The Unigram
Newsletter for December 2019
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
2425 Sierra Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825
Office (916) 483-9283
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December 1: The War on Advent and the Spiritual Practice of Waiting
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Karen Sparrow, Music Director Keith Atwater, Irina Tchantceva, piano; Cynthia Davis, cello.
Advent covers the four weeks before Christmas. Traditionally it was a time of waiting and anticipating, but modern life has made it a time of rushing, shopping, and worrying. How can we reclaim the spiritual center amid so many demands and distractions?
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45 a.m.: Labyrinth walk in the meadow
- Baby/Child Blessing Ritual (register in advance with Rev. Roger)
- Ornament Sale by Kids Freedom Club to end modern slavery
- Communion ritual with Rev. Roger and Bobbie Keill at 3:30 p.m. in the Fahs Room
December 8: To Have Without Holding
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Molly Stuart
Irina Tchantceva, piano.
Letting go is one of the greatest challenges of life – as lovers, and parents, and humans on the planet, we are called again and again to love and to let go. This Sunday we will use poetry as a medium to explore the power and challenge of letting go.
- Soup Sunday after the service
- Sunday Spiritual Practice at 9:45 a.m.: Introduction to Tai Chi and Qi Gong in the Fahs Room
- Candles of Sorrow and Celebration may be lit as you arrive for the service
It’s California International Marathon Day. Fair Oaks Boulevard will be closed– but don’t despair; everyone can make their way to church. If you live south of Fair Oaks Boulevard, take Business 80 north to the Arden Way exit and proceed east on Arden to Fulton Avenue. Go south to Sierra Boulevard. Plan to
leave a bit early
and you should have no trouble getting to church on time!
Road closure schedule at this link.
December 15:
What Good Is a Human Being? Human Nature in Unitarian Universalism
Fourth in a Series on UU Theology for the 21
st
Century
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Larry Boles,
UUSS Choir, Music Director Keith Atwater; Irina Tchantceva, piano
We continue our monthly series on UU Theologies for the 21
st
century. Theological anthropology is the branch of theology concerned with what it means to be human. Are we basically good creatures bearing the image of God? Or basically prone to selfishness and harming other people and other beings to get what we want? How much free will or choice do we have as a species? Let’s wrestle with humanity’s track record.
Join us to consider this topic today, and come Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. or 6:30 p.m. for the discussion series.
- Exploring UUism at 9:30: Faith--in the Fahs Room
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45: Mindfulness Practice with Ann Kronser
- Milestones—Joys and Sorrows Ritual takes place in today’s service
- Child Care goes from 9:20 till noon today
- Soup Sunday after the service
December 22: Yule with You All!
A service for all ages with Rev. Lucy Bunch and Rev. Dr. Roger Jones. Worship Associates Lindsay Mitchell Vayner, Fred Best, Molly Stuart; Terrie Taylor, altar design. UUSS Choir, Music Director Keith Atwater; Irina Tchantceva, piano.
Tis the season of lights and a
s a community of all ages
we will celebrate the great festivals of light - Hanukkah and Yule.
Bring an ornament that’s lovely or special to you to add to our tree or choose one of ours to hang. In any case, be sure to enjoy the magic as we come together to share warmth, extend compassion, and kindle courage.
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45: Reading and Responding to Poetry
- Nursery Care 9:20-1:15 p.m. so adults can attend events before & after service
- Newcomers’ Orientation & Tour, 11:45-1:00: starts in the Library/Bookstore
Tuesday, December 24: Christmas Eve Candle Light Service, 7:00 p.m.
A service for all ages with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch, Music Director Keith Atwater, UUSS Choir and instrumentalists. Worship Associates Molly Stuart, Karen Sparrow, Celia Buckley?, Irina Tchantceva, piano, Terrie Taylor, altar design. Holiday Offering supports River City Food Bank.
Join us as first-time guests and long-time members of the congregation come together on this magical night of singing carols, hearing ancient scripture, and praying for peace on earth and goodwill in every human heart. All ages are together for tonight’s service, which concludes with singing “Silent Night, Holy Night.” The candles light up the love and hope on our faces! Tonight’s offering donations will be given in their entirety to
River City Food Bank
.
December 29: From Fear to Faith
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Fred Best,
UUSS Chalice Singers, Music Director Keith Atwater, Irina Tchantceva, piano.
There are so many sources of fear in our world today that it is often hard to feel grounded and secure. What if we operated from faith rather than from fear? As we enter into a new year, we will consider what fears we need to release, and what sources of faith we can draw from in order to deepen our lives and be a source for healing in the world.
January 5: Salvation: What's in it for You?
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Worship Associate Karen Sparrow. Irina Tchantceva, piano.
This is the fifth sermon in our series: A Theology for the 21
st
Century. Salvation was the hallmark theology of our Universalist forebears who believed in a loving God who offered salvation to all. We will dust off this Universalist message and consider what this theological concept has to offer us in the 21
st
Century.
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45 a.m.: Labyrinth walk in the meadow
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Shared Offering Recipient: Sacramento Food Bank
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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 October, we contributed
$2,708 to WIND Youth Services.
Our December Sunday offerings will be shared with
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
, providing free emergency goods and services to thousands of men, women and children each month as well as a wide range of services to promote self-sufficiency and independence.
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Rev. Roger’s Message:
Gifts for Lasting Impact—Endowment and Heritage Fund—What’s the Difference?
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December is the time in the U.S. when some retirees over age 70½ are able to decide to direct the “
required minimum distribution
” from their IRA to go directly to a charity. This avoids having to pay taxes on the income. It also will extend the mission of their favorite not for profits. We appreciate those of you who keep UUSS high on your list.
Recently a UUSS member indicated an intention to make a large lump-sum gift to UUSS, and inquired about the alternatives for donating to make a lasting and long-term impact. The two primary ways to do this are the Heritage Fund and the Endowment.
The Endowment
: Endowment Trustees (elected by the congregation) consider and decide on requests for one-time grants for improvements to the building and grounds, the purchase of equipment, and other one-time needs. In recent years the Endowment has funded an electronic keyboard, the Labyrinth project, and equipment requested by our Safety Task Force. Current assets of the Endowment: $142,000 in stock mutual funds plus $280,000 in a loan to UUSS for part of the Main Hall renovation and expansion. The Endowment is restricted by a trust document made in the 1980s. This prohibits the corpus (or principal) from ever being spent down. Total annual Endowment grants are limited to 5 percent of the principal balance. This means a large lump sum could never be used to support making a major expense of any kind, including capital improvements.
The Heritage Fund
: The Heritage Fund supports improvements to the building and grounds and one-time expenses that enhance our UUSS Mission and enact our Strategic Plan goals. The Heritage Fund has the flexibility to support large projects, including expansions, renovations or additions to the campus. Authority to spend from the Heritage Fund rests with our elected UUSS Board. This fund can give a starting boost to a future capital fundraising campaign, but it may not be used to fund annual operating budget expenses. The current balance is $83,000, smaller than the Endowment's assets.
Unless otherwise designated, all one-time gifts to UUSS, including memorial contributions and beneficiary designations, would go to the Heritage Fund. I recommend choosing to designate the Heritage Fund, as it provides the maximum flexibility for supporting major initiatives at UUSS. I’m including it as a beneficiary designation in my retirement fund.
If you aren’t sure of your own choice to make a lasting impact for the future vitality of UUSS, please talk to a minister, Treasurer Victoria Owens, or Endowment Chair Fred Deneke.
With love and thanks,
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones
PS—
With the Board’s support, Rev. Lucy and I are collecting donations to make a monetary gift to thank our dedicated part-time and full-time hourly staff members. We’ll distribute these holiday gifts at the end of the year. The generosity of UUSS folks the last two years was impressive and gratifying. Please contact Lucy or me directly and make a check payable to one of us—not to UUSS. We’ll use the Ministerial Discretionary Account. Thanks!
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Finding Rev. Roger in December
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To have a good conversation, let’s make an appointment! 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. I’m here Tuesday to Thursday afternoons and evenings. Monday is my day off. Friday and Saturday are days for writing or UUSS-related events, like the December 6 Family Ministry Holiday Party! I’m here all month.
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Rev. Lucy's Message:
This Holiday Season, Find Some Time Just to Be
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Fasten your seat belts -- the holidays are upon us. By the time you read this you likely will have eaten all your Thanksgiving leftovers and either avoided or delighted in the specials of Black Friday. And some of you will be gearing up for the next big thing, whether that is Christmas or Hanukkah, or Solstice – whatever you celebrate this time of year.
I hope that at some time during this month you will find time for that special thing that warms your heart and lifts your spirit. Perhaps it is making your favorite holiday recipe that your grandmother used to make, or trimming a tree, or another familiar and beloved December ritual.
My holidays are filled with song. Each year my choral group, the Sacramento Master Singers, offers five holiday concerts during the middle two weeks of the month. My holiday joy is seeing the looks on people’s faces as they take in the beauty of the music. It is marvelous, magical and nurturing to my heart and spirit.
And it is also quite demanding. All the expectations and plans for the holidays can be a bit overwhelming for some of us. I hope that you will find some time just to be. As the days grow shorter and we enter into the dark season of the year, let your self have some quiet time away from all the activity. On Wednesday, December 11, Frances Myers and I are offering the perfect balm for the holiday overwhelm – a vespers service. We will share readings, candlelight, song and silence. Join us at 6:00 p.m. in the Main Hall. It can be a time to reset your spirit towards the true meaning of the holidays. I hope to see you there.
Sending love to all,
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Finding Rev. Lucy in December
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My regular office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday afternoons. I love your visits. Please call or e-mail if you want to visit so I can be sure to be available for you.
You can access my calendar at
calendly.com/revlucyb
.
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New Year's Brunch and Labyrinth Walk
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Wednesday, January 1, 2020, 9:00 a.m.
This will be our fifth year of celebrating the New Year with a Labyrinth walk and potluck brunch. Rev. Lucy will guide us in starting off the new year with a spiritual tune-up that only the Labyrinth can provide. We will celebrate the New Year by sharing breakfast together in the Welcome Hall.
Meet in the Welcome Hall, and bring your favorite breakfast food to share. All are welcome. Bring a friend.
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Music Director's Message:
Another Kind of Soup Sunday
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Two Sundays ago I attended an interfaith event at the Sikh gurdwara north of Elk Grove off Bradshaw -- not too far from us. This very welcoming community of Indian-Americans originally from the Punjab region bordering Pakistan and India, where 'Sikhism' was born, invited us to join them in celebrating their founder Guru Nanak's 550th birthday. As a Unitarian - Universalist interfaith council board member and also a musician, I was entranced by the rich tones of musical singing and chanting accompanied by small accordions and the tabla (hand drum). Readings from their holy text the Guru Granth Sahib were also shared as we sat on the carpet in their colorful worship space. All are required to wear head coverings, which explains my scarf in the photo. Many Sikh men typically wear their colorful turbans (and full beards) all the time.
One highlight was being able to share in the "langar," a free vegetarian meal open to everyone. A tradition going back to Sikhism's origins, the langar is shared sitting down on the floor in their community hall. Traditionally all the doors are open to symbolize that anyone from any ethnicity or faith tradition is welcome. Indeed, many Sikh langar meals are well known to the homeless in their area. Being seated on the floor also emphasizes the complete equality of every guest / participant. The Punjabi style seasoned stews, sauces, vegetables, and rice were truly delicious. As I talked with and listened to our Sikh hosts and my fellow interfaith board members -- Muslim, Christian, Baha’i, Jewish, and LDS (Mormon) -- I couldn't help but think of the several gourmet choices of homemade soups offered at our UUSS services. I hope we can be as welcoming to all as our Sikh neighbors are!
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- Roger Barr died at age 98 on November 18. He was our member of longest tenure, having joined UUSS Dec. 1, 1945, along with his wonderful wife, Ruth. (Pictured.) She passed away in 2014. Roger lived for at time near one child in Davis and then another in Ventura, which is where he died. They had reared their four children here and were active in Religious Education and many other areas of church life. We are grateful for Roger's long and healthy life, his good cheer and adventurous spirit. We remember the couple's kindness and generosity with gratitude. Any memorial service plans will be announced in the Blue Sheet and online. Memorial contributions to honor Roger and Ruth Barr may be made to the UUSS Heritage Fund, and we will notify their children of all who have donated.
- We extend our condolences to Holly Heckeroth Alvis on the loss of her husband, Toby, in November. Holly grew up in UUSS and is the daughter of our member Gina Towne. Gina conveys the family’s gratitude for the contributions UUSS members have made to support the family, which includes four children. They live in Michigan.
- We extend our condolences to member Judy Moore on the death of her daughter Schell Shaughnessy, in October.
- We extend our condolences to member Maxine Cornwell on the loss of her younger brother, Richard Soash, a lifelong resident of Colorado.
- We extend our condolences to member Meg Burnett and her brother Tom on the unexpected passing of her older brother, Robert Burnett, in Michigan.
- We extend our condolences to members Karen Robison and Karl Bucholz on the loss of Karen’s younger brother, Alan Hegburg, in Washington, DC. Memorial contributions in Alan’s honor may be made to the Cure Alzheimer’s Fund.
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Communion Service ~ Sunday, Dec. 1, 3:30 p.m. ~ Fahs Room
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Bobbie Keill and Rev. Roger host this Communion for Peace and Justice on the first Sunday of Advent. We offer this in in memory of the life and the example of Jesus the prophet of peace. We welcome all who are respectfully curious or who are longing to participate in this celebration. The liturgy for the service was created by the Rev. Sharon Wylie of Chalice UU Congregation. There will be wine and grape juice, regular bread and a gluten-free alternative. This event will end around 4:15, giving time to get home to those who don't like to drive after dark.
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Vespers Service - "Finding Calm during the Holidays"
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Wednesday, December 11, 6:00-7:00 p.m. in the Main Hall. Please join Rev. Lucy and Frances Myers for a time of quiet reflection, candle light and music - an oasis of peacefulness in a season that can be chaotic.
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The first of the holidays is behind us and what a fun time! Halloween/Day of the Dead is such an interesting and active holiday. Trunk or Treat was quite the success with several of the neighborhood kids and congregational kids parading around in great costumes and picking up some fab candy! Thank you to the organizers and participants. I dare say a fun time was had by all!
Our Congregational Meeting hosted more than a quorum and provided a look at the nominated Community Partners. We experimented with a new process that made some folks happy and others not so happy. As with any new process, there are moments of satisfaction and then the bumps. It is recognized that some folks, although signed in and part of enabling us to meet the quorum, just cannot stay for the whole meeting, and we appreciate the effort. The Board is working on how we can accommodate the need for prospective Community Partners to be heard, and yet, keep the meeting to one hour. Respect for everyone’s time (Congregants, Community Partners) is at the forefront of our considerations. Look for more changes and know you will be informed of any changes to the process. Please feel free to send your thoughts our way. You can e-mail me at
president@uuss.org
.
Our Leadership Development focus group will begin with our first meeting on December 9. If you are interested in being part of this group, please let me know via
president@uuss.org
. In keeping with the process utilized in the development of the Strategic Plan, we welcome input from the Congregation. Next, it is time to put our Communications Task force together. Look for more information on that in the next Unigram.
My wish for everyone this holiday season is that you enjoy peacefulness, joyful times with family and friends, thoughts and prayers for our troubled world, and thankfulness for our community.
Warmly,
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Social Justice and Compassion Work
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Come to our card-writing event! Send holiday cards of compassion to help end the isolation of detained immigrants at Yuba County Jail. Sunday, December 1, 2019, in the Welcome Hall after the service.
There are more than 160 immigrants held by ICE in Marysville who will deeply appreciate receiving holiday cards. Faithful Friends (Amigos Fieles) offer connection and support through a visitation program. We invite you to join us in sending cards of compassion at this holiday season. We provide cards and stamps, and greatly appreciate your bringing some stamps if you can. For more information:
immigrantjustice@uuss.org
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Engaging with Sacramento County
December and January will be busy months for our Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice Committee!
Tuesday, December 17, 9:30 a.m.
is the tentative time for the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors to consider adopting the draft Environmental Justice Plan. You are welcome to join us as we advocate on behalf of West Arden Arcade and other Sacramento County Environmental Justice Communities. Supervisors meet at 701 H Street.
Wednesday, January 8, 7-8:30 p.m. UUSS Library.
Our Environmental Justice Committee meeting to plan the January events.
January 2020 date tba,
Sacramento County will hold an Environmental Justice Stakeholder meeting to hear from the community their implementation priorities for the next year.
This meeting is contingent upon the Board of Supervisors adopting the draft Environmental Justice Plan in December.
And, our new ACT Climate Change Sub-Committee is up and running! Please contact us if you are interested in working on climate change issues using a racial justice lens.
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Save the Date - Feb 16 - Professor Thomas Suchanek will speak on “Climate Change - Solutions for the Crisis.” He gave a wonderful talk in 2018 and we are pleased he’s presenting again with film, slides, updates and new solutions. ~Patricia Johnson, Chair, Earth Justice Ministry
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Community Partners Calendar for 2020
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UUSS gives half of the Sunday offering to a local not-for-profit organization. Members voting at the Oct. 20 Congregational Meeting considered 18 organizations which had been nominated to be our community partners in 2020. All had vigorous endorsements for their mission and good works, but these are the 12 that received the most votes in ranked-choice balloting. Some are new partners to UUSS and some are long-term partners. Thanks to everyone for making UUSS a generous congregation. This is the schedule for donations:
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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE)
Miranda Massa, RE Coordinator
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Religious Education at UUSS
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Thank you to all who contributed in another go-around with our
Religious Education program
. Here at UUSS, solid dedication pours into the spiritual growth of younger ones. We could not do it without you! I hope you look back at 2019 with a big ear-to-ear smile.
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RE Calendar
December 2019
Sunday, 12/1
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 RE
Sunday, 12/8
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 RE
- 11:30-1:00 Kid's Freedom Club
Sunday, 12/15
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 RE
- 12:00-2:00 OWL Orientation
Sunday, 12/22
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 All Ages
Sunday, 12/29
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 RE
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RE & our Yule Service
Music Director Keith Atwater reports: For the last three years we have had a special multi-generational Christmas song sung by our choir, some of our children and youth (and some of their parents!) and accompanied by our own UU ukuleles. We will continue that fun tradition again this year when we sing "Noel Sing Noel!" on December 22nd!
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Highlights to inspire you to come serve with us are: a new batch of RE Summer ArtWorks pop up art classes in summer 2020 – come play!
Chalice Camp
in July, continued
Our Whole Lives
programming (2020-21 RE year), exciting
Family Ministry Team
(FMT) events, and a first time playground blessing. Come help us unfold all we offer.
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-Sunday, December 22 is our service for all ages. No RE is scheduled.
-Looking ahead: Greta Gerwig’s new film
Little Women
movie date with Family Ministry Team and February 2 Family Ministry Team Soup Sunday to be on the same day as Valentine’s Drag Queen Storytime at UUSS.
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On Tuesday, December 3, the UUSS Book Readers will meet at 7:00 p.m. to decide what books to read in the first half of 2020. For more information, contact the UUSS Book Readers at
uureaders@uuss.org
or (916) 475-7269. All welcome!
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Visions of the Future: Science Fiction Films as Prophecy
Join us to watch “1984”
Sunday, December 8 at 1:00 in the Main Hall
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Science Fiction films are fun. They are also cautionary or optimistic predictions of our future. This monthly course will combine films and discussion to explore social and scientific trends that could bring profound changes to humanity and our planet.
Some of the issues to be explored include: Totalitarianism and Power, “Big Data” and Loss of Privacy, Inequality, Immigration and Diversity, Automation and Work, Artificial Intelligence, Virtual Reality, Genetic Engineering and Evolution, Human Longevity, Global Warming, and News and Propaganda. Each session will include a brief presentation about the issue to be explored, viewing of a selected film, and discussion.
There will be one session a month on the second Sunday of the month, starting at 1:00 PM in the sanctuary. The first meeting will be December 8th. It will include an overview of how science fiction films have evolved over time to address the issues of the day. The film for that day will be the 1956 version of “1984”, George Orwell’s classic tale of totalitarianism.
Come join us in the sanctuary for a big screen exploration of a future world that may be closer than you think.
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Second Tuesday Night of the Month
TED
Talk
Tuesday, December 10: “End of Life Care" 7:00 p.m. in the Welcome Hall
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Explore how our fears about dying and our hopes for an easy exit complicate and inspire end of life care. Molly Stuart will host, with two short films and group discussion. The films are
Living, Dying and the Problem with Hope
by Dr. Leslie Blackhall and
We need a heroic narrative for death
by Amanda Bennett.
For more information: Molly Stuart at (805) 669-8162.
Do you have a
TED
talk that you would like to share? Contact
TEDTalk@uuss.org
to find out how you can host one of these sessions.
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UU Theologies for the 21
st
Century
December 17, at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
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Online Zoom connection for 6:30 class is
www.uuss.org/zoom
. The Zoom room opens at 6:15.
Longing to deepen your understanding of UU theology? Want to strengthen your faith and develop resilience needed to engage in the challenges of our time?
Each month we offer a sermon on the theme with a corresponding class on the same topic. This is a drop-in class. You may attend any or all of the sessions which interest you. The class will take place every third Tuesday through June after the theme-based sermon and will address the same topic. Each class will include presentation, discussion and time for reflection.
December Theme:
What Good Is a Human Being? Human Nature in Unitarian Universalism
. Join Rev. Dr. Roger Jones for the third class in our monthly series.
Our grounding resource for the class is
House for Hope: The Promise of Progressive Religion for the Twenty-first Century,
by Rebecca Parker and John Buehrens. Copies are available in the UUSS bookstore. Please read Chapters 9 and 10 in preparation for the class in December.
Look for information at the Connections Table on Sunday and on the Adult Enrichment page at
http://www.uuss.org/adultenrichment/
. Let’s learn and grow together. We hope you can join us.
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Interplay comes to UUSS starting January 11
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Mark your calendars for the second Saturday of the month at 10:30 a.m.
Do you need more fun in your life? Longing to deepen your spiritual practices in a light-hearted and joyous way? Come join Rev. Lucy and others to learn the power of Interplay.
Through creativity and self-expression, learn to connect to your inner body wisdom, access your intuition, affirm yourself and experience community. At our monthly sessions we will share a delightful set of improvisational techniques and philosophical principles that use movement, spoken word, song, vocalization and stillness to bridge the gap between body, mind, heart and Spirit. Learn more about interplay at
interplay.org
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Sunday Morning Spiritual Practices
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1st Sunday – Labyrinth walk
in the meadow.
Come experience this ancient form of walking meditation. This session starts with an introduction to help you get the most out of your experience. Jerry Houseman and Rev. Lucy lead this session. Meet us at the Labyrinth.
2nd Sunday – QiGong & Tai Chi Chuan in the Fahs Room.
Join John Mac Millan and experience a taste of this transforming practice. All bodies and abilities welcome.
3rd Sunday –Mindfulness Practice in Room 6.
Join Ann Krosner for practices to cultivate awareness in daily life. All welcome, beginners and seasoned meditators alike.
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 thoughts with others.
Childcare available, no reservation needed. You can drop off your child in room 11 as early as 9:30 a.m.
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Exploring UUism:
The UU Principles & Sources of Our Tradition
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Sunday,
Nov. 17
at 9:45 a.m. in the Fahs Classroom.
This month’s topic: UU
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? (December 15)
- Social Justice: How Do We Live Our Values? (January 19)
- Survey of UU History (February 16)
- Principles and Sources of Our Tradition (March 15)
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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MORE THINGS TO KNOW AND DO
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Soup Sundays are an integral part of building community over a lovingly prepared homemade bowl of soup at UUSS. Come, come whoever you are and share in a bowl of good soup with others! A $5.00 donation goes to support the programs of the church.
Soup Sundays are planned on two Sundays each month. The Sundays are not consistent each month this year so be sure to watch the Blue Sheet for the next Soup Sunday date! December Soup Sundays are 12/8 and 12/15. December 8th soups are being made by Earth Justice & the Saturday Stitchers, and on December 15th the soups are being made by the Gardeners and a Ministry Circle.
Soup Sunday logistics have a lot of moving parts! The Soup Sunday team always welcomes additional volunteers to help with setting up, collecting donations, and providing assistance in the soup line when needed. We especially need help on December 8th and December 15th. Please contact
Bobbie Keill
or
Tracy Jones
.
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Alliance for All Program
Thursday, December 12, 2019
St. John's Program for Real Change
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10:45 a.m. Gathering in the Library
11:00 – 12:00 p.m. presentation
Speaker: Karen Edwards
Karen Edwards of St. John's Program for Real Change, one of UUSS's Community Partners, will speak about the programs and 300 volunteers that make St. John's effective in their service to others. The mission of Saint John's is to unleash the potential of women and children in crisis. Since 1985, they have served over 30,000 homeless women and children, providing mothers with the essential tools to rise out of poverty and homelessness. Over 12-18 months, they provide much more than shelter and meals; they provide holistic care, including mental health therapy, addiction counseling, high school diploma attainment courses, full-time transportation and childcare and employment training. All services are on-site and designed to centralize support, ensuring the much needed accountability, efficiency and coordination. St. John's continuum of care supports single-mother-led families as they work toward self-sustainability.
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Thank you to all who participated in the 2019 UUSS Arts & Crafts Marketplace (November 16). Enthusiastic shoppers and talented vendors contributed to a memorable Arts & Crafts Marketplace. Already inquiries are being received about the date and booth availability of next year’s event!
UUSS’s share of sales is
$1,870 in proceeds, plus an additional $160 from the sale of bagged Chalice Blend coffee.
Special thanks are extended to Tracy Jones and the UUSS Brew Crew (concession stand), Frances Myers (marketing), Meg Burnett (music), Jon Peterson (photography), John McMillan (banner sign), David Navarro (money counting), Michelle Ebler (UUSS accounting), Krystal Gollaher (facilities coordination), and Miguel Neri (event set-up).
Chair, 2019 Arts & Crafts Marketplace
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CUUPS Winter Solstice Ceremony
Saturday, December 21, 2019 ~ 1:00 – 4:00 p.m. in the Fahs Room
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Indoor labyrinth, ceremony, pot luck supper. Please bring a dish to share and anything you would like to put on the altar; and tell how you honor the darkness and light in your life. Drums and other instruments welcome. May sing pagan carols. Organizer:
Laurie Jones
(916) 716-2947.
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UUSS Service Auction: Save the Date! March 7, 2020
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Each year, UUSS holds a service auction that brings people together for a joyous evening and to raise money for the church. This year’s auction promises to be fun and fruitful for all who attend - be sure to get it on your calendar. Donations begin in early January, look for a notice with specifics. When the time comes to offer something up, remember that when you make a donation of a dinner, a hike, a sailing lesson, a movie night, a cooking lesson, you’ll be enhancing all our experiences here at UUSS. And the night of the auction, we can all gather for an evening of fun and food.
So put on your loving thinking caps and get ready to make a donation. Need ideas? Look at
last year’s auction catalog
. Watch the Ministerial Message and the Blue Sheet for additional information. Tickets for the dinner will be on sale starting mid-January.
This is always a fun event--perfect for any new members who can cozy up at a table and get to know others who are enjoying a brilliantly prepared meal together. Plan to get it on your calendar—March 7—and get ready for some fun.
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Volunteer Pastoral Visitors - Are You Interested?
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Do you have some time to listen? Our team meets with Rev. Roger for ongoing support of our ministry to visit UUSS members who can’t easily get to church or who appreciate the caring presence of a good listener from the congregation. Each volunteer makes one or two visits per month to one or more members in their homes or care facilities. Sometimes we make a telephone call to check in and let folks know we are thinking about them. At a future meeting we’ll have some continuing education on handling issues that arise in this ministry. If you’d like to apply to be part of this ministry team, please
e-mail Rev. Roger
. If you are—or know about—a member who is interested in having a regular visitor, please contact Rev. Roger or call the office.
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Awareness of the Impact of Scents & Fragrances
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Persons with chemical sensitivities can become physically ill from exposure to the scents or fragrances of some ingredients in personal care products. As part of keeping our congregation accessible to as many as possible, when you attend UUSS, please try to refrain from the use of perfume, cologne, after-shave, or hair-styling products that contain fragrances. By this compassionate act of restraint, you can help to ensure the health and well-being of all who wish to find community here. Thank you!
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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
December 25, Christmas Day
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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
David Harlow
Roger Olson
Marilyn Reynolds
Board meetings: 7:00 p.m., 4th Thursday of every month (changes in November & December)
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PROGRAM COUNCIL
Susan Davis
Michael Miller, Chair
Kathleen Olson
Lorri Reynard
Terrie Taylor
Margaret Wilcox
Program Council meetings: 7:00 p.m.,
3rd Thursday of every month.
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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 ~ Irina Tchantceva, Pianist
Shannon Ebler and Leticia Valdez, Childcare Providers
Miguel Neri - Friday to Sunday, Custodian
~ Gerald Worley - Sunday thru Thursday, Evening 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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