult Enrichment to help cover overhead costs.
Deadline: Minimum 6 people. Please sign up by Oct. 19 at the Adult Enrichment table on Sundays.
Open Heart Poetry
By Doris Simonis
If you love reading and sharing poetry that moves you, sign up for this new Adult Enrichment opportunity. Four sessions on Tuesday afternoons at 3:00 p.m. In Room 11, facilitated by JoAnn Anglin and Doris Simonis. October 21, 28, and November 4 and 18. Optional text is Best of the Best American Poetry, 25th Anniversary, available on Amazon for about $13.00 new. Used copies can be ordered for less. Sign up at Adult Enrichment table Sunday or e-mail [email protected] for more information.
Buddhist Meditation Booster-Wednesday Nights September 17- October 29
With Rev. Roger Jones & others
Group support makes a difference; we encourage one another to take time for sitting or walking in the days between meetings. Join us for opening words at 6 p.m., silent and walking meditations from 6:10 to 6:40 p.m., and a gentle discussion on mindfulness meditation practice until 7:00 p.m. We may have different members talk about their Buddhist-related practice of service in the community or their approach to meditation. A free-will donation ("Dana") to UUSS Adult Enrichment is encouraged for overhead expenses. Sign up at coffee hour or call the UUSS Office at 483-9283 so we make enough space in Room 7/8 at 2425 Sierra Boulevard.
UU Readers Book Discussion Group Meetings in September & October
By Jim Glidden
At the end of September, the UU Readers hold a special meeting on the group 916 Ink Sacramento, which promotes Literacy and Creative Writing among youth. Marilyn Reynolds will discuss the organization and read student works. All welcome! Tuesday, September 30, 7:00 p.m. (always the last Tuesday of the month), Room 12 at 2425 Sierra Boulevard.
In October, the group will read Americanah by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie, the story of a Nigerian woman who immigrates to the United States and starts a blog about race relations. The meeting is on Tuesday, October 28 at 7:00 p.m. in Room 12. Need more information? Contact Jim Glidden at [email protected] or (916) 649-9697.
Full-Moon Labyrinth Walk - Once a Month
Would you like to walk the Labyrinth at 2425 Sierra in the presence of other walkers? Our outdoor Labyrinth is available at all times, but at night you might prefer some company. Let Roger Jones know; I will connect you with others. I've heard from four members so far!
|
SOCIAL ACTION-Service, Education, Giving and Advocacy
| | |
This Saturday--Social Justice & UU Spirituality in Davis
-Rev. Kathleen McTigue gives a keynote address and leads a workshop at the UU Church of Davis this Saturday afternoon, Sept. 27.
As a movement, Unitarian Universalism is known as an activist faith, and our members are involved in social justice work on a wide range of issues. Yet when we take action in the public sphere our religious faith is often far in the background, or even invisible. How might we bring our own justice commitments into deeper conversation with our spiritual lives - and what difference can it make?
The keynote presentation will be followed by an opportunity for conversation and small group exploration of the questions raised, as well as some frameworks for how to incorporate new ideas into the existing social justice work of our congregations. COST: a donation to the UU College of Social Justice. Hearty snack included.
The UU College of Social Justice is a joint project of the UU Association of Congregations and the UU Service Committee. It's based in Cambridge, MA. The mission of the College is to inspire and sustain faith-based justice work on issues of local, national and global importance.
Kids Freedom Club
At the September 14 service, our UU kids invited you to speak out on the atrocity of modern slavery around the globe and use a web link to send a letter on slavery in the manufacturing pipeline. Learn more at
http://slaveryfootprint.org/.
Family Promise Guests at Sierra Arden UCC in October
During construction we cannot host the homeless families served through Family Promise. However, Sierra Arden UCC -- our Home Away from Home -- has been a Family Promise site for many years, and they have invited us to join them in service. They will host families October 19-25. SAUCC asks us to cover two nights on site, providing and serving dinner for four families, and providing two adult overnight hosts to sleep there. Sierra Arden coordinators will be on site every evening but won't stay over when we do. More nights of help will be welcome but only two nights will be specifically UUSS nights. To sign up, contact Barbara Hopkins, 916-388-0785, or Nancy Oprsal, 916-482-5736.
Full House at Climate Change Presentation
By Kathy Styc
Over 90 people attended the presentation on Climate Change on September 14, sponsored by our Earth Justice Ministry (EJM). In EJM, we are educating environmental ourselves and the UUSS community on issues, then taking action within UUSS and the larger community to help mitigate the problems and adapt to the changes. Climate change is our focus for the first year.
In keeping with that goal, Dana Nuccitelli, an environmental scientist,  explained to us the carbon dioxide (CO2) cycle, how increasing amounts of CO2 in the atmosphere contribute to global warming, how most of the CO2 increase is from humans, and how we can do something to moderate the increase.
We plan to have speakers periodically as well as book discussions, documentary films and Ted Talks about climate change. Our next activity is a book discussion of A Climate for Change, written by Katharine Hayhoe, a climate scientist, and her husband Andrew Farley, a pastor and university professor. They are evangelical Christians who believe that humans play a large role in climate change. The book presents scientific evidence and how Christians can incorporate that evidence with their faith and take action.
The date for this has not been set, but check the UUSS website, Earth Justice Ministry or Green Sanctuary at http://uuss.org/Groups/EarthJustice/ or contact us at [email protected] for more information. Our planning meetings are the first Sunday of the month after the service, 11:45-1:00 p.m. in Pilgrim Hall.
|
Care for Creation -- Conference - October 15
| |
By Christine Bailey
The Interfaith Council of Greater Sacramento invites you to a conference on October 15 at Congregation Beth Shalom, 4746 El Camino Ave, Carmichael. The focus is on our changing climate, the importance of water in our future, and how faith groups can help the earth. The conference begins with food and conversation at 5:30 p.m.
Schedule:
6:00 p.m. Jon Fish: Welcome/Introductions - Prayer on the Event
Creation and Earth. The importance of teaching "Creation Care" in our congregations.
6:15 p.m. Rob Beggs: Basics Of Climate Imbalance
Specifics on impacts to water/drought in California and around the world, impacts to the poor, impacts on severe storms and wildfires, threats to the economy and national security.
6:45 p.m. Christine Bailey: Respect For The Future
The importance of water. What we are facing -- a changing climate is troublesome, but there are examples of working with good people to do something to help build up the community with love.
7:10 p.m. Q & A - Moderator: Jon Fish
7:30 p.m. Rabbi Nancy Wechsler-Azen: Blessing on our approaches and community.
|
|
Picnic Dinner in Sight of the Construction Site Saturday, October 4
| | By Tiki Harlow
Saturday, Oct. 4, from 5:00-7:00
Picnic dinner at UUSS (2425 Sierra Blvd)--Come see the demolition in progress!
Potluck dinner - bring a dish to share + chairs, blankets and your own dishes/silverware. UUSS Building Project Funding Team will provide drinks. Badminton, croquet, Frisbee, bubbles for blowing are welcome!
|
|
Games Night at UUSS, Friday, October 10
| | |
Join the fun at UUSS's All Ages Games Night on the evening of Friday, October 10 in the Fahs Room. Though we spend our Sundays this year at SAUCC, on the second Friday of each month we're back at UUSS playing games in the Fahs Room.
For those who want to gather for a potluck dinner before game playing, we eat at 6 p.m. Game playing begins at 6:30.
Hosts Megan Snyder, Carrie Cornwell, and Ginny Johnson provide cards, chess, checkers, board games, toddler games, kid games, and adult games; but if you want to bring your own favorite game, we would love to play it with you. We play different games each month, but there's usually a table of Scrabble, plus one or two of Rummikub, and the card game 500 has become a new favorite for some. The kids play tag, or Sorry, or Checkers. The best thing, though, is that everyone has fun. All are welcome!
For more information, call or e-mail Megan Snyder (333-8203), Ginny Johnson (649-0575) or Carrie Cornwell (442-1637).
|
|
All-Congregations Potluck Lunch & Song at 890 Morse Ave.
| | Saturday, Oct. 11
Sierra Arden UCC has invited all the churches that meet at Sierra Arden to a potluck and entertainment event -- an opportunity for fellowship and lunch together in Pilgrim Hall on Saturday, October 11. SAUCC will provide several main dishes, coffee, tea, and table settings. Everyone else is asked to bring an ethnic or international favorite that is a side dish, main dish, or dessert. Our choir will be among the UUSS folks to attend Come a little early and we'll eat together at noon. All of the seven renting groups will be present to sing and eat and recognize this day of international peace. Contact Meg Burnett if you can come, whether or not you'd like to sing a UU song.
|
|
Thanksgiving Dinner November 27 - Maybe
| | |
By Roger Jones
We could have a planned potluck dinner on Thanksgiving afternoon at 890 Morse Ave. A few members of Sierra Arden Church might attend, and our landlord church is generously not charging us rent for this event.
However, before we can confirm that we can hold this dinner, we need a team of willing organizers.This means not only getting signups and commitments for food items and chore assignments for four Sundays in advance, as well as receiving cash donations for turkey and vegetarian main dishes. It means showing up on Thanksgiving mid-morning, setting up tables, arranging for disposable plates and flatware, arranging for cleanup and trash wrap-up, learning how to use their dish sanitizer for any large items that belong to us, and staying to close up. No church staff will be here on that holiday, other than a UU minister if this goes forward. Also, a September break-in at our storage site means we have lost the UUSS chafing dishes for keeping food warm.
So if you can imagine being part of a Thanksgiving miracle team of coordinators and hosts, let Laurie Jones know or call Elaine in the UUSS Office to leave a message.
|
|
Tree Trimming Party - Saturday, December 6
| | By Ginny Johnson
It seems early, but it's time to save the date of Saturday, December 6 for the UUSS Tree Trimming Party. Obviously, it will be different this year: instead of being in the auditorium, we'll be in the Fahs Room, Rooms 6, 7 and 8. Doors will open at 6 p.m., but activities won't really start until 6:30 p.m. We'll have supper at home, but then have a dessert potluck, so we'll have yummy food to eat.
We'll also enjoy holiday music and lots of fun crafting ornaments. Because we're at SAUCC, we won't see our tree each week during service (SAUCC has another tree that they decorate). Instead, we'll make ornaments and other crafts for our home.
Like to help? Email Ginny Johnson or call at 649-0575.
|
|
UUSS Winter Solstice - Save the date-- December 20
| | By Laurie Jones
Save the date for this potluck and program: Restoration of the "Myth of the Goddess: Evolution of an Image," inspired by the book by Anne Baring and Jules Cashford. Sponsored by UUSS CUUPs, Saturday, December 20, 2425 Sierra Boulevard. Labyrinth walk -at 5:00 p.m., potluck at 6:00 p.m., program at 7:00 p.m.
Program speaker is Lisa Weil, an aspiring mystic. She will highlight discoveries from Paleolithic and Neolithic Goddess worship practices from ancient cultures, and will share Goddess myths that have touched her personally and may inspire attendees to chose feminine or Goddess qualities they want to emulate in 2015.
|
|
UUSS Choir Update and Invitation
| | By Meg Burnett, Volunteer Interim Choir Director
 With surround sound, new songs, and many new singers this year, we are very excited to be coming together in weekly Wednesday evening rehearsals at the UUSS Fahs Room, and at Sierra Arden for our twice-monthly worship presentations. More than thirty names are now on our choir list, and as we all commit to singing on a month-to-month basis. Potential choir singers are invited to e-mail me for information, or speak to a choir member with a Choir sticker on their name tag at church, or come to the Fahs Room at 2425 Sierra Blvd, at 6:45 p.m. on Wednesday to visit or join up. We sing from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m., followed by fellowship and treats until 9:00. Singers at all levels of musical experience are welcome; just bring a love of singing, your listening ears, and your willing voice. Let me know also if you are a potential guest conductor, choir section leader, instrumental accompanist, or able to sing solo parts. Solo performers of all kinds and instrumentalist ensembles are especially welcome to contact Rev. Roger Jones to be included in music presentations on non-choir Sundays, or even to find out how you might form or join an ensemble already established. I hear there may be a new UU-Uke Group and String Ensemble brewing. Keep a Song in Your Heart! |
Your 2014 Top Ten UU Songs!!
| | |
By Meg Burnett, Interim Volunteer Choir Director
Over 150 shared your voices and ears at the Music Conversation Table this past month. Your ideas and choices for music you love will set us on a course of providing music that inspires you. When asked why you like certain songs, the most frequent reply was, "I don't know; I just like it" -- answers straight from the heart. Another 30 or so declined to vote and said, "I like them all." Another 20 or so more said, "I'm new, and I don't know any of them yet." All 10 are songs that we have sung for many years in this congregation, or have sung several times in recent years. A reasonable conclusion: songs that inspire us most are in our heads and hearts long after the church service is over, and re-connect us as we repeat them. Were there more than 10 favorites? You bet! At least 20 more songs received more than 3 votes. We have many beautiful songs that reconnect us, and that we will love more after we repeat them more times.
#1 Top Song--#123 "Spirit of Life"
#2 "Blue Boat Home"--#1064
#3 "Come Sing a Song with me"--#346
#4 "Let It Be a Dance"--#311
#5 "Morning Has Broken"--#38
#6 "This Is My Song" (Finlandia)--#159
#7 "Tis a Gift to be Simple"--#16
#8 "How Could Anyone"--#1053
#9 "Standing on the Side of Love"--#16
#10 "When Our Heart Is in a Holy Place"--#1008
|
|
Generosity
| |
By David Paul, Stewardship Team
 Generous acts of time and energy are common at UUSS. Up against a deadline on a hot July Saturday, about 20 volunteers found that generosity can sometimes be uncomfortable. We moved all Theater One property from back stage so the UUSS building project could begin. This task, a continuation of several weeks work, seemed especially daunting. We made many painful trips from the main building to the shed -- across the loose graveled, pot-holed parking lot with our arms around stage lights, wood, paint cans, file cabinets, props, costumes, and other heavy, awkward items. Laurie Jones encouraged us to take frequent breaks and stay hydrated. When, by 4:00 p.m., move organizer Tim Anderson indicated that only a few hours of work remained, many saw the "light at the end of the tunnel," and received a second wind in spite of sweat, heat, and fatigue. We continued until the job was done. |
|
"Wake Up and Smell the Coffee" -Fun-Raiser Nov. 2
| | |
Sunday, November 2 is not only the end of Daylight Savings Time. It's also the day to perk up our coffee hospitality with special donatio ns-"the richest kind!"
If you can, bring a can or a pound bag or two of ground regular or decaf (drip grind, but no whole beans and no flavored coffee please), or a donation of $10-$20 to keep UUSS well stocked with tea, sweeteners, creamers, and cups. You can make a donation before today, but today we'll sing the fun UU hymn "Coffee, Coffee, Coffee."
|
Denominational Connections: Leadership Development Day Oct. 25
| | |
UUSS is a member congregation of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) and its Pacific Central District. The PCD Leadership Conference is on Saturday, Oct. 25, at the UU Church of Berkeley (in Kensington), with the UUA's new Moderator Jim Key as featured speaker. All members or lay leaders are encouraged to go. Contact Linda Klein of the Board of Trustees if you'd like to go with others. To learn more, go to www.pcd-uua.org/.
|
|
|
Serving Our Congregation
| |
UUSS OFFICERS & BOARD TRUSTEES
Linda Clear, President Linda Klein, Vice-President
Denis Edgren, Treasurer Cathy George, Secretary
Shirley Hines Carol Jacobs
Peter Killian Janet Lopes
Terry Preston
Contact Board members by email: [email protected]
PROGRAM COUNCIL
JoAnn Anglin Meg Burnett Sandra Meredith
Lisa Derthick Deirdre Downes Diane Kelly-Abrams Chris Gerwig
Contact Program Council members by email: [email protected]
CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Roger Jones, Senior Minister
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Assistant Minister
Stanton Vedell, Facilities and Acting Communications Coordinator
Michele Ebler, Bookkeeper * Elaine Cooper, Receptionist
Miranda Massa, Religious Education Coordinator
Annie Green, Rebekah Chester, Childcare Providers
Aaron Molina and Miguel Neri, Weekend Custodians
Ricardo Sanchez, Weekday Custodian and Maintenance Technician
Ina June, Choir Accompanist
|
|
|
