Weekly Message for UUSS
September 17, 2021
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Greetings-
Last Sunday was our annual ingathering service celebrating the beginning of the new church year. This is a tradition for our community and for many UU congregations. But like so many things in our lives, it wasn't the same as it has been in the past. Yet it was wonderful in its own way, in a new way, in an inclusive way. We came together as a community to celebrate where we have come and where we are going.
My heart was filled by the service, in particular with the participation in the water communion by both those in person and those on Zoom. After everyone in the sanctuary had poured their water into the container, we all turned our attention to the big screen, where we could see the faces and water pouring of those of us participating on Zoom. At that moment I thought - we made it, the love that binds our congregation is greater than separation, greater even than a pandemic.
Our Soul Matters theme this month is possibility and I am filled with excitement about the possibilities of what is to come for UUSS - what we can create together. It is my privilege to serve as your minister in these times. May we be blessed by the love that binds us and may it carry us forward into a bright future.
Sending love to all,
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What's New on Sunday Morning |
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Our services are now hybrid: both in person and on Zoom
This past Sunday, September 12th, we welcomed 100 people in the sanctuary and 150+ on Zoom. It is great to be together. Come as you are and however you can!
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Joys and Sorrows: If you would like to have joy, sorrow, concern, or milestone spoken aloud by a minister in Sunday’s prayer time, at this link you can find an easy form to fill out online. If we receive the request by 1:00 PM Saturday, we can mention it during the service. Of course, during the Sunday service the Chat in our Zoom space will still be open for posting words of joy, sorrow, appreciation, or prayer. But if you would like us to read it aloud, please use the online form in advance.
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Religious Education: To maximize accessibility and safety, this fall the RE classes will not take place during the service. Services are always open for all ages to attend in person.
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For kids from kindergarten to grade 5, Ms. Miranda will build community and learn from our kids with our new Soul Kids curriculum on Zoom from 9:00 till 10:00 a.m. Families, please email her at re@uuss.org for the link.
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Youth Groups: Both groups will start in October. For youth in grades 6-8, our Junior High Youth Group will take place twice a month in person, but outside, wearing masks. Starting Oct. 3, JHYG will take place before the service. Contact re@uuss.org or Rev. Roger.
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For youth in grades 9-12, our Senior High Youth group is a place of connection, mutual support, and exploration of our UU ethical and spiritual values as we engage with the challenges of our lives and our world. SHYG will meet twice a month at UUSS, but after the service. It will take place outside at a social distance, with lunch provided, starting Oct. 3. Contact re@uuss.org or Rev. Roger.
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Fellowship: After service, you can mingle with others under the new patio roof and learn about upcoming Adult Enrichment programs. If you are on Zoom on Sunday, be sure to stay for a Coffee Hub conversation with others!
Remember that services now start at 10:30 a.m. We look forward to connecting with you as a spiritual community. Thank you so much for your good will and kindness.
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Upcoming Sunday Services
Join us for Worship Services in person or on Zoom:
Service time 10:30 a.m..
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Our September Soul Matters Theme is Embracing Possibility
The Bookstore is now open before and after the service for books and bags of UUSS Chalice Blend Coffee; masks required.
Miss a service? You can find links to past services here.
Half of all offering donations made in September
will support our community partner:
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Sunday September 19, 10:30 AM:
The Possibility of Prayer
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch,
Worship Associate Ginny Johnson, Pianist Irina Tchantceva, Cellist Cynthia Davis, Music Director Anthony Tavianini
The word "prayer" means many things to different people both inside and outside a UU community. You don't have to hold a traditional God idea or use particular words to express the longing and hopes of your heart. In our September theme of embracing possibility, let's embrace the mystery of prayer as a possible source of grounding, grieving, waiting, hoping, celebrating, and greeting life with serenity, love, and courage.
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Sunday September 26, 10:30 AM:
What is Love Calling us to Do?
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Theo Claire, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
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We extend our condolences to our member Dirk Tuell on the loss of his father, Carl Tuell, in Spokane, Washington. Carl was 77 and had dementia. He was a veteran of the U.S. Air Force, serving stateside during the U.S. war in Vietnam. He worked as a body shop mechanic before becoming an entrepreneur. An avid Harley-Davidson biker, he turned his love of coffee stops into a business. He established one of the first drive-through coffee stands in Spokane. He ran Carl's Cappuccino for nearly 20 years. In lieu of flowers, Dirk welcomes memorial contributions to the Disabled American Veterans Charitable Services Trust, which is highly recommended by Charity Navigator.
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Fran Kennedy passed away Tuesday, Aug. 31, at age 81. Fran's memorial service will be held in person at UUSS (masks and early arrival for sign-in required) as well as livestreamed at uuss.org/online at 11:00 a.m. on Friday, Oct. 15. Read her obituary here.
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The memorial service for Daryl "Bud" Lembke will take place both online and in person at 2:00 p.m. Sunday, Sept. 19, at Mount Diablo UU Church, 55 Eckley Road, Walnut Creek. Register to attend on-campus: HERE. To watch the live stream of the 2:00 service, click here.
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Community Partner Nominations and Congregational Meeting |
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Each month, we give half of our Sunday offerings to a local non-profit. The congregation nominates and votes on which groups will become Community Partners for the upcoming year. Organizations must be nominated each year and must be aligned with the UUSS Strategic Plan. Please mark your calendars for the Congregational Meeting on October 24 at 11:45 and start thinking about which organizations you would like to nominate for the ballot. Deadline for nominations will be October 20 with the votes taking place online following the Congregational Meeting. --Anara Guard, Board of Trustees Secretary |
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Religious Education (RE) for
children and youth and families
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Religious Education: To maximize accessibility and safety, this fall the RE classes will not take place during the service. Services are always open for all ages to attend in person.
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For kids from kindergarten to grade 5, Ms. Miranda will build community and learn from our kids with our new Soul Kids curriculum on Zoom at 9:00 a.m. Families, please email her at re@uuss.org for the link.
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Youth Groups: Both groups will start in October. For youth in grades 6-8, our Junior High Youth Group will take place twice a month in person, but outside, wearing masks. Starting Oct. 3, JHYG will take place before the service. Contact re@uuss.org or Rev. Roger.
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For youth in grades 9-12, our Senior High Youth group is a place of connection, mutual support, and exploration of our UU ethical and spiritual values as we engage with the challenges of our lives and our world. SHYG will meet twice a month at UUSS, but after the service. It will take place outside at a social distance, with lunch provided, starting Oct. 3. Contact re@uuss.org or Rev. Roger.
To connect with our Religious Education Coordinator and for RE Zoom links, please contact Miranda at re@uuss.org.
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Groups, Gatherings, and Classes |
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Sunday Bookstore at UUSS -
Sunday before church and after church you can visit the UUSS Bookstore in our Library. Good values on great reads--$1.00, hardback or paper. Also: CDs by UUSS musicians, books by UUSS authors UUSS Chalice Blend Coffee. (No longer on Fridays.)
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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. Now meeting in person at UUSS!
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UUSS CUUPS for a virtual Autumn Equinox celebration Join us on Sunday, September 19 at 6:30 pm. This gathering celebrates abundance, thankfulness, balance, and planting seeds for the future! The service is through the main UUSS ZOOM channel. Email CUUPS@uuss.org for more information.
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Reading and Responding to Poetry with JoAnn Anglin. The 1st and 3rd Monday each month at 10:00am via Zoom link here. The next poem we will consider will be, "When Death Comes,” by the late Mary Oliver. It can be found, along with several other of her poems, at: https://www.bookbub.com/blog/best-mary-oliver-poems
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Monthly Unitarian Universalists for Justice in the Middle East ( UUJME ) meeting. 6:45 PM to 8:00 PM Monday, September 20. It will be a hybrid - both online or in person Room 7/8. Join Zoom link here.
We’ll discuss letter sent to President Biden, articles, panels, books, current events and plans for future activities. An agenda will be sent to our list. Please let us know if you want to be added. Contact: uujme@uuss.org
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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 Session - September 25
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Join the “Blossoms and Bushes"
Working and landscaping together for a welcoming home at UUSS!
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Join the campus beautification team with the new name: BLOSSOMS AND BUSHES. Select a planting area to
maintain monthly, pair up with others, bring your friends.
- Area by front handicap parking, Oregon grape, and trim bushes at end of walkway near Oak trees.
- Trim and weed Memorial Area by entrance.
- Weed Sierra Blvd. between Entrance and Service driveways.
- Weed Sierra Blvd. between Service driveway and Duplexes.
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Winter Garden Plots are now available. |
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Think chard, broccoli, carrots, lettuce, kale!
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UUSS Engaged with the Community |
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SANDWICH BRIGADE ONCE AGAIN |
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September's date for making and delivering lunches for unhoused folks are a LITTLE DIFFERENT:
Monday 9/20 is the 3rd Monday. Monday people, please bring them on that date.
Reminder: All lunches should include a PBJ sandwich, a fruit, a granola bar and a napkin. Water can be separate. Please label each lunchbag "PBJ". Please wrap sandwich in a ziplock type plastic bag as other types don't hold overnight as well.
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Help for Afghani Refugees |
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We are grateful that our Afghan friends are safely here, but we know you are grieving the losses and fearing for the safety of your families, friends, colleagues and other Afghans in this uncertain time of chaos and violence. Sacramento has the largest number of Afghan immigrants of any city in the nation, and we are proud to patronize our local Afghani businesses, to be connected to individual Afghan American families, and to be partners with local refugee resettlement organizations.
We have supported and worked most closely with International Rescue Committee of Northern California’s office here in Sacramento. They are swamped with logistics and other preparations for the arrival of 2,000 refugees in the next 12 months. They will have a clearer idea of how we can support them in a few weeks. The best way to support their work right now is to go to the IRC-Sacramento Wishlist on Amazon and buy Visa cards or Amazon gift cards. They aren’t ready to receive other items currently. For donating Amazon gift cards the email address to enter is VolunteerSacramento@rescue.org. You may also make a monetary donation to the Soft Landing Fund of IRC of Northern California; click the name to go to that site.
On our website you will find the above options and several other ways to provide financial support to organizations that resettle refugees and advocate for U.S. action to protect human rights and save lives.
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We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. |
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