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Ministerial Message
for Friday, June 19, 2020
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Dear Members, Families & Friends,
Greetings of the Juneteenth holiday! On this day in 1865, a Union officer marched into Texas to inform enslaved African Americans that they had been freed by the Emancipation Proclamation... in 1863. Yet that joyous day was not the end of oppression, but a milestone on the journey and the struggle to end systemic racial domination in the U.S. As protests here and abroad are showing, the system persists, and it mutates over time, but the struggle for racial justice continues to thrive as well. (See more in a section below.)
Greetings also of the Summer Solstice. The days right now are as long and full of sunlight hours as they will get. Yet the abundance of our landscape and community garden at UUSS will continue. So do the many ways we have created in order to keep living out our UUSS Mission. We've had good attendance for Sunday Worship and Tuesday Vespers, and many groups are finding opportunities to come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.
Please take a look at the many ways to participate in this message.
Rev. Lucy returns next week and leads Tuesday Vespers (theme: "The Wisdom of Trees") on June 23. Meanwhile, be in touch with me if you need pastoral support. I'll take some time in July and August.
Take care of yourselves.
Yours in faith,
Rev. Roger
P.S.--This Sunday at various times we have Religious Education for grades K-5, grades 6-8, and grades 9-12. Spirit Play for kids in grades K-5 and their families starts at 9:30. It's a lively community of spirit.
If you don't get the weekly RE Outreach, email Miranda: re@uuss.org.
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The Humble Spirit:
A Reflection on the Earth
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The humble spirit: I learn the meaning of the humble spirit from the earth.
The earth takes into itself the rain, the heat of the sun, and it works with these gifts of life to bring the magic out of itself to be used for growth and sustenance of all living things.
The earth is good because it takes what life gives, and within itself it uses its gifts to make life abound. It waits for fruition and gathers its fruit unto itself for more life and more growing. I shall learn from the earth the meaning of the humble spirit. --Howard Thurman
Starting in the 1950s, the Rev. Howard Thurman (1899-1981)
was
minister of an intentionally interracial congregation, the Church for the Fellowship of All Peoples, in San Francisco. There are several books of his mystical and prophetic meditations, including
Meditations of the Heart
, which you can find at the
UUA's Insight Bookstore
online.
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Addressing Racial Justice in Our
Own Neighborhood and Beyond
Join us this Saturday morning, June 20
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Historic and current systemic racism is making people of color sick in our own neighborhood of West Arden Arcade.
On Saturday, June 20, 10:00 a.m. - noon, join Sacramento ACT Executive Director
Gabby Trejo and members of UUSS to learn about this and about faith-based organizing to address racial justice in our community and beyond.
Rev. Lucy will open with an invocation.
Environmental and climate justice are huge parts of racial justice, and it's all connected and part of dismantling the culture of oppression. We also join with members of the community and other Sacramento ACT committees to take racial justice actions.
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Sundays at 11:00 a.m. 
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
See Adult Enrichment section below for guidance on using Zoom by any telephone!
 Sunday, June 21 11:00 a.m.
Father's Day
Raising White Boys to be Feminist Anti-racists
Rev. James Galasinski, preaching, with Rev. Roger and Worship Associate and church dad Larry Boles; ch
urch dad and guitarist Ross Hammond, Pianist Irina Tchantceva. Don't miss the Coming of Age Credo presentations by Mackenzie and Jasmine, too!
How does one pass on our faith to the next generation during these  troubling times? The Rev. James Galasinski serves the UU Church of Canton, NY, which boasts to be the United States UU congregation closest to a foreign capital. Before that, he was Ministerial Resident at First Unitarian, Albuquerque, NM. A native of Milwaukee, he attended Meadville Lombard Theological School. James enjoys jazz, hiking, and biking with his wife Ulrike and their two sons, Miles and Oskar. Rev. Roger will preach for the Canton church in August.
Sunday service
includes all the familiar components and faces. Stay for our Coffee Hub after the service, where you can spend 15 minutes in a small group to get acquainted.
Be our Chalice lighter! We invite you to be an on-screen chalice lighter--as individuals or as families--at a Sunday service.
If any of you have a home chalice or candle, you will light it for all of us at the beginning of the service. On June 21 we visit the Hardaway family!
How about you? All you have to do is sign-up We'll Zoom you into the service as our official chalice lighters for the morning's service. We hope to see more beloved and familiar faces.
Tuesday Vespers (evening service) is a shorter and more casual service. It includes a time for Joys, Sorrows and Milestones, which you can post in the Zoom chat box for us to read. At the end of the service, you are invited to "Start Video" on Zoom and greet everyone!
Visit another UU congregation
Most congregations are meeting online, and many have recorded services available on their web sites. You can also check out the
Church of the Larger Fellowship. This is a UU church online for those around the world who do not have a local congregation. CLF has been offering online worship services for 10 years, so they must be doing something right.
Live stream Sunday at 5:00 p.m.
Access here.
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What you can do now for racial justice!
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 As protests continue in this country and around the world, many of us are wondering where we go from here. As much as there is strife, there is also great potential for change and transformation. Voices are being heard that have been suppressed for generations. Please take some time to listen.
Here are some other resources to help you get engaged.
- Gather
Our
Racial Justice Team
is gathering us together next Monday June 22, at 7:00 p.m. Due to technical difficulties the June 11 meeting was cut short. Join the
Zoom stream
to view a video and have a discussion. Here's your chance to learn and grow and ask questions in the company of fellow UUs. The Racial Justice Team will sponsor discussions twice a month on Monday evenings. Join us as we expand our understanding.
- How to Be an Antiracist by Ibram X. Kendi is sold out at UUSS and local independent stores, I hear. You can read it on Kindle or make a free visit to Ibram Kendi's website. Another book that's sold out is the New York Times bestseller, White Fragility, by Robin DiAngelo, published by our own Beacon Press. Click the book title above for a Wikipedia summary explanation or make a free visit Robin DiAngelo's website.
- Learn
- Listen
- to the pod cast Save the people, featuring Brittany Packnett a young activist leader and the lecturer for the major Ware Lecture at our UUA General Assembly in 2018.
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A Gift from Our Stewardship Committee
with words of appreciation by many
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Please take a moment to appreciate the words of your fellow UUSS members on this beautiful image created by Stewardship Co-Chair Jim Eastman using a photo by David Dawson. This is the Stewardship Committee's gift to you for your support in these troubling days and every day. You will note loving words by Roger Olson, our departed Trustee and friend. There are two copies of this lovely graphic printed on 24" x 24" stock in matte finish. If you'd like to buy one, please contact stewardship@uuss.org.
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Adult Enrichment:
Classes and Gatherings
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 Zoom by phone! You can hear and participate in any UUSS Zoom stream session on any kind of telephone if you don't have a computer, tablet or smart phone. Here's how:
dial (669) 900-6833
. After "Welcome to Zoom," enter this
Meeting ID: 916 483 9283 #
. (Ignore it when it asks for participant ID; just hit # again.)
Friday Morning Open House with UUSS
from 10:30-11:30 on June 19, Molly Stuart will be the guest host or substitute convener for this week's conversation. Rev. Lucy and Rev. Roger will return to their rotations next week.
In the Zoom stream.
Meditation & Mindfulness Practices
Monday, June 22, 6:00-6:30 p.m.
with teacher Ann Kronser and host Judy Bell
Exploring Unitairan Universalism
Starts Tomorrow!
See Draw, Paint:
Sketching Techniques Class with Patty Taylor
Two Saturdays, June 20 & 27, 10:00-11:30 a.m. on Zoom
We will experiment with easy techniques to depict people, places and things you see on your travels or in your daily life. Learn to pack a simple list of supplies and try out some basic drawing, collage, and watercolor techniques. Off you go, sketch book in hand to explore your surroundings while getting in touch with your inner artist.
No experience necessary, if you can write, you can draw.
1) Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 to 11:30.
2) Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 to 11:30.
1. Draw the way you draw and see what you see.
This includes contour drawing, proportions, and composition.
To enroll, 1) send an email to
auction@uuss.org or contact Patty by phone; 2) send a check for $40/person to UUSS or use PayPal (it does charge UUSS a fee): www.uuss.org/donate. Memo: "Auction"
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Its Not Too Late to Register for General Assembly
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Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray UUA President
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This year, ministers and lay delegates from our 1,048 UU congregations in the USA gather online to conduct the business of our denomination, the Unitarian Universalist Association. We also hear amazing lecturers, preachers and musicians, participate in workshops to learn new insights and skills for congregational life. The parts of GA that are open to the public (free for non-registrants) are Thursday's Service of the Living Tradition, Friday's Synergy Worship (Youth Bridging to Young Adulthood) and the big Sunday Morning Service. Dirk will stream and Roger and Lucy will host the Sunday GA Service at www.uuss.org/online.
The
virtual GA will be much less expensive than in-person versions. There is also a webinar available to help you get the most out of your experience. Register at
www.uua.org/ga
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Community Partner for June: Loaves and Fishes
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E
very month we give half of the Sunday offering to a local not-for-profit group. UUSS members vote every year to choose 12 community partners that embody our values and reflect our mission to be a force for healing in the world.
For June our community partner is Loaves & Fishes, a volunteer-staffed local organization that provides an oasis of welcome, safety, and cleanliness for homeless adults and children seeking survival services.
Thank you for your generosity. You may mail a check to UUSS, give by PayPal through our website, or text a gift to 855-935-2216
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Recent Losses to UUSS Families
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Roger and Tamara Olson
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We extend our condolences to several of our members, staff, or pledging friends on the loss of loved ones recently. Please let Rev. Lucy or me know if you have experienced a loss; we're here for you. Also, please let us know if you'd like it listed in the Ministerial Message. --Rev. Roger
Our member Roger Olson died suddenly at home in June with his wife of 56 years, Tamara, at his side. He was 77. He was preceded in death by two brothers in the prior year. He is survived Tamara and their children, Jeff in Sacramento and Kim in Portland, their grandchildren, and his sister. A native of St. Paul, Roger had a distinguished career serving the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development for 32 years. Since he and Tamara moved to Sacramento in 2016, he has been a volunteer with our Grasshoppers, River Parkway Stewards, Board of Trustees, and Administrative and Property Management Committee; he chaired the Safety Task Force and co-led revising the UUSS governance documents for the Board. We remember his warm smile, humor and kindness. UUSS will host his memorial service at 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, June 28 at this Zoom link. Tamara invites memorial contributions to Black Lives Matter or the Joe Biden campaign for president. See Roger's June 12 Sacramento Bee obituary at this link.
Krystal Gollaher
, our Administrative and Facilities Coordinator, lost her grandmother, Sandy Sawyer, in May at age 74. She had three daughters, seven grandchildren, and five great-grandchildren.
Jan Fleming
lost her mother, Marjorie Carlson, age 101. Marjorie spoke in our March 8 service. Her memorial service will hosted online by Fremont Presbyterian on Friday, June 26, 11:00 a.m. Rev. Roger and Jan Fleming will participate. Read her delightful and interesting obituary at this link. Memorial contributions welcome for Big Wave Project or Habitat for Humanity.
Carey Mastain
lost her mother, Mary Steele Mastain, of acute leukemia in May, at age 92. She leaves behind her husband of 70 years, a sister, four children, four grandchildren, and three great-grandchildren. Growing up on an avocado and orange ranch, she danced ballet and tap and rode and trained horses. A graduate of Whittier College and CSUS, Mary was a teacher for 31 years.
Kathy Styc
lost her only brother, Joseph Selinski, to pulmonary fibrosis, at age 70. A California native, he was a pharmacist and pharmacy manager for 45 years. He leaves behind his wife, Margaret, two daughters, and his sister Kathy and her daughter. Read his April 25 Sacramento Bee obituary at this link.
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UUSS Chalice Coffee Update
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 Many folks have been ordering the organic and freshly roasted Chalice Coffee and picking it up at UUSS ($12 per bag). If you'd like some, email your specific order
(ground or whole-bean; regular or decaf) to
coffee@uuss.org. If you need a delivery, we can find a volunteer to do that (or another important errand). You are supporting UUSS as well as the Latin American coffee cooperatives AND the Bay Area cafe that roasts our coffee: Farley's. Recently, they were featured in a Reuters News Service article about the pandemic's effects on small firms (and the government relief); it ran in the
New York Times;
click here to read it.
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We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.
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