| The Unigram Newsletter for October 2018 Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento |
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2425 Sierra Boulevard,
Sacramento, CA 95825
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Sunday Service Theme this Fall: Heritage & Legacy
September 30
Called to Beloved Community: The Sesquicentennial Sermon
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, President, Unitarian Universalist Association, with Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Celia Buckley,
Music Director Keith Atwater, and the UUSS Choir
The president of our religious denomination comes from Boston to celebrate 150 years of liberal religious community in Sacramento! Susan is the first woman elected as president of our religious denomination, and the youngest to serve since 1985. While serving the UU Congregation of Phoenix for eight years, she was a strong interfaith ally to activists of color in opposing the human rights abuses of Sheriff Joe Arpaio and getting him convicted. Come to hear Susan's charge to us at UUSS for the next 150 years, and especially for this crucial moment.
October 7
Gifts from My Ancestors
Rev. Lucy Bunch preaching, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, and Worship Associate Larry Boles, UUSS choir; Keith Atwater, Music Director; Celia Buckley, Guest Conductor, and Pianist Ina Jun
Inspired by our fall theme, Heritage & Legacy, this Sunday Rev. Lucy will share some stories about her ancestors and consider the gifts that we all receive from those who came before us.
Before church: Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45 a.m.: Labyrinth walking meditation in the back meadow (child care available).
After church: Our Sesquicentennial History Lecture by Prof. Nathan Hallam (funded by the Betty Ch'maj Fund) with lunch (chili prepared by UURSONG GARDEN team and the Spirit Play class, led by Glory Wicklund).
October 14
This Land Was Made for You and Me...?
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Ginny Johnson
Near Columbus Day, we consider the legacy of that encounter of Europeans and indigenous Americans, especially in this part of California. In curiosity, let's learn about the Nisenan people and other tribes of the Maidu language group who lived here -- and who still reside in this region. In humility, let's consider the impact of European white supremacy and its continuing effects on the culture and systems in which we live. As we seek "to be a force for healing," a first step is to understand and accept the history that has brought us to this moment.
Sunday Spiritual Practice at 9:45 a.m.: Introduction to Tai Chi and Qi Gong in the Fahs Classroom
Strategic Planning Goals and Objectives workshops after the service!
October 21 -
Congregational Meeting Day!
Finding Your Place and Leaving Your Mark
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones, preaching, with Worship Associate Frances Myers
As more families and individuals continue to seek a spiritual home and caring community among us, it's worth considering the precious gift of belonging. How do you find your place -- not only in a congregation, but in relationship to the world and the divine mystery of life.
How do you connect in ways that make life better for you?
How do you leave a legacy that makes you feel blessed to have lived in these times?
Exploring Unitarian Universalism at 9:30 a.m.: UU History in the Fahs Classroom
Sunday Spiritual Practice at 9:45 a.m.: Silent Sitting Meditation in Classroom 6
Congregational Business Meeting at 11:45 a.m. Child care continues until 1 p.m.
October 28
We Call our Beloved Dead: An All-Ages Service
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associates Jennifer Richard & Celia Buckey
Music Director Keith Atwater & the UUSS Choir; Ina Jun, piano, and Ross Hammond, guitar
In the spirit of the Mexican celebration of Day of the Dead, we come together in community to honor our loved ones who have died and whom we wish to remember and celebrate. We will read the roll call of names of those in our UUSS community who have died in the past year.
If you would like to have a picture of your beloved dead shared on the projection screen during the service, please send, scan, or bring a photo to the office by October 21.
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45 a.m.: Reading and reflection on poetry and prose in Classroom 6.
Newcomer Orientation and Tour 11:45 a.m.
Child care opens at 9 a.m. in Room 11 and continues until 1 p.m. for the Newcomers' Orientation and Tour. Strategic Planning Goals and Objectives workshops after the service!
November 4 -
Daylight Savings Time Ends: Fall Back one hour!
Falling Back and Failing Forward
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch; Worship Associate Larry Boles
Child Dedication Ritual during the service; contact Rev. Roger if interested
"Failing forward" is a term some activists use after a campaign doesn't quite make it. It implies that in the failure of a crucial effort, there may still be some gains or progress to recognize. Is this applicable in our own lives? Is it a helpful idea for children and the adults who care for them?
Or is failing forward really a way to stay in denial?
If you're not working today to Get Out the Vote, get yourself to church!
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practice at 9:45 a.m.: Labyrinth walking meditation in the back meadow
Soup Sunday: UUSS volunteer teams provide a wholesome selection of soups; $5 donation.
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Shared Offering Recipient this Month
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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 reflect our mission to be a force for healing in the world. In August, we contributed $2562
to Opening Doors.
Our October Sunday offerings will be shared with Wind Youth Services, which provides supportive services and opportunities to youth experiencing homelessness as they pursue self-determined lives of stability and independence. At the Oct. 21 Congregational Meeting we vote on 2019 recipients.
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Senior Minister's Message
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I was writing my sermon about our heritage of women. I thought about those we have known and loved as longtime UUSS members, and who are no longer with us. I saw the faces again of the ones I had interviewed about their experience in the Alliance or the church at large. I was missing them, when the phone rang.
The minister of the congregation I had served for a decade in Sunnyvale told me news of the passing of a dear member, who was in her 90s. Would I write a few of my memories and send them to be read at the memorial service?
I said yes, of course. Then my colleague told me of others who have passed away since my departure. It made me wistful. All those folks were full of life back when I was a new young minister. They loved their church, their friends, the arts, adventurous travelling afar, and hosting people at home. They were generous and kind. They cared about compassion, service, and justice, doing and giving as much as they could in order to make life better for others.
I don't know why I felt so sad. Each one of them was ready to go at the end of a good life, I learned. I hadn't seen them since I left that church in 2007, so it's not as if the separation is a new loss for me. Perhaps I had been imagining that all of those folks hadn't changed. They would be the same as they were in my fond memories. This must be the pain of impermanence, I realized. The suffering that comes from wanting to cling to that which changes. The pain of
holding on to what goes away and to people who go away and to those who pass away.
In thinking about what to say about this person's life, I recognized my sadness and accepted it. And I realized how my deep feelings also include love and gratitude. I realized I wouldn't feel this sad if I hadn't felt such depth, joy, and pleasure in the times I had shared with those who are now dead.
I could appreciate how we had blessed one another's lives. I am thankful. I could recognize that they had left this life with a legacy of love, gratitude, kindness and generosity. I miss them, yes, and I am so grateful for the good memories.
This all gives me new appreciation for what we do in this congregation. As people of all ages and stages of life, we come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. All that we do and all that we aspire to do as a religious community rests on that precious and primary gift:
we come together. I hope to see you soon.
Yours in faith,
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones, Senior Minister
PS - I'm grateful for the new opportunities we have to connect, learn, and share: Spiritually Mindful Parenting (September 27 to November 15), Senior Life Song (October 14-November 18), Transforming Our Losses (September 30). Check out the Sunday Connections Table!
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Where's Rev. Roger in October?
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I'll be at a court and clergy seminar all day October 11, missing our Alliance program! I'll be with REv. Lucy at the fall meeting of the Pacific Central UU Ministers Association October 16 to 18. I'm here every Sunday, but to have a good conversation, let's make an appointment! Office hours are Monday, Wednesday and Thursday afternoons. Sermon and study days are Fridays or Saturdays. Tuesday is my day off. I'd love to connect with you, so give me a call.
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Assistant Minister's Message:
A Chance to Make a Difference
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I am only one,
But still I am one.
I cannot do everything,
But still I can do something;
And because I cannot do everything,
I will not refuse to do the something that I can do.
Edward Everett Hale
Ever since the 2016 election I have been giving the same advice: 1) take care of your emotional and physical health; 2) engage politically; and 3) reach out to communities in need and do something to make a difference (local if possible). Many of you are doing all these things and had been doing them for years before the election. Others are on the path. Many of you are still struggling to find a way to make a difference. None of us has the luxury of indifference. Our country is in crisis and we need to make the most of the opportunities presented by the chaos. Our faith calls us to make a difference.
Into this challenge comes our Interfaith Earth Justice committee, sponsored by UUSS, but affiliated with Area Congregations Together, our Interfaith partner. I am in awe of this team. They have chosen to focus their efforts on issues of environmental justice in West Arden Arcade, a community just to the north and west of the church. You can read their article in the Justice and Compassion Work section of this newsletter.
Here is your chance to make a difference. On October 20, the Interfaith Earth Justice team is planning to canvass the West Arden Arcade area with the dual purpose of encouraging people to vote and learning more about the environmental issues they face. They want
you to join them. Don't worry - it's just the morning, you will be trained, you won't have to go alone, and you don't need to be an expert in anything to be successful. You will: be working with wonderful people, not just from our church, but from faiths; meet some of our neighbors; have your heart opened by hearing their stories; let them know that someone cares about them. You will be making a difference.
Here's your chance. I hope you will take it.
Sending love to all,
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Where's Rev. Lucy in October
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My regular office hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. Please call or e-mail if you want to visit so I can be sure to be available for you. I will be away October 15 to 26 for a ministers' retreat, training, and some R & R in Chicago. Let me know if you have ideas for what I should visit when I am there!
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Rehearsals are Wednesday night 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. in the Fahs classroom, all welcome, mid-August through May. We sing two Sundays a month in services. For more information, contact Music Director Keith Atwater at
choir@uuss.org.
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The Board of Trustees is looking forward to our annual Fall Congregational Meeting. Put the date on your calendars! The meeting will be held after the service on Sunday, October 21. This is a great opportunity to hear updates from our Ministers, including Rev. Lucy's well-deserved, planned sabbatical from January through March.
Our Board President and our Treasurer will give reports. We will have an update from the Endowment Trust. And we will select our Community Partners for 2019. These partners are the organizations that share our Sunday morning offering. Each of the 12 nonprofits that we select receives half of one month's offering during the year.
With the completion of our new Sexually Safer Congregation policy in August (see the policy on our website), Board members are now focusing on other policies that would help ensure our safety as a congregation. Thanks to the work of our UU Association on these key issues, we have excellent resources to guide us. Examples of policies that we anticipate developing include dealing with disruptive behavior, building security, financial safety, and active shooter and lockdown situations. We will be discussing prioritizing the development of these policies, and we look forward to selecting the small team that will write the next policy. If you have interest or expertise in any of these areas, please let me know with an e-mail to
president@uuss.org.
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Congregational Meeting, October 21
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The Congregational Meeting will be on Sunday, October 21, 2018, in the sanctuary immediately following the service. It is expected the meeting will be from 11:50 to 1:00 p.m. Child care will continue in Room 11. This annual business meeting requires a quorum of voting Members to conduct business, but friends are welcome to attend. Updates will be given by President Margaret Wilcox, Treasurer Victoria Owens, Ministers Roger Jones and Lucy Bunch, Long Range Planning, and other groups who perform the business of our congregation.
Members will vote to select 12 Community Partners for the 2019 church year. Each month, one of the 12 chosen agencies will receive half of that month's collection plate. Members of the Congregation may submit nominations for an agency they would like as a recipient of these monthly donations. All nominations will be placed on a ballot and voting will occur during the meeting. Congregants who nominate groups will have one strictly enforced minute at the meeting to explain their nominee's mission and why we should support it.
Members may download nomination forms by going onto the UUSS website, selecting "Members," and selecting "Forms" from the drop-down menu. Please submit your forms by Monday, October 8, to ensure your nominee is considered for nomination. If you have any questions, please contact
board@uuss.org
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Strategic Planning Event for All
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Save the Date! On Saturday, November 17, 9:00 a.m. to noon, the Strategic Planning Team is hosting an all-church event at UUSS to identify the actual, specific steps that we will take to accomplish our new Strategic Plan objectives. Bring your ideas and your wisdom to this highly interactive event. It's a chance for you to have a voice in determining how we will achieve the goals that most interest you. See the Plan that members adopted at the May 20 congregational meeting
at this link.
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UUSS Sesquincentennial Celebration Events:
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Pot of Gold this Saturday, Sept. 30
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To mark our 150
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anniversary, UUSS is hosting this year's regional conference on family ministry and religious education on Saturday, September 29. This is for current or possibly future volunteers, as well as lay leaders and parents - all who care about building a community across the generations. The morning keynote presentation is "Reimagining Sunday School." We have speakers and workshop leaders from near and far, child care included, breakfast snacks and coffee, plus lunch by Picnic, the new catering enterprise of Tiki Harlow. Contact
miranda@uuss.org
if you can help us in hosting. Read more and register by September 27
at this link
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Old-Fashioned Holiday Market
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You are most cordially invited to the Old-Fashioned Holiday Market on
Saturday, October 27, 10
a.m. to 1 p.m. at UUSS. UUSS members and friends will be selling handmade, handcrafted, and remarkably creative items. You will enjoy seeing (and buying) photographs and paintings, jewelry, purses, knitted apparel, wall hangings, leather items, wooden items, quilts, jellies and jams, toys, books, music CDs,
and much more. There will be refreshments for purchase and interesting people to talk with at no charge! Bring your shopping list, shopping bag, appetite, and wallet. A good time is eagerly anticipated by shoppers, browsers and vendors.
-Sandra Navarro, UUSS Sesquicentennial Task Force
UUSS AUTHORS FESTIVAL, November 18, 2018: Readers and writers especially invited to come hear authors -- members or friends of UUSS -- read short pieces from their work: memoirs, history, fiction, poetry. Meet the authors, learn about their writing processes, browse, buy, maybe win a book. Refreshments and door prizes. Contact Marilyn Reynolds,
mmreynolds@earthlink.net.
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"That year [1922] the Society membership did not increase, remaining at forty-seven. The Women's Alliance, in contrast, had discovered a unique role to play within the city which it supplied by presenting programs of literary, artistic and aesthetic merit open to the public upon purchase of a $1 membership yearly with the Alliance. Two-hundred and forty-one members were subscribed in 1923; fundraising activities of the Alliance brought in $868 for that year, enabling it to become a major contributor to this Society."
In Good Times and in Bad: The Story of Sacramento's Unitarians, 1868-1984, by Rodney Cobb and Irma West.
- Sandra Navarro, UUSS Sesquicentennial Task Force
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Completing our Anniversary Gifts Campaign this Sunday!
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This Sunday morning we hope to raise the remaining $62,000 to complete the Anniversary Gifts project. Contributions in all sizes have been arriving at UUSS: $50-$500-$1,500-$10,000-$15,000, and everywhere in between.
If you have not yet made an Anniversary Gift, please consider joining with us now as we mark this exciting milestone. If you already have contributed, please let your UUSS friends know how excited you are about this project-and about seeing it completed! Several early Anniversary Gift supporters recently have made an additional contribution. If you are able to join us by making your own additional gift, you will help to bring this project to completion.
Update:
1) We have replaced two rows of light poles in the main parking lot-to improve safety and visibility, and to give a bright welcome to all who come to UUSS for events after dark. When we saw that these replacements still di
 dn't provide enough light, we installed a new, additional row of lights. This has been a worthwhile investment.
2) We have contracted with a firm to design and build a pe
rmanent cover on the large patio. This will protect us from the hot sun, shield us from the rain, and add lots of gathering space for coffee hour crowds and special events. After our contractor guides the plan through the approval process of the County Planning Commission, they can begin installation. Then we'll announce a dedication ceremony.
3) We have raised contributions for more than half of our $200,000 goal.
If you have made a gift toward this project, thank you. Some of you have added to your original gift, bringing this campaign closer to completion. Some have more than doubled that gift. Thank you!
This outpouring of generosity is an exciting sign of gratitude and vitality at UUSS. Please give as generously as you can toward this goal. See you Sunday!
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Guest Speakers to Celebrate the 150th Anniversary
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Brian & Susan Frederick-Gray & son Henry
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Sunday, September 30:
Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray, President, UUA,
10:30 a.m. Sermon: "Called to Beloved Community"
A lifelong UU, Susan grew up near St. Louis. She earned a B.S. in molecular biology and worked for Monsanto before attending Harvard Divinity School. She served student ministries in Boston and Nashville and later as lead minister in Youngstown, Ohio, and Phoenix, Arizona. She was pivotal in establishing our denomination's 2010 General Assembly in Phoenix as a Justice GA, where 4,000 UUs protested the sweltering tent cities of Sheriff Joe Arpaio. Susan is noted as a strong, brave, and humble ally by many interfaith and grassroots leaders for social justice. She and her husband and son live in Massachusetts, though she lives a lot on the road! Susan last visited UUSS in 2016 as she began her campaign to be the first woman elected president of the Unitarian Universalist Association. She returns to help celebrate 150 years as a congregation. Come to hear Susan's charge to us at UUSS for the next 150 years, and especially for this crucial moment.
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Sunday, October 7:
Nathan Hallam, Ph.D., Sacramento State University
12:00 p.m. Lecture:
"The Places UUSS
Has
Called Home"
A Geographical and Political History of the Region
Come learn about where we've been and the shifts in political, ethnic, cultural, and financial dynamics of this region. Professor Hallam is an engaging speaker and an expert on local histories - and especially our local cities and counties. He teaches history at CSU Sacramento and is the Coordinator of the North Central Information Center, with archives and studies of counties in this area; it's affiliated with the California Office of Historic Preservation.
Light lunch at noon, lecture from 12:10 to 1:30 p.m. Donations welcome.
The lecture is funded by the Betty Ch'maj Events Fund at UUSS; Betty was a UUSS member and founder of American Studies at CSUS.
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Introducing the Family Ministry Team
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If you were one of the 200 who attended the welcome back barbecue and waterslide event after the Water Service on September 9, then you have seen the new Family Ministry Team in action. And if you did not attend that event, we hope you will come to one of our events in the coming months, maybe Apple Night, Friday, October 12.
The Family Ministry Team formed this summer to serve as the umbrella committee for ministry to families with children and for intergenerational programming at UUSS. This includes supporting children's religious education programming, parenting groups and classes, youth and children's groups (separate from RE or Sunday School), intergenerational activities, and the integration of children and youth in Sunday morning services. Our
Family Ministry Team mission is to promote family-friendly, church community events and support family-friendly programming throughout the year. This church year we are hosting a family-friendly event each month. We began in August by attending a River Cats baseball game, followed in September by the welcome back barbecue. Next month we are hosting an Apple Night on Friday, October 12, from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. at UUSS with apple pie and other desserts plus Apples to Apples and other games.
The Family Ministry Team is also focusing this year on supporting the new Junior and Senior High Youth Group as well as the parents of those youth who began meeting regularly last year to share the challenges and joys of parenting teens. The youth have played Monster Golf, had swim parties, kayaked on Lake Natoma, and just hung out. The parents have talked about parenting and talked some more about parenting.
Responding to the changing church culture, we are also working with our ministers and with Music Director Keith Atwater to integrate children and youth into our Sunday services. You may already have noticed some of our junior high youth participating in the Sunday morning services and heard the younger children making their own water art during the Water Service in early September.
Current Family Ministry Team members are Alecia Sanchez, Carrie Cornwell, David Richards, Julie Rinard, Kirsten Sanders, Kurt Sanders, and Shannon Williams. If you would like to join the team or join in any of the programs that we support, please e-mail us at
familyministry@uuss.org
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Justice and Compassion Work
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Join Interfaith Earth Justice to Help Get Out the Vote
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On Saturday, October 20, please join us to have first-hand experience with the diverse people in our neighborhood of West Arden Arcade. We will canvas with two purposes:
- Get out the vote and voter registration
- Listen to people's concerns about their community, especially related to environmental health
We will meet at UUSS at 9 a.m. for an hour of coffee, snacks, and training. We will learn about some of the specific environmental hazards facing the neighborhood we will canvas. Gabby Trejo, Executive Director of Sacramento ACT, will do a training on how to canvass, including some role playing, and answer any questions.
We'll take off to do our canvassing and return to UUSS for food and debriefing from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
In September, the Sacramento County Board of Supervisors designated West Arden-Arcade as an "Environmental Justice Community." An environmental justice community is one with high percentages of people of color, low-income residents and/or immigrant communities that experience high levels of environmental hazards and resulting health problems. Our Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice Committee's mission: "To promote Environmental Justice in Sacramento County through collaboration, advocacy, education, and direct action." We want to help raise the voices of the people in West Arden-Arcade by hearing their concerns and getting out the vote.
In addition to canvassing on October 20, we are talking with Black Child Legacy and faith leaders in West Arden Arcade to join with others to address environmental hazards in this area.
If you would like to know more about our Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice committee, feel free to talk with Hally Cahssai, Eric Ross, Ruth McDonald, Julie Snider, or Christine Bailey. Or come to our next meeting at UUSS on October 10 from 7 to 8:30 p.m. We've got a great group and our meetings are fun. Really!
Contact:
interfaithearth@uuss.org.
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Sunday,
October 14, after service, we are presenting the film
The Safe Side of the Fence.
World War II's Manhattan Project required the refinement of massive amounts of uranium, and St. Louis-based Mallinckrodt Chemical Works took on the job. As a result, the chemical company's employees would become some of the most contaminated nuclear workers in history. This documentary explores the legacy that St. Louis is still coping with, from workers who became ill to the challenges of dealing with the fallout of creating some of the world's first nuclear waste. The story is not unique to St. Louis, as more than 300 facilities across America would become part of the race to build the bomb and be forced to deal with many of the same issues. The film provides a detailed look into what some of the men and women went through inside these plants, and how decisions made in the past affect us all today.
Our own UUSS member, Tina Stidman, is knowledgeable about the subject as she lived near the Missouri plant. She will speak before the film. Please join us! Read about the documentary here.
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Showing Up for Racial Justice (SURJ):
The SURJ community meetings are held quarterly at UUSS. The next meeting will be Wednesday, October 24, with a newcomer orientation at 6:00 p.m. and the general meeting beginning at 6:30 p.m. Join a SURJ workgroup to stay involved in between these meetings. E-mail
surjsacramento@gmail.com
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Racial Justice Discussion Group (a continuation)
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This fall we will read
We Were Eight Years in Power
, by Ta-Nehisi Coates.
Join us alternate Wednesdays, starting October 3. Contact
racialjustice@uuss.org
for more information.
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Refugee Journey: Rescuing Lives
On October 3, 6 p.m., please join the International Rescue Committee (IRC), Amnesty International, and Doctors without Borders for a FREE film screening of Frontline Doctors: Winter Migrant Crisis followed by a cheese and wine reception in the courtyard at the 24th Street Theater/Sierra 2 Center.
International Rescue Forum:
The next Sacramento Refugee Forum will be held Tuesday, October 23
,
2:00 to 4:00 p.m. at UUSS. Lisa Welz from the Sacramento Office of IRC will lead this forum updating the public about refugee needs and services by the various not-for-profit and local government agencies.
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by Miranda Massa, RE Coordinator
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Fall Reflection
Life gets busy with the start of a new school year. Afternoon practices, team commitments, extracurricular activities, homework, and just about everything else. Monday through Friday becomes consumed quickly, we could all use time to recharge. How lucky we are for our time together on Sunday mornings. How very fortunate we are to have the Religious Education programming offered here at UUSS.
Thank you to each of you for being you.
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Children & Youth Light the Chalice
Every Sunday morning, children and youth are invited to light the chalice for our congregation. Sign up for a Sunday with Miranda or at the RE Welcome table. You will be asked to arrive by 10:15 am to practice and sit up front.
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Program Overview
Nursery care
: Open by 9:30 am every Sunday morning for little ones through preschool age. Kinder welcome if communicated with Miranda or nursery staff.
Spirit Play
: A volunteer pool of creative and passionate adults offer our Montessori based Spirit Play program every RE Sunday. A story and plenty of time to explore the story through artistic materials allows children in kinder through fifth grade to experience a variety of stories and experiences connecting to building their spiritual growth.
This year we will be working on "Heeding the Call: Qualities of a Justice Maker." As UUs, we are called to consider how to make the world a more just place. Grades 6-7-8 will develop the skills needed to live as UUs committed to social justice.
Our focus this year is "How do we live life." Grades 9-10-11-12 will talk about the importance of different relationships in our lives, explore where we want to invest this one lifetime that we have, and talk about tools and obstacles to being who we want to be. We'll also dip into "The Book of Joy" by the Dalai Lama and Archbishop Desmond Tutu.
PCD Fall Retreat for high school youth in Livermore: Friday, October 26, 2018 - 6:00 pm PDT to Sunday, October 28, 2018 - 12:00 pm PDT.
Registration information here.
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Spirit Play in the Kitchen -- Stay for Lunch Oct. 7
Each year the Spirit Play kids have been in the
UUSS Garden at the end of the summer season to celebrate harvest. This year, the kids are making vegetarian chili for the congregation's lunch on Sunday, October 7. The kids will get a lesson identifying various vegetables, make a pot of chili, and eat fresh baked cookies. The lunch is Spirit Play's contribution to the 150th Anniversary and in keeping with their tie-in to the Garden. Warm thanks to Glory Wicklund for her annual presence and care to our Spirit Play program.
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Nursery Playground Help!
Parents, we need your help. Which play structure would you like to see in the Nursery play yard? Once we get your feedback, and maybe thoughts from your children, we can move forward with inviting a new play structure into the outside area. I'd love to hear from you!
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Program Support
Want to get involved? Do you have a bit of time, a ton of passion, and energy that parallels the fabulous youth of congregation?! If you would like to help, email me today! Area of high need currently: staffing the RE Welcome Table on Sunday mornings and artistic people to create story sets for our Spirit Play program.
Want to Donate?
We could use the following for Spirit Play story set creations:
- Family figurines i.e. parents, little kid
- Little trees (plastic, clay, homemade)
- 3 feet of felt in the following colors: green, red, black, & blue
- Animal figurines i.e. dog, cat, bird, mice (small & large)
- Small wooden box
With gratitude,
-- Miranda
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Re: RE and Events!
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-Saturday, October 6, the Gen Y Group invites folks of all ages to come to Prom 2018!
-Sunday, October 7, Spirit Play will be in the kitchen for RE with Glory Wicklund.
-Friday, October 12 the Family Ministry Team is hosting an "Apple Night!"
-Sunday, October 21 Room 11 child care extended for the Congregational Meeting.
-Sunday, October 28 is our service for all ages. No RE is scheduled.
-Sunday, November 4,
Rev. Roger plans a Child Dedication Ritual for service, so do contact him.
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October Religious Education (RE) Calendar
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Sunday, October 7
9:30-12:00
Nursery Care in Room 11
10:30-11:30 Spirit Play in kitchen, JHYG & SHYG
Sunday, October 14
9:30-12:00
Nursery Care in Room 11
10:30-11:45 Spirit Play, JHYG & SHYG
Sunday, October 21
9:30-12:00
Nursery Care in Room 11
10:30-11:45 Spirit Play, JHYG & SHYG
Sunday, October 28
9:30-12:00 Nursery Care in Room 11
10:30-11:45 All Ages, no RE
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PROM 2018: Fall Fundraiser COMING SOON--October 6!
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Our UUSS Fall Fundraiser: PROM 2018 Through the Ages -
Saturday, October 6, from 6 to 10 p.m.
Hosted by the UUSS Gen Y group, this event is for everybody at UUSS. This is a social event for the whole church (kids too!) There will be plenty of
seating and tables, a dance floor for dancing, and kids' activities.
Some of the fun things planned:
- A photo booth where you can commemorate the event!
- A fun quirky raffle with silly prizes
- Fun dance music from every decade (request a song at uuss.org/songrequest)
- Dance contest to watch (or participate in!)
- Food and refreshments, including wine and beer
- A slideshow of UUSS members old high school photos!
- Activity area for kids with fun crafts
- An opportunity for fancy dress clothes! Or come casual!
Feel free to bring along any friends / family who would like a fun evening out.
There is no cost for admission but feel free to donate that evening toward the fundraiser.
Last year we had a slideshow of
people's old high school or dance pics ("Can you guess who that is?") - view it at
uuss.org/oldschool. We'd love more so send us yours at
prom@uuss.org or drop a photo off with Elaine at the office.
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Transforming Our Losses - Letting Go and Moving On - Sept. 30
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Grief and loss are natural parts of our daily lives. There are obvious losses like the death of a loved one, divorce, retirement or the loss of a job, or money. But there are also not so obvious losses like illness, moving, the loss of a dream, or losses related to our own aging. What normal inevitable losses are challenging you today? Our culture often teaches us to deny normal grieving of big or little losses. These repressed feelings can lead to a low grade depression, anxiety, and needless suffering. In this class, you will learn practical, mindfulness- or spiritual-based tools for transforming any loss for more peace, purpose, and passion. Pain is inevitable but suffering optional. You will learn the three stages of grieving any loss and the five powerful proven steps to transform your loss for more strength, growth, and resilience. Research shows us that we can truly grow older with grace and grit. Come and learn in a safe, private atmosphere these positive practices for letting go and moving on.
Your instructor, Richard Lui, M.S., is a licensed individual and couple counselor, and life coach with 38 years of experience seeing clients and teaching classes with these mindfulness tools for letting go. He is a co-author along with Jim Regan of
Radical Spiritual Adventures Everyday
. Richard has offices in Sacramento and Roseville. He believes that transforming any loss can lead to deep happiness and serenity.
Sunday, September 30, from 12:15 to 3:15 p.m. in the Fahs Room. The fee is $20 - a light lunch is provided. Sign up at the Adult Enrichment table on Sunday or contact Judy Bell at (916) 961-0316.
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Second Tuesday
TED Talk
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In this month's TED Talk:
A Different Dimension to Diversity When others see disease or disability, how do you find acceptance? Join us Tuesday October 9 at 7 PM in the Welcome Hall
For November our TED Talk theme is Dying Well. Is there a way to talk about death candidly, without fear ... and even with humor? How can we best prepare for it with those we love? Come explore this topic with us.
TED Talks are influential videos from expert speakers on education, business, science, technology, and creativity. We view and discuss several talks each month on a specific theme.
Do you have a TED Talk that you would like to share?
Contact
Rev. Lucy
to find out how you can host a session.
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Senior LifeSong Gatherings
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In
Senior LifeSong
, Cynthia Davis offers six gatherings: What Are your Core Beliefs, Values, and Spiritual Practices; Attitudes Towards Aging; Memories; Physical Changes of Aging; Loss and Loneliness; Making the Most of What You Have Left, Blessings and Laughter Lines.
Specifically designed for small groups, these worship services fulfill both the need for spiritual growth and the longing for community. Each service includes chalice lighting, singing, readings and sharing. This intimate format allows congregation members and friends to make lasting connections with each other, and emphasizes the concept that "honest, loving speaking and respectful, open listening make community."
Cynthia is a longtime UU but relatively new member of our congregation and a gerontologist. The classes are a six consecutive week series starting on Sunday, October 14, from 12 to 1:30 p.m. in the Fahs room. (The gathering will be at 1 p.m. Oct. 21 to allow for the Congregational Meeting after the service.)
The group will be closed after the first session. Sign up at the Adult Enrichment table on Sunday mornings or e-mail Cynthia at
cldavis56@gmail.com.
"When we offer others the gift of our presence, they open up the truths of their lives to us and in return, we also may speak our truth. This spirit of mutuality and reciprocity nurtures respect, safety, trust, and warm regard." - Rev. Barbara Hamilton-Holway
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Alliance for All on Oct. 11: Tanzania
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Thursday, October 11, Mary and Rich Howard will talk about their trip to Tanzania and the Serengeti Migration. They will show their lovely slides and help us explore their adventures. We meet at 10:45 AM until noon in the UUSS Library/Bookstore. Light refreshments are served. A $3 donation is appreciated.
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Book Readers Group
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On Tuesday, October 30, the UUSS Book Readers will meet at 7 p.m. in the Library to discuss
Manhattan Beach by Jennifer Egan. For more information, contact
Jim Glidden or (916) 649-9697.
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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 and go until 10:15 a.m. so you won't be late for the service.
Child care is available, no reservation needed. You can drop off your child in room 11 as early as 9:30.
Here's the line-up:
1st Sunday - Labyrinth walk in the back meadow.
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.
2nd Sunday - QiGong and Tai Chi Chuan in the Fahs Room
.
Join John MacMillan and experience a taste of this transforming practice.
3rd Sunday - Silent Meditation
inRoom 6
Need some silence 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
inRoom 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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Sunday, October 21, at 9:30 a.m. in the Fahs Classroom:
Survey of UU History
Join us every third Sunday of the month before the service, for Exploring Unitarian Universalism. Four different 45-minute sessions are offered consecutively:
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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UUSS Holiday Potluck Dinners
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Members and friends will gather at UUSS for dinners at 2:00 p.m. on Thanksgiving Day, Thursday, November 22, and at 2 p.m. on Christmas Day, Tuesday, December 25. These will be seeded (some dishes planned ahead) Potluck Dinners. Participants are asked to contribute $5 per adult and bring one potluck item. Sign up in the Welcome Hall in October/November for Thanksgiving and November/December for Christmas. We are hoping to set up on-line signups as well.
Volunteers are needed for both dinners. Organizer: Laurie Jones (916) 476-0149,
laurievaljo@gmail.com.
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Saturday, October 6, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., join UUSS CUUPS on a field trip to the 8th Annual
Alohafest at Cal Expo. Entry is free; parking is $10 there. Please join us to honor indigenous heritage from many Pacific Islands: hula, workshops, vendors, and food. Organizer: Laurie Jones (916) 476-0149.
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Ever wondered whether there were other UUSS members and friends living near you? Well, now you can find out! We have recently set up an interactive map on our website that will allow you to find anyone currently listed in our Member Directory. Just go to the 'Members' drop-down menu on the main page of the website, and then select 'Find Your UUSS Neighbors'. The direct link to the map is:
http://www.uuss.org/neighbors/
. (NOTE: This page is password protected, so is only available to members and friends. If you don't have the password, or have forgotten it, please contact our office.)
A small map will pop up with instructions on how to use it. Once you find your neighborhood, you can zoom in to see who might live nearby. You can then contact your UUSS neighbors to arrange a carpool to church, a UU Neighbor potluck, a group outing, or other activity or event.
This is a work in progress. Please take a look at the information displayed for yourself and your household, and let us know if there are any errors or omissions. There is no new information being presented here; the map is simply a tool to find the information already available in the Member Directory. However, if you DO NOT want your address displayed in this manner, please let us know.
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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.
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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. Aaron will be in possession of the phone Monday-Thursday 1:00 pm to 9:30pm and Miguel will be in possession on Friday nights and Saturday from 7:00-3:30pm.
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Serving Our Congregation
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UUSS OFFICERS & BOARD of TRUSTEES
Margaret Wilcox, President Denis Edgren,
Vice-President
Victoria Owens, Treasurer Sally White, Secretary
Kathy Bernard Carl Crain
David Harlow Joseph Turner
Roger Olson
Board meetings: 7:00 p.m., 4th Thursday of the month (exception on November 30)
Marian Ashe (Chairperson) Linda Roth
Patty Budding Tamara Olson
Michael Miller
Program
Council meetings: 7:00 p.m., 3rd Thursday of the month.
Ministers
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Senior Minister, and
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Assistant Minister
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 ~
Ina Jun
, Pianist
Shannon Ebler and Leticia Valdez, Childcare Providers
Aaron Molina - Sunday thru Thursday, Custodian
Miguel Neri - Friday to Sunday, Custodian
Ivan Caballero, Sunday Audio Tech
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