| The Unigram Newsletter for June 2017 Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento |
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2425 Sierra Boulevard
Sacramento, CA 95825
Office (916) 483-9283
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Upcoming Services
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June 4
Nevertheless They Persisted
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones;
Worship Associate Ginny Johnson,
Unitarian Universalism has historically been a predominantly white denomination. Yet in our history are little-known stories of African-Americans who struggled to find a path to service as UUs. This Sunday we will hear stories of persistence from the book Black Pioneers in a White Denomination written by UU scholar and minister, Mark Morrison Reed. Come join us for some enlightenment and inspiration.
June Birthday Recognition
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45: Labyrinth Walk
Salad Sunday after the service
June 11
Holy Moments in Ordinary Life
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Marilyn Reynolds, Music Director Keith Atwater
During his months of sabbatical, did Roger find any holy moments? We don't often realize that an experience was holy until we recount the story of the experience well after it has taken place. Let us look back on life and appreciate those glimpses of grace, insight, acceptance, compassion, and courage. Moreover, as a new year begins, let us also look ahead with open hearts and all our senses.
Candles of Celebration and Sorrow
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45: Tai Chi in the Fahs Room
June 18
Under the Bright Summer Sun - A Service for All Ages
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associates Laura Sheperd and Larry Boles, UUSS Choir, Music Director Keith Atwater
The sun is at its peak of potency in Sacramento as we celebrate the longest day. What is growing in your life right now? How can you harvest the power of the season to make a difference in your life? Come celebrate the solstice with us.
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45: Silent Meditation in Room 6
Exploring Unitarian Universalism- History. 9:30 in the Fahs Room
June 25
On Paying Attention
Rev. Martha Hodges preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Jess Reynolds
The poet Mary Oliver offers the following "Instructions for living a life: Pay attention. Be astonished. Tell about it." These "instructions" are truly telling us one way to live religiously. The Rev. Martha Hodges will reflect on the challenges and rewards of paying attention and why doing so is a religious endeavor.
Milestones: Joys and Sorrows
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45: Reading and Reflection in Room 6
Newcomer Orientation begins after the service in the Library.
July 2
Freedom From, and Freedom Into
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Worship Associate Laura Sheperd
Independence Day ceremonies often salute freedom, and politicians love the term. So did our liberal religious ancestors. Yet while we talk of "freedom from" some kind of repression or restraint, it is worth talking about using our freedom into new realms of meaning and creativity.
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Shared Offering Recipient in June
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Every month we give half of the Sunday service offering to a local not-for-profit group. UUSS members vote every year to choose 12 community partners that embody our values and our mission to be a healing force. In April we raised $3,030 for St. John's Center for Real Change. Our shared offering recipient in June is UU Justice Ministry of California, which advocates for justice in our state by promoting public policies that reflect Unitarian Universalist values and principles.
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Senior Minister's Message
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Happy to be Back with You!
Greetings! I'm very happy to be back with our UUSS family. Thank you for the generosity of the months away for study, writing, reading, reflection, and travel. I am grateful to Rev. Lucy and our extra hardworking staff, our dedicated lay leaders, and our fired-up volunteers.
As I reported in a message to our e-mail subscribers in mid-May, during the sabbatical I finished my Doctor of Ministry dissertation after many revisions. I graduated from
Pacific School of Religion on May 21. My travels included Chicago, Canyon Lands National Park, Denver to see both nephews, a writing retreat with colleagues at a lake house near Tulsa, and two weeks in South Korea.
While in Sacramento I mostly agonized over my writing and did some yard work. Most Sundays I visited a few progressive Protestant congregations in town. I enjoyed the warm welcome, great music, and relevant preaching (and I took notes). It was reassuring to witness some vital congregations doing service and justice work similar to ours and building spiritual communities of resilience, belonging, and hope. Yet I missed you! I missed the warm welcome, the enthusiasm, the great music and meaningful worship services that we offer to one another, and our lively programs. I missed the children and youth and the volunteers and our staff. I missed meeting all the new visitors, friends, families, and members who have come to UUSS in the past few months.
I am excited to be back. I hope we can connect this month, whether to meet for the first time or to catch up on your life. Please be in touch!
Love,
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The sabbatical ends June 1, and I begin to catch up with e-mails, notes and phone calls, meetings, and Sunday mornings. I am happy to schedule an appointment with you at UUSS on Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, or to find another time and place that works. From June 19 to 27, I will be in New Orleans for UU Ministry Days and for our UUA's General Assembly.
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Assistant Minister's Message
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Imagine 3,000 Unitarian Universalist in one place!
That's what happens each year at the General Assembly of Unitarian Universalists, this year meeting in New Orleans June 21 to 25. Rev. Roger and several of our members will be attending and serving as delegates representing our congregation during business meetings.
If you have attended one of our Exploring UU classes on Principles and Sources, you learned that our principles are part of the bylaws of our association and are thereby open for amendment and modification. This year there are two bylaw amendments to be considered by our delegates that affect our principles and sources.
The first proposal is for the first principle "the inherent worth and dignity of every person." The proposal would change "every person" to "every being." This proposed change affirms explicitly that individuals of other species merit our compassionate consideration.
The second amendment is related to our sources and proposes to change "prophetic men and women" to "prophetic people." This proposed change will move from gender binary language of women and men to reflect more gender neutral and inclusive terminology.
Also on the agenda is a vote on the study action "Escalating Inequality". For the past year, our congregation has been engaged in understanding issues of economic inequality using many of the resources developed by the UUA. This vote will continue the process of study and review.
Our fifth UU principle is "the right of conscience and the use of democratic process in our congregations and society at large." The democratic process is alive and well at General Assembly. Our business meetings are lively and provocative. I must admit that I am somewhat of a UU political junky and absolutely adore the business meetings. I love seeing the democratic process in action and appreciate the variety of opinions expressed.
If you can't make it to New Orleans this year, don't despair. I am signing up as an off-site delegate and welcome you to join me to watch the meetings online. Send me an
e-mail if you want to participate.
Finally, please mark your calendars for Thursday, June 22, at 6 p.m. and join me in the Welcome Hall to watch the Service of the Living Tradition. My name will be read as one of the ministers who has achieved final fellowship this past year. Since I won't be in New Orleans to walk across the stage, I am hoping to have some of you there in the Welcome Hall to cheer when my picture comes on the screen. Hope you can join me in celebrating.
With love,
Lucy
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I always appreciate your thoughts, ideas, concerns, or challenges. I have office hours on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons and welcome your visits. Other times available by arrangement. Please call or e-mail first to make sure that I am available.
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Ministerial Intern's Message
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Thank You
On my laptop, I created folders for each Sunday in the OOS folder, for orders of service, readings, and stories. There were folders for each Sunday I was scheduled to preach in the Sermons folder, for good ideas, discarded ideas, and completed sermons.
Each Monday, I would move the previous day's folder into the Finished Folder. All the folders are now in the Finished Folder.
I'm finished here, but my ministry is just beginning. You have helped, taught, and supported me more than I can express. Thank you so much.
Peace, Salaam, Shalom,
Scott
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Every first and third Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. in the Fahs Classroom
Feeling beleaguered by the challenges in our world? Need a spiritual boost in the middle of the week? Want some quiet time to reflect and restore?
Join us on the first and third Tuesdays of the month at 6:30 p.m. for a Resilience Gathering. This 45-minute session will include singing, readings, silence, prayer, and a ritual of hope and encouragement. We will be together in support and in love.
Please plan to join us. Can't make it to the UUSS campus for this gathering? Join us for live-streaming, at uuss.org/resilience.
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Music Director's Message
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Talent Show Saturday August 26!
We know that UUSS has many talented people, or should I say, we have many people with many different talents! But some talents remain hidden and haven't b
een shared, so we're having a talent show for everyone on Saturday, August 26, at 7 p.m. Our whole community is invited to share this fun-filled evening of entertainment (and amazement!). Children, youth, and adults will have an opportunity to dazzle and amuse us with their talents - anything and everything from juggling to acrobatics to miming, from bird calls to magic tricks to songs, jokes, music melodies, and much more. This promises to be a delightful evening of surprises (There's even a rumor that Herb Alpert and the Tijuana Brass might be there!). Stay tuned to UUSS summer media messages for more details!
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This will be my last column as the President of the Board of Trustees. Producing these periodic Unigram articles has not exactly been my strong suit since I struggle with creative writing. But if you ever need a good memo on DMV procedures, I am your gal!
It is difficult to believe I have been in this position for four years. In some ways it feels like a long time and in other ways the time seems to have flown by. I think that happens as you age and are in retirement. Time moves much more quickly. It has been such an honor serving as your President, and during these four years, we have accomplished so much.
During my tenure we have called Roger as our minister, hired Lucy to be our assistant minister, brought in a new Music Director, voted to take out a loan to do the massive remodel on our building, and completed construction of our building. We moved out of our church, moved back in, and continued to thrive even when we were not in our own space. We have had four very successful Auctions, have welcomed many new members to our church, and have said goodbye to too many of our long-time members.
It has been hard work for me but also very satisfying. I want to say thank you to all for your support and encouraging words for me. Without that support and encouragement, I'm not sure how I would look back on this time. But this is such a warm and caring community, I can't imagine it any other way. I especially want to thank all of the Board members I have worked with these past four years. You have all done such good work, and I am so grateful for your willingness and energy to get things done and lead projects. There are so many I don't think I could begin to name them all.
Although I will be leaving the Board, I will be in search of other activities and volunteer opportunities that inspire me. The refugee project is one that feels right. I am also going to take on the task of pulling all of the material together regarding the building project. I think some of it is scattered far and wide, so if any of you have notes from meetings, or pretty much anything from the project, I would appreciate your leaving them with the office. There will be a repository set up, and I think this effort should keep me out of trouble for a while. A few decades from now when another board is planning a big project and they look through all of the documents from this time period, they will probably say, "Who was this Linda Clear person?"
In closing let me say again, thank you so much for this honor, for your support, and for your kindnesses to me.
Namasté
Yours in faith,
Linda Clear
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UUSS Congregational Meeting May 21, 2017
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The following UUSS members were elected to their positions at the Congregational Meeting on Sunday, May 21, 2017. Congratulations!
Board of Trustees :
President:
Margaret Wilcox
Vice President:
Denis Edgren
Secretary:
Victoria Owens
Member-at-large:
Carl Crain, Roger Olson
Program Council:
Marian Ashe, Patty Budding, Linda Roth
Nominating Committee:
Chair:
Eric Ross
Members:
John Abbott, David Libby, Kathy Styc, Lauren Davis-Todd,
Glory Wicklund, Sarah Turner
Endowment Trust:
Celia Buckley
Communication Facilitator:
Colene Schlaepfer
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What Are Our Goals For The Next Five Years
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The 2009-2013 Strategic Plan that was approved by the congregation in May 2009 has been completed. It's time to think together about what our goals might be for the next five years. The Board of Trustees has appointed a Strategic Planning Task Force whose charge is to develop and implement a plan for engaging the congregation in creating a 2018-2023 strategic plan. The plan will include goals, action plans and timelines. Members of the Task Force are Carrie Cornwell, Carl Gardner, Karen Gunderson, Marion Randall and Margaret Wilcox. You will soon hear about activities that will involve all of us in imagining what we might be excited about accomplishing for the next five years.
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JUSTICE WORK
Our Social Justice Theme-Confronting Economic Inequality
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Social Justice Movie Night
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First Thursday Social Justice Movie Night
Will Meet on the First Friday!
Join us for film and discussion at 6:30 p.m. in the Welcome Hall
June 2
Mr. Hulot's Holiday
He's back! Earlier in the year we enjoyed getting to know Mr. Hulot in the movie My Uncle. Just in time for summer, we will take a turn to the lighter side with this mid-century French
movie from Jacques Tati. Mixing comedy with criticism of 20th century consumerism, Monsieur Hulot goes on a holiday to a seaside resort, but accidents and misunderstandings follow him wherever he goes. Wikipedia says, "The film affectionately lampoons several hidebound elements of French political and economic classes, from chubby capitalists and self-important
Marxist
intellectuals to petty proprietors and drab dilettantes, most of whom find it nearly impossible to free themselves, even temporarily, from their rigid social roles in order to relax and enjoy life." Come join us for laughter and discussion.
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Native Voices and Earth Justice!
Sunday, June 4 at 1 p.m.
This event is about the indigenous people's environmental movement and about removing investment in fossil fuels from our taxpayer-funded retirement systems CalPERS and STRS, our local governments' finances, and our personal savings.
The afternoon will feature activist Pennie Opal Plant from Idle No More SF Bay, a group of Native Americans and allies rising up for the rights of indigenous people, Mother Earth, and coming generations. In addition, Board members from Fossil Free California will discuss taking a fresh look at what ethical investing is in this era of climate change. How and where we invest our money is fundamental to a climate-smart future that respects human communities and our deep connections with the natural world.
Please join us for this free UUSS Interfaith Earth Justice event in our Main Hall! It is being co-sponsored by California Interfaith Power and Light, St. Francis of Assisi Parish Pathways to Justice, the Sacramento Climate Sangha, and the Aloka Vihara Forest Monastery.
And we'll have snacks!
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Earth Justice Summer Plans
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We've been doing active marching, responding online and by phone, and attending community events. Now let's regroup and recharge during the summer (a hot one) by watching movies and making plans to do more in the autumn. Movies will be the 4th Sundays of June, July, and August at 6 p.m. We'll watch
Before the Flood
on June 24. Hope to see you!
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What is Family Promise?
Family Promise is a nonprofit organization committed to helping low-income families achieve lasting independence by using an integrated approach that begins with meeting immediate needs, but reaches much further to help people achieve independence and to alleviate the root causes of poverty. They help displaced families find permanent housing along with developing the self-sufficiency needed so that homelessness is less likely to reoccur. While families are in the program, they are housed for one week at a time in area churches and temples. To learn more about Sacramento Family Promise, go to http://sacfamilypromise.org/.
What is UUSS's role in Family Promise?
UUSS is one of 14 Host Congregations (there are an additional 13 support congregations). Every few months it is UUSS's turn to host four families. The families arrive on a Sunday afternoon and stay until the following Sunday, leaving before the service begins. Bedrooms are created in different classrooms and meals are served in the Fahs Room. Monday through Friday the families leave by 7 a.m. for work or to stay in the Family Promise Day Center and return to UUSS in the late afternoon for dinner and to stay overnight. On Saturday they leave at 10 a.m. returning at 5 p.m.
How can you help?
We need 60 volunteers for each week we host. We also need donations of various supplies or money to purchase the supplies.
Below are brief descriptions of the different volunteer opportunities and the committee chairs. There will be a sign-up table at UUSS the four Sundays prior to that week, or we are working on an online sign-up system. Go to http://www.uuss.org/familypromise/ to see if the system is up and running and to get more information.
Set up on the Sunday that our guests arrive (early afternoon 1 to 1 ½ hours) and tear down on the following Sunday morning after they leave (7 to 8:30 a.m.)
Bringing a dinner for one of the nights, 2 to 3 people for each meal, providing a main course, veggie/salad, and dessert. Meals need to be dropped off by 5:30 p.m.
Hosting during the dinner hour, helping to set up, serve the food, and clean up after dinner (5 to 8 p.m.)
Staying overnight for one of the nights, 2 people for each night (7 p.m. to 7 a.m.)
General Questions or to make a contribution - Contact the UUSS Family Promise Co-Chairs.
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Exploring Unitarian Universalism
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Every third Sunday before services, we offer Exploring Unitarian Universalism. There are four different 45-minute sessions offered consecutively: Principles and Sources, Faith, Social Justice, and UU History. Both newcomers and long-time members are welcome. Each class includes some presentation, sharing by current members and opportunity for small group discussion. Join us June 18, at 9:30 a.m. for UU History.
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Sunday Morning Spiritual Practices
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Looking for some quiet time in your week? Need an opportunity to relax and deepen your spirit? Join us every Sunday at 9:45 (except 5th Sundays) to share spiritual practices. Open to all. Child care is available, no reservation needed.
1st Sunday: Labyrinth Walk - meet at Labyrinth
2nd Sunday: QiGong and Tai Chi Chuan - Fahs Classroom
3rd Sunday: Silent Meditation - Room 6
4th Sunday: Reading Reflection on Poetry and Prose - Room 6
We hope to see you there.
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Reading, hearing, or sharing poetry can be a powerful spiritual practice. Join others who share your passion for poetry on three Friday afternoons - June 2, 9, and 23, from 1 to 2 p.m. in Room 12. Doris Simonis and JoAnn Anglin will facilitate the meetings. Bring one or two poems that have made a deep impression on you. Please make enough copies for others in the group. (Let's start with 7 copies.) Be prepared to read your poem(s) aloud, and we'll talk about what lines had a particularly strong impact, how they affected us and why. Interested? Sign up at the Adult Enrichment table in the Main Hall at UUSS after Sunday services or send an e-mail to
Doris Simonis
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On Tuesday, June 27, the UUSS Book Readers will meet at 7 P.M. in the Welcome Hall to discuss Moonglow by Michael Chabon. For more information, contact
Jim Glidden
or (916) 649-9697
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MORE THINGS TO KNOW AND DO
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The RE building has new exterior paint, Dry Sage on the body with River Silt on the trim. AND window shades are coming soon to RE! We will be able to provide privacy for Family Promise guests, darken a room for films, and cut the glare bouncing off cars when we are in meetings.
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Consider Sharing A Ride To Church
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- Save on gas money.
- Help someone get to church who otherwise could not.
- Reduce our carbon footprint.
- Get to know someone in your neighborhood.
- Free up spaces in our parking lot
Over the next several weeks, you will be invited to become part of a new experiment at UUSS. If there is sufficient interest - and if enough people are willing to drive as well as be passengers - we hope to initiate a program of carpooling to church.
What do you need to do? There are several ways to indicate your interest: Fill out the form below and bring it to church with you or send it to the UUSS office; cut and paste the form into an e-mail and send to the office; call the office and ask Elaine to help you sign up; look for a copy of the form in a future Sunday Order of Service and at a table in the Welcome Hall on Sundays; look for the form on line on the UUSS web site. Names will be compiled in a central database and sorted by neighborhood. If the response looks promising, you will then be contacted with the name or names of possible ride-sharing partners who live in your area.
If you know someone who might be interested but may not find out about this opportunity in any of these ways, please tell them about it!
I AM INTERESTED IN SHARING A RIDE TO CHURCH
Name
________________________________________________________________________
Address
________________________________________________________________________
P
hone Email
____________________ _____________________________________________
Drive, ride, or both?
___ I can provide a ride.
How many passengers can you accommodate? ____
___ I need a ride and have no special needs.
___ I need a ride and have special needs, e.g., I use a walker or other equipment, have a service animal or caregiver who will accompany me, etc. (Please explain.)
___ Either ride or drive or both, as needed.
How often?
____ Occasionally ____ Every week, as possible
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On Saturday, June 17, join UUSS CUUPs' Summer Solstice at our regular old evening time since the sun sets later in summer: 5 p.m. labyrinth, 6 p.m. potluck, 7 p.m. celebration. Free, donations always welcome. Open to all. Let's celebrate the summer after all that needed rain. We hear the high this summer in Sacramento will be a toasty 99 or 123 degrees! (Is that possible? 108 or 119 degrees last year.) Bring drums and other congenial instruments and we'll toast the heat and roast our feet (not really). Indoors/outdoors, depending on accessibility and pending any outdoor noise permits. UUSS has a Summer Solstice service the next day. We could see how we could contribute and how it's different. Organizer:
Laurie Jones
. My phone is currently on a walkabout.
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All Ages Camp - August 11 to 13
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We are returning once again to Camp Norge near Alta, CA! Tent Sites as well as Rustic Dormitory Lodging options are available. Registration tables will be located near the exits after service. This is a great chance to enjoy the outdoors with friends and meet new members of the UUSS community. For more information please call Christopher at (916) 541-5750 or stop by a registration table. See you 'round the campfire!
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RE Summer ArtWorks is a great time to volunteer to help co-lead an art project with our fabulous children and youth. We have many Sundays that need the presence of a second adult. Come join us. No experience, specific talent, or superpowers needed, just a willingness to spend a morning in RE. E-mail
[email protected]
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Happy warm days,
Miranda
UUSS RE Coordinator
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Religious Education (RE) Calendar, June 2017
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Sunday, June 4
9:30-12:00 Child care
10:30-11:45 RE Summer ArtWorks
Sunday, June 11
9:30-12:00 Child care
10:30-11:45 RE Summer ArtWorks
Sunday, June 18
9:30-12:00 Child care
10:30-11:45 All Ages, no RE
Sunday, June 25
9:30-12:00 Child care
10:30-11:30 RE Summer ArtWorks
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WHO WE ARE AND WHERE TO FIND US
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June Office Hours and Holiday Closings
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The UUSS office is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
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Serving Our Congregation
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UUSS OFFICERS & BOARD TRUSTEES
Linda Clear, President Margaret Wilcox,
Vice-President
Gordon Gerwig, Treasurer Janet Lopes, Secretary
Kathy Bernard Denis Edgren
Carl Gardner
Dennis Pottenger
Sally White
Erik Jensen
, Youth Trustee
JoAnn Anglin
Deirdre Downes (Chairperson)
Patricia Johnson
Peggy Makie
Linda Roth
CHURCH STAFF
Rev. Roger Jones, Senior Minister
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Assistant Minister
Krystal Gollaher, Communications and Facilities Coordinator
Michele Ebler, Bookkeeper
Elaine Cooper, Receptionist
Miranda Massa, Religious Education Coordinator
Keith Atwater, Music Director
Yer Chang and Maddy Kenshol, Childcare Providers
Aaron Molina - Sunday thru Thursday, Custodian
Miguel Neri - Friday - Sunday, Custodian
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