Weekly Message for UUSS
May 14, 2021
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Dear Families, Friends, Members and Guests--
Greetings to you. I hope you are doing well. I look forward to seeing many of you at the Congregational Business Meeting on Zoom this Sunday and of course to seeing those of you who attend Sunday morning and Tuesday evening services. Thanks to our elected Board, Program Council, Endowment Trustees, and Nominating Committee for their service and to those who accepted nomination for election this year. Thanks to Stewardship and Finance committees plus our Treasurer and staff whose work has resulted in the budget proposal for the upcoming new fiscal year. Thanks to all the conversations hosted by the Racial Justice team--to deepen our own understanding of systemic racism and our understanding of the UUSS Resolution in support of the Eighth Principle of Unitarian Universalism. Everyone is welcome at this meeting, but we do need a quorum of our voting Members to conduct business.
Speaking of business-- the General Assembly of our denomination, the UUA, will take place again on Zoom this year, June 23-26. In addition to electing UUA trustees and officers and other UUA business, there will be several great lectures, inspiring worship services and concerts, and useful, interesting workshops to enrich our lives as a UU congregation and as individual UUs. If you are interested, please read more about it at the GA registration site at this link. Anonymous donors here at UUSS have offered to cover the registration cost of GA for a number of first-time GA attendees to be delegates from UUSS. Let me know if you are interested in attending.
Please take a look at all that our congregation is involved in during these times and please know you are invited to participate as you are so moved and available. Take good care.
Keep the faith and keep in touch!
Love,
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Join Our Services
May Soul Matters Theme--Story
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Join us for Worship Services:
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ~ Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
For a full list of May services check here.
Miss a service? You can find links to past services here.
Half of all offering donations made in May
will support our community partner:
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Sunday May 16, 11 AM:
Healing our Bodies, Healing the World
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Theo Claire, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Its been a rough year and we all have endured various forms of trauma – whether large or small.
This Sunday we will explore trauma through the lens of the book, My Grandmother's Hands by Ressmaa Menakem. We will reflect on how trauma lives in our bodies and how attention to healing this trauma is critical for healing our world.
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Tuesday May 18, 7 PM: Science as a Source of Spiritual Inspiration
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Frances Myers, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Science and spirituality are both about exploring life's biggest mysteries -- the how and the why of our existence, our interconnections, and our encounter with the universe.
Both provide stories of wonder and connection to enrich our lives. Come encounter the mystery with us tonight.
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Sunday May 23, 11 AM: Stories that Won’t Let You Go: The Parables of Jesus of Nazareth
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch,
Worship Associate Jed Shapiro, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
As the teaching tools of Jesus, an ancient Jewish prophet, his parables have inspired artists from all cultures and faiths over the centuries. These brief stories remain perplexing, annoying, and even absurd in our own day. Maybe that’s why they are unforgettable. Come take a new look at old stories.
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Tuesday May 25, 7 PM: Wonder Women in our Lives
Worship Leaders Suzy Mazarolle and Karen Sparrow, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Join us as we explore the stories of women who have inspired us on our journey from childhood, into adulthood and old age. So many amazing stories. We hope you’ll share your heroines with us too.
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Soul Matters Theme for May: Story |
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What does is mean to be a people of story? We will explore story this month in our worship services, Soul Matters small groups, Wellspring Wednesday and Sprit Play sessions. Stories can shape our lives, inspire us, and sometimes control our lives, indeed, our stories often write us as much as we write them. Join us on the journey of discovery this month. You can find materials for individual reflection on this theme on our soul matters page. |
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Congregational Meeting this Sunday |
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Our Stewardship Drive Is Closing |
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If you have not submitted your 2021-22 pledge, please get in touch with us, even if you're pledging the same amount and frequency as last year, or if you're making automatic bank payments, or if you're not be able to make a pledge this year. Please let us know!
You can indicate your intentions online at uuss.org/pledge, or email our bookkeeper Michele at michele@uuss.org, or phone the office to reach her. Thank you for your support!
Have questions about Stewardship? Contact Jim Eastman, our Stewardship Committee Chair, at stewardship@uuss.org. Every pledge of support is valued and appreciated.
We are moving forward to better days... together!
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Join us for Wellspring Wednesday
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Wellspring Wednesday
Each Wednesday your ministers host a gathering called Wellspring Wednesday. Each week of the month will focus on a specific theme. Join us for discussion, connection and learning together.
Third Wednesday: Minister's Class on Theologies
May 19: Salvation- What's in it for you? Rev. Lucy hosts.
Fourth Wednesday: Exploring UUism -- rotating topics about Unitarian Universalism!
May 26: Social Justice: How do we Live our Values, Karen Gunderson leading.
First Wednesday: Soul Matters Theme of the Month
June 2: "Play" with Rev. Lucy
Second Wednesday: Life Stories of our Elders
June 9: Rev. Roger hosts a conversation with one of our amazing members.
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Virtual Religious Education for
children and youth
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Zoom to Spirit Play Sunday morning 9:30 a.m. for grades K-5. Join Ms. Leticia and our inspired young UUs this Sunday morning for a time of Wondering together. Get links here. NOTE: May 23 is the last day for the regular schedule for Spirit Play this church year.
UU Kids Playing Minecraft Minecraft is a sandbox video game popular with several kids and youth. Thanks to parent volunteers, we're trying it out on Saturday mornings. In this game, players explore a blocky, procedurally-generated 3D world with infinite terrain, and may discover and extract raw materials, craft tools and items, and build structures or earthworks. For kids, youth and their parents. Please contact RE Coordinator Miranda to get the Zoom links.
Save the Date: At our 11:00 am service on Sunday, June 6, we will recognize graduating high school seniors from UUSS families. Please be in touch with Rev. Roger ASAP!
Reminder to families: Sign up here to be featured in a Sunday service to do the official rituals of Chalice Lighting and Extinguishing.
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Groups, Gatherings, and Classes |
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Friday Morning Bookstore Hours at UUSS
A masked volunteer staffs our Bookstore every Friday from 9:00-12:00. Sign up for a private shopping shift by contacting the Office by email or (916) 483-9283; wear a mask and bring a bag for good values on great reads--$1.00, hardback or paper. Also: CDs by UUSS musicians, books by UUSS authors UUSS Chalice Blend Coffee. Donations of new books are not yet being accepted.
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Ted's Web
Every Tuesday at 10:00 a.m. join the group for a discussion of the politics of the day. Named in honor of our late Minister Emeritus, Rev. Theodore Webb. Zoom Link.
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Reading & Reflecting on Poetry with JoAnn Anglin
Monday, May 17, 10:00a.m. at this zoom link. 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month. Our next poem to consider is Things We Carry on the Sea, by Wang Ping, and it is one way to look at the refugee experience. Her poem can be found online here.
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Racial Justice Conversations
New persons are always welcome at our ongoing explorations. Our next Monday conversation theme is Immigration: The Impact of Racism on US Immigration Past and Present
Click here for the resources to review before our discussion.
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InterPlay led by Rev. Lucy and Friends takes place on the 2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month, 10:30 to noon.) InterPlay is a series of forms that combine movement, storytelling, stillness, and sound to access your body wisdom. Take an opportunity to tune in, connect with others, give yourself moments of ease and be playful! If you are looking for a way to have fun and insights all at once, come join us! Link here. Learn more about Interplay here. Next meeting is on May 22.
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UUSS Engaged with the Community |
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Diaper Drive 2021
We Broke all Records…a phenomenal success!
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Thank you, everyone! Because of your generosity we collected over 11,000 diapers and lots and lots of wipes! The bar has been set pretty high for the next diaper drive! River City Food Bank sent a truck on Wednesday to pick them all up. They expressed their deep gratitude to all who participated, noting that more than half of the people RCFB serves at its Arden Arcade site are children. Diapers and wipes are not covered by CalFresh food stamps or other government programs for low-income families. Pictured is Rev. Roger as our donations were being loaded into the RCFB's truck.
The Saturday Diaper Drive-through was lots of fun with lots of people dropping of diapers, enjoying a tour or a stroll around the grounds, and connecting with one another. So good to be able to greet people in person again…of course, with masks and social distancing.
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SANDWICH BRIGADE UPDATE. PLEASE READ
NEW INFORMATION ABOUT DELIVERY
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Sandwiches made with love for unhousedd neighbors in our area.
Bring sandwiches to UUSS Monday & Wednesday, May 17 & 19, by 10:00 am (this is a new time)
NEW LUNCHBAG CONTENTS INSTRUCTION:
1. 15 PB & J sandwiches
2. PLEASE ADD: bottle of water, granola bar and a fruit, and a napkin
3. WRITE ON BAG: TYPE OF SANDWICH (e.g., PB&J)
4. LEAVE LUNCH BAGS OPEN AT TOP
NEW INFORMATION: I will deliver 150 sandwiches to Bayside Midtown Church at 1900 V Street in Sacramento and I need to be there by 10:30. Thanks for understanding this new change. If adding in the extras is too expensive for you, please let me know and I’ll solve the issue another way. Thanks! If you have questions, please email Sally Wilkins
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We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. |
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