The Unigram
Newsletter for July 2019
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
2425 Sierra Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825
Office (916) 483-9283
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July 7: Tee-Shirt Spirituality:
Summer Comfort & Year-round Commitments
A service for all ages with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching
Worship Associates Frances Myers and Molly Stuart
Pianist Jay Johnson
Wear a tee-shirt with an image or message proclaiming your faith, philosophy, theology or ethical outlook. Threads of spiritual wisdom, social justice, or humor are welcome. No partisan politics or vulgarity, please. If you don't have a shirt to show off, wear whatever you like, but come!
- Sunday Spiritual Practice at 9:45: Walking the Labyrinth in the Meadow
- Nursery Care 9:20 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. in Room 11 of the Education Wing
- Recognition of July birthdays
- Blessing and commissioning of our elected lay leaders for a new year.
July 14: What Shall I Call Thee? Pronouns, Gender, and Justice beyond the Binary
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Worship Associate Celia Buckley
;
Pianist Jay Johnson
Pronouns are such short words in the English language, but the use of them is not simple. In history they have been matters of life and death, respect and dignity. For nearly a century, some folks have not felt that the binary he/she pronoun usage fits their identity and experience. If this is news to thee, come thou to the service today, and bring thy friends.
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45: Tai Chi and Chi Gong in the Fahs Room
- Candles of Sorrow and Celebration may be lit as you arrive for the service
July 21: Walk in Beauty
Ministerial Candidate Sangye Hawke preaching; with Rev. Lucy Bunch
Ginny Johnson, Worship Associate; and Pianist Nicholas Dold
Do actions really speak louder than words? Can a random act of kindness really be radical and create change? As UUs, we are an action-oriented group looking for the next great movement. This Sunday we will share how activist actions and people were predicted in a Buddhist text called
The Lotus Sutra
. How do we "walk our talk" without being trampled underneath herds of conflicting values?
- Exploring Unitarian Universalism 9:30 a.m. in the Fahs Room
- Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice: Meditation in Room 6 at 9:45 a.m.
July 28: What’s Your Burning Question?
Rev Lucy Bunch preaching; Jed Shapiro, Worship Associate; Pianist Nicholas Dold
For Unitarian Universalists, questioning is part of our faith journey. This Sunday you will have a chance to bring your questions forth for Rev Lucy to answer during the service. What’s your burning question? Is it about UU faith and belief, the meaning of life, or the best pizza in Sacramento? Nothing is off the table, but she reserves the right to choose which questions to answer, and no anonymous questions will be considered. You are welcome to submit your questions in advance to Rev Lucy (
lucy@uuss.org
) or bring them to the service.
- Sunday Spiritual Practice: Reading, Responding to Poetry, Room 6 at 9:45 a.m.
- Newcomers’ Orientation and Tour of our Campus: 11:45-1:00 starting in the Library
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Shared Offering Recipient --International Rescue Committee
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Every 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. In May, we contributed $2,777 to Sacramento Senior Safe House. Our July Sunday offerings will be shared with
International Rescue Committee of Northern California
, which serves people whose lives have been upended by war, conflict and natural disasters. In our local area, IRC staff and volunteers resettle refugees welcomed by the United States, helping them to succeed and thrive.
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Rev. Roger’s Report from General Assembly : Outspoken in Spokane
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Eight UUSS members and I were voting delegates to the 2019 General Assembly (GA) of the Unitarian Universalist Association (UUA) in June in Spokane: Celia Buckley, Cathy Hackett, Anita Lundin (with daughter Annika), Marion Randall, Dirk Tuell, Joseph Turner, Sarah Turner,Glory Wicklund, and Margaret Wilcox. They represented UUSS’s Board, Nominating, Endowment, Strategic Planning, and Administrative & Property Management committees as well as our Religious Education program.
In total 1,400 delegates met for the business of our UUA. Another 1,300 went along for the music, worship, public witness, learning, and exhibit-hall networking opportunities. With business sessions led by the UUA’s Board of Trustees, the GA concluded a three-year study/action process, approving an official Statement of Conscience on
The Corruption of our Democracy
.
Other business included UUA bylaws amendments. Most of them were approved overwhelmingly but not without some time-consuming procedural objections by some delegates who became familiar faces on the big screen. New UUA Trustees and committee members were elected and installed. A longtime leader and the author of
Black Pioneers in a White Denomination
and other books, Rev. Dr. Mark Morrison-Reed received the Distinguished Service Award for the Cause of Unitarian Universalism.
The yearly Service of the Living Tradition celebrates religious professionals; the honor roll of ministers who died in the past year included
Rev. Eileen Karpeles
, once our interim minister and later a member at UUSS. Among the ministers recognized as new to ministerial fellowship with the UUA was our former intern D. Scott Cooper. In that night’s sermon,
Rev.
Lindi Ramsden
, addressed ministry amid the climate crisis. Now at Starr King School, Lindi was director of the UU Legislative Ministry of California. Some of us had glimpses of or hugs with folks we used to know in Sacramento:
Rev. Lyn Cox
(UUSS) and
Rev. Melora Lynngood
(UU Community Church) and
Rev. Dan King
(an intern at UUCC).
I spent several hours meeting with fellow members of the board of the Pacific Central District and with boards from other districts in the UUA’s Pacific Central District. I attended annual meetings of the UU Partner Council and UU Ministers Association.
There are 1,040 congregations in the UUA. Ours was named a UUA Honor Society; that is, we pay our dues fully every year for the UUA’s work in supporting congregational vitality, equipping and supporting professional and lay leaders, and bringing our values and our voice to the social issues of these times. Our always inspiring and always quotable UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, told us this: “
The UUA is the embodiment of the covenant that our congregations make to one another
.”
Yours in faith,
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones
PS—Thank you to the many generous donors from UUSS toward the $1 million matching grant for Black Lives of Unitarian Universalism! Gifts at UUSS ranged from $5 to $1,000, with an average gift of $146. The most frequent gift amount was $50. We surpassed our congregational goal of $5,000, raising a $8,312!
Read about BLUU at this link
.
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Finding Rev. Roger in July
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To have a good conversation, let’s make an appointment!
Office hours through July 14
are Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons, but we can find a time to talk or meet that works for your schedule and mine. I’d love to connect with you, so give me a call.
TRAVELS
: I’ll be visiting friends and colleagues on the East Coast July 15-24. From July 24-August 6 I’ll be in Krakow, Poland, on a Unitarian heritage tour and then to visit Prague—the Unitarian Church of Flower Communion fame, among other sights.
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Rev Lucy's Message:
The Sound of Silence
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This July I will be again be leading a five-day UU silent retreat called
SpiritRes
t
. This will be my fourth year serving as one of the spiritual directors of the program. This time of retreat has become precious to me. One of the gifts of this time of silence and peace is just being. Just being relaxed, just being present.
For my first silent retreat I brought lots and lots of things to do. After all I was going to be silent, how was I supposed to fill up the time! I brought books to read and books to color, things to listen to, puzzles and games. In my mind these activities qualified as "doing nothing." I ended up not using many of the things that I brought but feeling the security of having them in case I ran out of things to do, or more honestly, got tired of being alone with my thoughts.
SpiritRest
has taught me a new way of not doing anything - a new way of being. Just being. Sitting and listening, and looking, and relaxing and enjoying - whatever. After the first day of silence, I find that all my concerns about not having enough to do just fall away. And I am left - not alone with my thoughts, but in the company of the beings and energies that surround me. Nothing required of me, nothing expected of me. Just being and breathing. And restoring my spirit. It is the greatest gift I can give myself each year.
There is still room for more at the retreat. Registration is open until July 7
th
. Check out the website for more information.
Spiritrestretreat.com
.
I know that five days away is not feasible for many of you. But whatever your summer plans, I hope you will spend some time doing nothing – glorious, restorative nothing.
Sending love to all,
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Finding Rev. Lucy in July
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My regular office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. I love your visits. Please call or email if you want to visit so I can be sure to be available for you. I will be on study leave July 1-9 preparing for a sermon series next year. I will also be away on retreat July 21 (afternoon) through Friday July 26.
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Music Director's Message
Keith Atwater is attending the UU Musicians' conference this month
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You've probably noticed this regular feature of UUSS communications: "Where are Reverend Roger and Reverend Lucy this month?" If you ask me about where I’ll be, my usual answer is "making music with the choir and with you," but every July our church sends me to the national conference of the (newly re-named) Association of Unitarian Universalist Music Ministers (AUMM). This year's gathering of UU conductors, pianists, composers, and renowned guest clinicians and speakers will be at the Universalist Church of Denver, Colorado. Like us, they have had a recent major remodel and expansion of their home, which now includes a fully accessible and green campus; their domed Main Hall, large welcome hall, kitchen, and grounds look very much like ours! So I am excited to be going to a place that feels like home, with the added bonus of studying and singing and reconnecting with over 200 talented UU musicians from all over the USA. I will share what I've learned with you when I return. Listen for (and sing!) some marvelous new music this fall!
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We extend our condolences to Ann and Philip Muller on the death of their parents, Rosemary and Wayne Muller, within 11 days of each other. The family first came to UUSS in 1968. Memorial contributions in their honor are invited to the Heritage Fund at UUSS.
The UUSS Pastoral Visitors visit members who are not able to get to services. Contact a minister if you or someone you know would like to receive a visit or a call from one of our volunteers. We are searching for new volunteer Pastoral Visitors, especially for Natomas or Roseville. Thanks!
pastoralvisitors@uuss.org
is our contact e-mail, or you can call the Office.
If you valued the
Sending Love
column in the Blue Sheet and this newsletter, please know that we are looking for lay volunteers who will work with the ministers to coordinate that listing of people needing our loving wishes and prayer for healing. Let Rev. Roger know.
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What an incredible journey! Joining UUSS four years ago brought me home to a family of welcoming, active, caring people, and it is with great enthusiasm that I look forward to serving as President of the Board of Trustees.
It has been a rich learning experience as a new UU for four years now, and an honor to serve on this Board for the past three years. Reflecting on these past four years, many thoughts come to mind including:
- Religious Education here at UUSS produces some of the most well rounded, mature youth as evidenced by the end of the year speeches the seniors give about their journeys and future plans. The involvement of children in our services creates a wonderfully inclusive environment. How thankful I am for these experiences.
- Involved and active congregants are making a difference in our community, which in turn makes a difference in our world. Areas such as homelessness, immigration support, social justice, environmental justice, are where this impact is felt. I am grateful to be part of an organization dedicated to making the world a better place.
- A dedicated staff makes our environment clean, efficient, and welcoming. I look forward to working with them as we move forward over the next few years.
- Our ministers Rev. Dr. Roger and Rev. Lucy provide such positive, comforting, and inspirational leadership. Their activities in our UUSS community and involvement in the surrounding community is spreading the UU word, and elevating our presence.
Welcome to our two new members of the Board, Sandra Navarro as our Secretary, and Marilyn Reynolds, Trustee-At-Large. Our Board Retreat is in August during which we will be establishing goals to support our newly created Strategic Plan, identifying areas of opportunity within our UU community, and continuing to build a strong Board team.
We hope you will all continue to bring items of interest to the Board. Thank you all for your support and inspiration.
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Justice and Compassion Work
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Alliance-for-All
UUSS Immigrant Justice Volunteers to Speak
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Alliance for All Program - Thursday, July 11
10:45 am - Noon, in the Welcome Hall
$3.00 to $5.00 donation appreciated
Immigration detention is right here in our community at the Yuba County Jail. Susan Lange of the
UUSS Immigrant Justice group
will speak about the Faithful Friends visitation program at Yuba which aims to ensure that each person there is treated with dignity.
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Interfaith Engagement:
An Action and An Event
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Action:
We’ve been preparing for months! On July 23 we will address the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors regarding issues of concern to residents of West Arden Arcade. Please join us on that day to show solidarity with our diverse neighborhood. We will get the time of the Board Environmental Justice Workshop and post it on
www.uuss.org
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Event:
On September 7, UUSS and the South Sacramento Christian Center will co-host a Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice fundraiser:
Greening Black Churches –
Why Climate Change Matters
Keynote speaker:
Rev. Dr. Ambrose Carroll,
The event will be held at the home of our Sacramento ACT partner, the South Sacramento Christian Center, 7710 Stockton Blvd. from 1:00 – 3:30 p.m.
All are invited to attend, participate as a sponsor, or help with our host role on the day of the event by taking tickets, staffing welcome tables, serving refreshments, etc.
If you are interested in the above action or the event, please contact us at interfaithearth@uuss.org or talk with one of our Environmental Justice Committee members. Or, attend our July 10 Environmental Justice Committee meeting in our UUSS Library from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. A newcomer’s orientation is provided at 6:30.
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If you are interested in attending please contact us at
interfaithearth@uuss.org
or talk with one of our Environmental Justice Committee members.
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE)
Miranda Massa, RE Coordinator
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ArtWorks: Religious Education & Creativity in Summer
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Summer is always amazing at UUSS. Each year we bring in new talents from friendly people in our congregation to share with the children and youth. Summer 2019 is filled with mandalas, painted stones, and the art of making poi socks and dancing. Providing amazing opportunities to expose young people to crafts can open so many doors. Our program thanks all those who have volunteered.
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RE Calendar July 2019
Sunday, 7/7
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 All Ages
Sunday, 7/14
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 ArtWorks
Sunday, 7/21
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 13:00-11:45 ArtWorks
Sunday, 7/28
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 ArtWorks
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Spirit Play Training
Let Miranda Massa or Stephanie Hardway know if you are curious about supporting our Spirit Play program for grades K-5 during the September-May church year. We will have a Saturday training in late summer/early fall.
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Our Whole Lives
Our Whole Lives helps participants make informed and responsible decisions about their sexual health and behavior. With a holistic approach based in UU valus, Our Whole Lives (OWL) provides accurate, developmentally appropriate information about a range of topics. We have a group of fantastic and dedicated volunteers being trained this month and look forward to offering OWL for grades 4-5-6 in the fall.
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This Sunday, June 30
, Rev. Roger and Miranda hold an RE Volunteer Appreciation Breakfast before church--9:30 in the Fahs Classroom. If you have helped out or want to help out with our Religious Education and Family Ministry programs, please come!
re@uuss.org
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Also this Sunday, June 30
, at 12:00 noon, Janet Lopes will hold an
Information Session
on Coming of Age, our extra program for youth entering grades 8-11 in the fall. You will hear an outline and calendar for the program and its expectations for youth, their families and their volunteer mentors. Janet Lopes, Miranda Massa and Rev. Roger welcome all want to learn about and support this unique UU program. Janet is our Coming of Age Coordinator and has been an active leader in our RE Program for 20 years.
re@uuss.org
-Sunday, July 7 is our service for all ages: tee-shirt spirituality. No RE class is scheduled.
-The Nursery in Room 11 is open every Sunday at 9:20 am for parents to attend
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practices
. It is available also on Sundays with services for all ages.
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We need child and youth volunteers to light the Flaming Chalice Sunday mornings in the sanctuary. We are asking you to sign up.
Why have a child/teen light the Chalice?
It is important that the youth of our congregation to be a part of ritual of worship. With advance signup, your name will be listed in the Order of Service just like the Worship Associates and Ministers.
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Not All Rivers Run to the Sea: Ecology and History in California
Sunday after service on July 7
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A discussion forum with Theo Claire and Rev. Roger
Sunday, July 7, 12:00 noon-1:00 p.m. in the Main Hall
Donations welcome for light snacks
Whose land are you on? What do declines in Chinook salmon populations have to do with California’s wetland loss? What is a water district in Fresno doing purchasing land above Lake Shasta? And when you turn on the tap, where does your water come from — and where does it go? Theo Claire will be exploring these questions and the entangled issues of water resource management and settler colonialism. A regular at UUSS, Theo is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist and was born and raised in Sacramento. Currently an Environmental Studies major at Mount Holyoke College, ze has been pursuing research of California’s Central Valley Project for the past two years. Don’t miss these fresh insights about an obscured past of the politics of water management.
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Readings with Rev. Roger:
Discussing
UU World
Cover Stories this Summer
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Two Wednesdays: July 3 and July 10, 7:00-8:30 p.m. at UUSS
Two recent issues of our denomination’s
UU World
magazine have more than enough food for thought and for thoughtful reflection in a small group. Join Rev. Roger for either or both nights to share perspectives on the most talked-about recent articles. (Requests welcome for future sessions.) He’ll send all registrants the links to the online version, so if you are not yet receiving the magazine as a UUSS member, you can still participate. If you don’t use the internet, sign up at the Connections Table, where you can get photocopies if you are not yet a congregation member (and subscriber). No charge; freewill donations welcome to UUSS.
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TED
Talks continue for the summer!
Tuesday, July 9 at 7:00 PM
The Gospel of Doubt
Hosted by Duncan Barrow. What do you do when your firmly held beliefs turn out not to be true? In this moving talk, this TED talk offered by Casey Gerald urges us all to question our beliefs and embrace uncertainty. Join us for viewing and conversation.
Tuesday, August 13 at 7:00 p.m.
Future Consequences
Hosted by Rev Lucy.
From data collection to gene editing to Artificial Intelligence, what we once considered science fiction is now becoming reality. We will listen to TED speakers who explore the future consequences of our present actions.
Contact
Rev Lucy
to find out how you can host one of these sessions.
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Sunday Morning Spiritual Practices
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Every Sunday before church (except the fifth Sunday), we offer a different form of spiritual practice. They start at 9:45 a.m. and go until 10:15 a.m. so you won't be late for the service.
Childcare is available, no reservation needed. Drop off your child in Room 11 as early as 9:30 a.m.
1st Sunday
–
Labyrinth Walk
. This session starts with an introduction to help you get the most out of your experience. Come experience this ancient form of walking meditation. Meet Jerry Houseman at the Labyrinth in the meadow behind the main building.
2nd Sunday
–
QiGong and Tai Chi Chuan
in the Fahs Room. Join John McMillan and experience a taste of this transforming practice.
3rd Sunday
–
Meditation
in Room 6. Need some peace in your week? Our wonderful team of meditation leaders will help you settle into a quiet time and space.
4th Sunday
–
Reading and Reflection on Poetry and Prose
in Room 6. JoAnn Anglin
–
a wonderful poet herself
–
leads this spiritual deepening practice of finding your meaning in a piece of poetry and sharing your thought with others.
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Exploring UUism:
Principles and Sources
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Sunday, July 21 at 9:45 a.m. in the Fahs room.
This month’s topic:
Principles and Sources of Our Tradition.
Join us the third Sunday of every month before the service for Exploring Unitarian Universalism. There are four 45-minute sessions offered consecutively
- Faith: What Does It Mean to a UU? (August 18)
- Social Justice: How Do We Live Our Values? (September 15)
- Survey of UU History (October 20)
- Principles and Sources of Our Tradition (November 17)
Both newcomers and longtime members are welcome. Each class includes some presentation, sharing by current members, and opportunity for small group discussion.
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The group is taking a break – no book or meeting scheduled for July.
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MORE THINGS TO KNOW AND DO
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Better Angels Sacramento
"Bridging the Political Divide: a Skills Workshop"
Tuesday, July 16, 6:00 p.m., Rancho Cordova Library
This is the local group that brings liberals and conservatives together in a safe space to discuss issues in a calm and respectful way. It can be done! And no worries, at this workshop, you will simply practice role playing with like-minded people to prepare you for those real conversations with family and friends. Some UUSS folks will have attended a skills workshop already, but why not go again? It will take place on Tuesday, July 16 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. at the Rancho Cordova Library, 9845 Folsom Blvd. 95827. Sign up at
https://tinyurl.com/y5f2yjkb
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Ukulele Strum-Along
Friday, July 19, 7:00 p.m.
Grab your uke and your voice to sing and strum along. Even if you just want to sing or you are new to the ukulele we encourage you to join us. Everyone is welcome. We have extra copies of the music to share and a few ukes to spare. Friday July 19th at 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Library. Contact Nathan Burg at
ukes@uuss.org
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2020 Democratic Debate UUSS Watch Parties
July 30-31, 2019
Join us to watch Debate #1 on Tuesday, July 30 and Debate #2 on Wednesday, July 31, 2019, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the Main Hall. Please come for lively discussion and bring snacks to share. Sponsor: CUUPS, Organizer: Laurie Jones. Contact
Laurie
(916) 716-2947
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Hey, Hikers! Walking Boots on the Trail Again
Saturday, July 20
Walking Boots, the UUSS hiking group that began in 2016, is active again after a long hiatus. Our May hike was an easy 3-4 mile walk along the Pleasant Grove Creek bike trail in Roseville on Saturday, May 25, where 6 hikers observed oaks, egrets, wildflowers, and flowing creeks. The June hike was scheduled for the Laguna Creek Parkway in Elk Grove.
We hope to schedule monthly hikes on the third or fourth Saturday. We will carpool from UUSS, with the option to meet at the trailhead for those who live closer. Most hikes will be within 30 minutes’ drive and 3-5 miles long, but the hot summer months may require us to venture out of the Valley. Our next scheduled hike is one such venture:
Saturday, July 20, 8:30 a.m. -- meet at UUSS
Flora Lake (Donner Summit) 90 minute drive
Moderate 4 mile hike
(Hikers must be able to walk on somewhat uneven terrain at an altitude of 7000 feet. Hiking boots recommended. Bring water and a lunch.)
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WHO WE ARE AND WHERE TO FIND US
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The
UUSS Office
is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Office Closed for Independence Day, Wednesday, July 4, 2019
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Are you having an event at UUSS, and need to find a custodian ASAP?
You're in luck! The Custodians have a new direct number
916-215-0658
. Gerald will be in possession of the phone Monday-Thursday 4:00 pm to 9:30pm and Miguel will be in possession on Friday nights and Saturday from 6:00-2:30pm.
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UUSS OFFICERS & BOARD of TRUSTEES
Sally White, President Denis Edgren, Vice-President
Victoria Owens, Treasurer Sandra Navarro, Secretary
Kathy Bernard Marilyn Reynolds
David Harlow Joseph Turner
Roger Olson
Board meetings: 7:00 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month.
PROGRAM COUNCIL
Susan Davis Terrie Taylor
Michael Miller
Margaret Wilcox
Kathleen Olson
Lorri Reynard
Program Council meetings: 7:00 p.m., 3rd Thursday of every month.
Ministers
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones & Rev. Lucy Bunch
Rev. Douglas Kraft, Minister Emeritus
Church Staff Members
Krystal Gollaher, Administrative and Facilities Coordinator
Michele Ebler, Bookkeeper Elaine Cooper, Receptionist
Miranda Massa, Religious Education Coordinator
Keith Atwater, Music Director
Shannon Ebler and Leticia Valdez, Childcare Providers
Gerald Worley - Sunday thru Thursday, Evening Custodian
Miguel Neri - Friday to Sunday, Custodian ~ Ivan Caballero, Sunday Audio Tech
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Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95825
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