The Unigram
Newsletter for March 2020
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
2425 Sierra Boulevard, Sacramento, CA 95825
Office (916) 483-9283
|
|
March 1: Leading in Love: A Time to Thrive
|
|
Guest preacher Rev. Dr. Abhi Janamanchi, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones and Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Larry Boles, Music Director Keith Atwater, UUSS Choir, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
In these times of crisis and challenge, what is needed from values-based community like ours? Reflecting on our UU heritage and our current vitality as a religious movement, Rev. Janamanchi brings us a message of courage and creativity. (A profile about him appears later in this issue.) Come for great music and an inspiring message to launch our Spring Stewardship Campaign. This is the time when members, friends and supporters of UUSS make pledges toward the mission and ministries of UUSS for the next budget year.
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45 a.m.: Labyrinth walking meditation in the meadow
- Nursery Care 9:30 a.m. to 12:20
|
|
March 8: The Playful Spirit
Rev Lucy Bunch preaching, with Rev Dr Roger Jones; Worship Associate Celia Buckley; Pianist Irina Tchantceva
The wisest teachers among us know that playfulness is central to lightness of spirit and cultivation of joy. As we work to build our resilience for this time of transformation, let’s consider the importance of play in meeting the challenges of our lives.
March 15: Deliver Us from Evil
Rev Lucy Bunch preaching with Rev Dr. Roger Jones; Worship Associate Lindsay Mitchell Vayner; Music Director Keith Atwater; Pianist Irina Tchantceva
UUs have been criticized for not having a robust theology of evil. And yet there is much in our theology that speaks to this concept. In this 7th sermon of our series on UU Theology for the 21st Century, we will consider how to reframe our understanding and response to evil in our world. Come Tuesday at 2:00 or 6:30 p.m. for the companion class to this series.
- Exploring UUism at 9:30 a.m. in the Fahs Classroom
- Sunday Spiritual Practices, 9:45 a.m.: Mindfulness Practice with Ann Kronser, Room 6
- Child Care goes from 9:20 a.m. until noon today
March 22: For the Birds: A Service for All Ages
Rev Lucy Bunch and Rev Dr Roger Jones; Worship Associates Frances Myers and Molly Stuart; Music Director Keith Atwater ;Choir; Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Let’s all sing like the birdies sing! And dance and play and fly. Today we celebrate our fine feathered friends through music, movement, poetry and song. Kids are invited to help with collection of today’s offering. There is no Religious Education today, but the Room 11 Nursery is open 9:20 a.m. to noon.
- Sunday Spiritual Practices at 9:45 a.m.: Reading and Responding to Poetry
- Nursery Care 9:20 a.m. to noon
- Milestones—Joys and Sorrows Ritual takes place in today’s service
- Newcomers’ Orientation & Tour, 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.: starts in the Library/Bookstore
March 29: The Battle for Kindness: Saving the Spiritual Practice of Empathy
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch; Worship Associate Karen Sparrow, Music Director Keith Atwater; Pianist Irina Tchantceva
In these troubling times, to the list of threats and harms to the common good we can add a loss of common decency. Empathy is a crucial ingredient for humans to survive and thrive, but it’s under attack. The good news is that each of us can restore the practice of empathy to its rightful place. Join us today to share support, kindness and courage with one another.
Today is the 152nd anniversary of the founding of First Unitarian Church of Sacramento. It’s also the last Sunday of Stewardship Month, when members and friends make financial pledges to support the mission and ministries of UUSS for the next budget year.
- Fifth Sunday Forum: 9:30-10:10 a.m.: Q & A with a Minister! Rev. Lucy hosts.
- Nursery Care 9:20-1:15 p.m. so adults can attend events before & after service
- Milestones—Joys and Sorrows Ritual takes place in today’s service
|
|
Shared Offering Recipient:
Sacramento Family Promise
|
|
Every Sunday we give half the offering (i.e., donations not designated as pledge payments) to a local not-for-profit organization—one for each month of the year. In January, we contributed $3,160 to the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Our community partner in March is
Sacramento Family Promise
. This organization helps low-income families achieve lasting independence. The problem of poverty is complex. It won’t yield to a simple solution or a quick fix. It requires an integrated approach that begins with meeting immediate needs but reaches much further to help people achieve independence.
|
|
Rev. Roger’s Message:
A Time to Thrive: Leading in Love
|
|
March is Stewardship Season. It’s the month when we make our pledges of monetary support to UUSS for the next budget year. The Stewardship goal is an overall increase of 9.2% in pledges from the current year’s budget.
Reaching this goal will enable us to pay our staff members fairly, continue progress on the goals of our Strategic Plan, maintain our campus and pay down our mortgage. With a generous increase in giving, we can add two Sunday-morning positions for a Lead Advisor in each youth group at UUSS. This will provide continuity for our youth and support to our volunteers. In addition, we can set aside money now in order to fund a Ministerial Intern position every other year. Then well be a Teaching Congregation in the larger movement of Unitarian Universalism. It is time to thrive!
Financial generosity is a spiritual practice. It is also the foundation of a strong and healthy community. Generosity is about making our mission
thrive
. Every year, Lucy and I give at least 5% of our gross income to UUSS because we are committed to its mission and values. We give out of gratitude for your creativity, compassion, courage, and love. We are inspired by the ways you enable UUSS to Lead in Love. Thank you for your support, presence, and generosity.
In these times, the act of making a pledge to UUSS is more than a financial decision. It is an opportunity to consider how you will make a difference. Please know that your generosity will empower UUSS to thrive!
Wishing you serenity, wisdom and courage--
Rev. Dr. Roger D. Jones
PS— I hope you can attend our March 1 Stewardship Kickoff service. Enjoy our UUSS Choir and instrumentalists. Hear a special message from Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, Senior Minister of Cedar Lane UU Church. Our Stewardship Team will provide us with home-baked cookies, too!
|
|
Finding Rev. Roger in March
|
|
To have a good conversation, let’s make an appointment! We can find a time to 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. Friday and Saturday are days for writing or UUSS-related events. Monday is my day off. I’m here every Sunday but I’ll be away at my clergy study group’s annual retreat Tuesday-Thursday, March 3-5. Maybe I’ll see you at the Dinner & Service Auction March 7!
|
|
Rev. Lucy's Message:
Your Wild and Precious Life
|
|
The service on February 23 centered on a poem by Mary Oliver called The Summer Day. In the poem she asked, “Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?” I hope you had a chance to attend that service and hear 11 individuals from each of the decades of life (including one who is 101!) answer this question.
Life and death have been present for me in the past few weeks as I led or attended four memorial services. Two of those who died were in their 90s. Pete Larsen and Jean Hellmuth were both long time members of our congregation. UUs call our memorials “Celebration of Life” for it is with both joy and sadness that we celebrate their lives and the gifts that they offered the world. They both lived full lives.
I also attended the memorial for a friend and colleague from my time at UC Davis. Sandy died at age 75 – still with a zest for life. And lastly, I officiated at the funeral for Mario Salcido, husband of UUSS member William Hatrick. He was in his forties and coming into the fullness of life just as it was cut short. Both these individuals came to death while their lives were still flourishing.
These memorials give me much to contemplate. It is a healthy practice to contemplate death, not obsessively, but enough to make friends with it. We are all living and dying at the same time, and we never know when our time on earth will end.
I am not telling you this to be morbid. For me the loss of someone, especially those still in the prime of life, is a wake-up call. Am I living my life fully and authentically? Am I honoring this gift of life, a gift that not everyone gets to keep as long as others do? “Doesn’t everything die at last, and too soon? Tell me, what you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
Sending love to all,
|
|
Finding Rev. Lucy in March
|
|
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
.
|
|
Music Director's Message:
Another Farewell, with Deep Gratitude
|
|
After five wonderful, rewarding, delightful, productive, meaningful years as your Music Director, I shall retire on Father’s Day 2020. Serving you all has been a capstone of my 20 years of part-time (and briefly full-time) church music ministry in several Protestant denominations. Know too that no church music ministry has
ever
been “just a job.” I will miss you all deeply.
I'll be 'returning' to the foothills community I've called home for 29 years -- this time without the 80+ mile round trip to my college, our church, and the Sacramento Master Singers. Yes, I'm retiring from that amazing choral group as well. Many have wondered what I'll be doing. Musically, I'll be singing baritone in our local Cantare Chorale, starting a foothills community concert band, and strumming and singing seasonally in costume at local Gold Rush State Park and Gold Bug Mine venues. (Camp Norge campfires prepared me well for that!) I'll be volunteering in my local community (Lotus, Coloma, Placerville) at organizations dear to my heart: American River Conservancy, Peace and Justice, Human Rights, our local homeless dining hall, our library, and serving on my rural neighborhood homeowners' board.
Spiritually, I'll be taking a much-anticipated step when I return to Auburn UCC Congregational Church where I was music director, but now for the first time in any church as an active member.
Thank you for all you do and who you are. I'm singing our offertory response (a tune I composed for all of you!) as I share this news. "May the spirit of gratitude bless and multiply all that we have, all that we give, and all that we receive."
All welcome to join the weekly UUSS Choir rehearsal, Wednesdays from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., in the Fahs Classroom.
|
|
Appreciation for Keith Atwater from Rev. Lucy and Rev. Roger
|
|
We’re sad to say farewell to Keith but grateful for his very productive and musical five years with UUSS. Our music has grown in diversity and in depth, with many soloists and instrumentalists adding their gifts to Sunday worship—both from the congregation and the wider community. The wonderful UUSS Choir is larger and sings more often than when Keith began, and we have the occasional Chalice Singers too. Keith’s creativity and leadership are matched by his warm welcome to everyone, his deep caring, and his commitment to our mission and values. In the next several weeks we will draft a position description to advertise widely for applicants to interview. We will recruit a hiring team to represent UUSS leadership, singers and instrumentalists. With generous increases in pledges for 2020-21 we hope to add hours to the position and keep our music program growing and thriving. This spring we’ll honor Keith and thank him for his music ministry with us. If you’re interested in helping, please let
Rev. Lucy Bunch
know. You still have a few months to attend Wednesday choir rehearsals before Keith retires. All welcome!
|
|
Our Guest Speaker on March 1 - a Betty Ch'maj Event!
Rev. Dr. Abhi Janamanchi
|
|
We are pleased to welcome the return of Abhi Janamanchi to UUSS. He will lead a racial justice retreat February 29. He will also deliver an inspiring sermon on March 1 (come early to get a seat).
A native of India, he came to the U.S. in 1994 to attend Meadville Lombard Theological School in Chicago. Rev. Abhi is senior minister of Cedar Lane UU Church, Bethesda, MD (near Washington, DC). He has been a leader in our UU denomination and in interfaith justice work in the states where he has served congregations—Wisconsin, Florida, and Maryland. He also is a denominational ambassador to Unitarian churches in India.
Rev. Abhi first preached for us about Hinduism and UUism for our 150th Anniversary; find a
sermon recording at this link
. His wife, Lalitha, are the proud parents of two young adults, Abhimanyu and Yashashvi (pictured). Abihimanyu lives in LA and will be with his dad here.
Rev. Abhi’s visit is supported by a grant from the Dr. Betty Ch’maj Events Fund at UUSS, who died in 1997. Betty was the founding professor of the American Studies program at CSUS.
|
|
President's Message
Focus, Function, Future, Fun!
|
|
What a dynamic time in which we live! St. Patrick's Day is upon us and being a descendant of the Mahaney/Lynch clan, it is one of my favorite times to “wear the green!” Our Congregational Meeting is May 19
th
and will include the election of officers for the coming year. The UU General Assembly is June 24 to 28 in Rhode Island, and I plan on being there!
With so much to explore, one area I’m focused on is leading in a UU congregation. My leadership experience is corporate and community-based, making the UU experience a new and exciting exploration of possibilities. At every Sunday and at every committee meeting I attend, I am so motivated by the activity and dedication of congregants who are involved. It is inspiring to see the level of activity in this congregation, and I want to be the best leader possible. So, I am looking at the UU Centered Leadership Part 1 being offered online as one of my areas of information and support. It covers:
- how covenant is the center of UU faith
- how our congregational polity works
- how we can create strong, healthy communities
- a deeper understanding of being a committed member of our congregations and the wider UUA
- how being a member of a congregation is a "lab" for building a Beloved Community
It is clear to see that many of you are lifelong or long-term UU's with much more UU leadership experience, and I thank you all for the support you provide this congregation. There may be others in the congregation who, like me, are new to UU or those who are new to leadership. If that is so, and you are interested in playing a leadership role at UUSS, look at the UUA leadership development opportunities. In addition, your Leadership Task Force is working on developing a curriculum that will provide comfortable and informative training as a prospective lay leader here at UUSS. Be sure to stay tuned as we move forward.
Have a wonderful green month!
|
|
2020 Stewardship Campaign
Leading in Love: Time to Thrive
|
|
On Sunday, March 1 we kick off our annual stewardship campaign. Based on the financial commitments we make to UUSS during this campaign, the Board of Trustees can forecast the funding available for helping our vibrant spiritual community thrive and fulfill our recently adopted strategic plan. We, the members and friends of UUSS, are the sole source of revenues to support our wonderful ministers, hard-working staff, inspiring music, programs, grounds and facilities. To assure that we will have enough financial resources for fiscal year 2020-2021, the Trustees have set the goal for the Stewardship drive at $630,000.
Generosity is a value that is affirmed on Sundays and lived out daily at UUSS in many forms, from feeding the hungry to supporting refugees to actively engaging in environmental justice issues. We can reach our pledge goal with all of us committing to do our part. In recent weeks, we have been singing a new hymn by MaMuse, which inspired our theme for this year’s Stewardship Campaign:
It is Time Now
. Among the words are these:
It is time now, it is time now that we thrive
In this Great Turning we shall learn to lead in love.
In these challenging times, consider what your financial generosity can do to help our community
lead in love
and
thrive
, then make your pledge commitment based on that.
There will be volunteers at the Stewardship table in the Welcome Hall and outside to answer your questions. In addition, there will be a receptacle for dropping off the pledge forms. You may also mail them or deliver them to
Bookkeeper Michele Ebler
at the office. While you are at the table, look around to see all the activity on a Sunday morning as folks engage in living out our mission: We
together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.
If you have already pledged, thank you! If you haven’t, please take a moment to review this year's Stewardship brochure now arriving in your mailboxes and at our table in the Welcome Hall. Consider, what “leading in love” might mean for your financial commitment to UUSS. Then remember “It is Time NOW”—complete that pledge form and return it to UUSS! Thanks to the groundwork laid by past generosity, it is time for us to thrive together. In the words of Coretta Scott King: “
The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.
“
Rich Howard and Jim Eastman - Stewardship Co-Chairs
|
|
Eat
(well),
Play
(often),
Connect
(always)
March 7 Service Auction & Dinner
|
|
It’s here! The UUSS Auction
is Saturday, March 7. Doors open at 5 p.m. Bidding continues until tables close during the evening. Check out the
on-line catalog
before you arrive so you know where to place your bids and check
your calendar
before you bid on an auction event that occurs on a specific date!
Sunday, March 1
is the last opportunity to pre-bid before the night of the auction. You can find something that fits your budget and desire! Bidding will take place after church in the Fahs Room. Forgot your bid number? No problem. There will be auction consultants available to help you. If you’re particularly keen on some item, you can “Buy It Now” and be guaranteed a win!
While you’re bidding, don’t forget to buy tickets for the delicious dinner (veggie, vegan and gluten-free meals available) before they sell out. Tickets are $20. Kids 11 and younger: $5.
All donated raffle items can be left with Elaine in the office by Thursday, March 5. All raffle items should have the title and the donor’s name on them. Cakewalk desserts need to be at church by 5:00 on the day of the auction, Saturday.
After the Auction, you can access your winnings and see who won your donated item by going to
togetherauction.com/uuss
, log in (the pin is the last four digits of your phone number), and go to Statement.
Raffle
winners will be announced in two ways during the evening: Numbers will be drawn and
posted
for the first half; and numbers will be drawn and
announced
for the remainder of the raffle items. You must be present to win.
Winners of the silent auction items (and the “
buy it now
” option) will be contacted by e-mail within a week of the auction; and all winners will be posted by Sunday evening, March 8, on the
Auction site
.
Come support our biggest fundraiser of the year and enjoy the company of friendly, interesting people while you bid. Get ready for an evening of good food, lots of fun, and memorable connections. See you there!
|
|
Social Justice and Compassion Work
|
|
Interfaith Environmental Justice:
Transforming Our Community
|
|
We’ve completed our work on development of the Sacramento County Environmental Justice Plan and we’re deciding what to do next! Our UUSS-hosted Sacramento ACT Environmental Justice Committee works to organize and empower people to advocate for a more just, healthy environment. Our focus is communities of color that have experienced historical discrimination and divestment. To date, most of our work has been with our own neighborhood of West Arden Arcade.
Do you have ideas for West Arden Arcade or other Sacramento-area communities where inequities and injustice adversely affect the health and well-being of residents? If so, please talk with one of our team members, or come to our March 4 meeting in our UUSS Library from 6-8:30 p.m. Team members who would like to hear from you include Meg Gunderson, Frances Myers, Hally Cahssai, Rich Howard and Christine Bailey.
Our Climate Justice subcommittee would also like to hear from you. Please contact Ruth McDonald or Marion Randall if you are interested in their work. Currently, they are looking at a proposal for a California “Green New Deal.”
And, through our work we have learned of a grant opportunity to install an EV charging station at UUSS! Rich Howard is taking the lead on this and will work with our Administrative and Property Management Committee to develop a grant proposal for our Board’s consideration. Please join us in this work to transform our community – contact:
interfaithearth@uuss.org
|
|
How to Be an Antiracist
on Sale at UUSS Bookstore
|
|
The UUSS Bookstore now has copies of this bestselling and well-reviewed new book by Ibram X. Kendi, How to Be an Antiracist. He is 38 and a history professor at American University. His 2016 book, Stamped from the Beginning, won a National Book Award. Available on Sundays in our Library/Bookstore, this new book is $18, tax included. This book is recommended by Rev. Abhi Janamanchi, who led a retreat at UUSS on February 29.
|
|
Empty Bowls Fundraiser for River City Food Bank
|
|
Empty Bowls fundraiser Dinner and Lunch
: Another opportunity for UUSS to support the work of River City Food Bank (RCFB)! On March 16 and 17, RCFB will be holding the 17
th
annual Empty Bowls fundraising event. In addition to enjoying a delicious serving of soup donated by local restaurants, attendees will have the opportunity to pick out a bowl made by local potters and art students as part of the cost of the ticket. There are always hundreds of creative and colorful pottery and wood bowls to choose from. Both dinner and lunch will be held at the Sacramento Memorial Auditorium, 1515 J St.
“The funds raised at Empty Bowls provides critical support for the programs at RCFB and creates a positive effect all year long by serving thousands of men, women and children experiencing hunger. In 2019, RCFB served more than 205,000 individuals and the need continues to grow.”
Empty Bowls
started in 1990 when an art teacher in Michigan and his students decided to make bowls and hold a fundraiser to support local food programs. They served soup in the bowls they made, and attendees took their bowls home as a reminder that while their bowls are never empty, other people’s bowls are. From those humble beginnings, it has grown into a national and international movement. For more details and to purchase tickets,
www.rivercityfoodbank.ticketspice.com/eb2020
|
|
RELIGIOUS EDUCATION (RE)
Miranda Massa, RE Coordinator
|
|
|
|
Sunday, 3/1
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:00-11:45 RE
- OWL
- Youth Freedom Club
Sunday, 3/8
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:00-11:45 RE
- OWL
Sunday, 3/15
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:00-11:45 RE
- OWL
Sunday, 3/22
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:30-11:45 All Ages Service
Sunday, 3/29
- 9:30-12:00 Child care
- 10:00-11:45 RE
- OWL
|
|
|
March is not only for Spring but also Stewardship!
My colleagues and I strive to bring the best Sunday morning experiences. We plan, prepare, and implement procedures. We conduct active communication to keep our congregation lively and bustling with joy and action. Your completed pledge drive gives us the fuel to do so. Without your generous pledge, we would not be able to collectively serve you. Thank you, with all my heart, for lifting us up with your kindness. I invite you look around on a Sunday morning. Observe the kids and youth laughing, running, connecting. Such innocent happiness. Sunday mornings at UUSS surely shows folks living out our mission:
We come
together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.
--Miranda Massa
|
|
-Please sign up your child or youth family member to light the Flaming Chalice
here.
-Sunday, March 22 is our service for all ages on Birds. No RE is scheduled.
-Family Concert hosted by Family Ministry Team on March 29 at UUSS! For more information, please contact
familyministry@uuss.org.
-MARK YOUR CALENDAR: Chalice Camp - NEW Curriculum at UUSS! July 6-10, 2020.
|
|
Science Fiction as Prophecy: “Thirteenth Floor”
Sunday, March 8, 1:00 p.m., in the Library
|
|
Our Science Fiction as Prophecy series continues. This month’s issue is
virtual reality
, the use of computers and other devices to immerse us in a life-like simulation of an existing or imagined world.
This is a neo-noir science fiction crime thriller where a computer scientist running a virtual reality simulation of 1937 becomes the primary suspect when his colleague and mentor is murdered. Join us for popcorn and a fascinating journey between two realities, and the question of whether it is better to live in the real world or an illusion.
|
|
Interplay at UUSS
March 14, 10:30 a.m. to Noon and every 2nd Saturday
|
|
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
.
|
|
Death Positive Movie Series
Every Second Monday of the Month: March 9 at 6:00 p.m.
|
|
Learn about the green burial movement, an effort to preserve land and the environment, and create a meaningful tribute at end of life. Free at UUSS. One of a series of Death Positive movies shown every second Monday. For questions, contact Molly Stuart at (805) 669-8162.
|
|
Continuing Conversations about Death
|
|
Having trouble considering or articulating your plan for your end-of-life care? Watching your parents suffer bad outcomes? Want to support your adult children in being your advocate?
Work in thoughtful and practical ways to get what you want and methods to support your advocate -- and most of all to aspire to a meaningful and beautiful ending.
March 12, Thursday, 2 - 4 p.m., UUSS Library/Bookstore. For more information contact Molly Stuart, 805-669-8162 or Adult Enrichment staff after Sunday services.
|
|
On Tuesday, March 31, the UUSS Book Readers will meet at 7:00 P.M. in the Library/Bookstore to discuss Montana 1948 by Larry Watson. For more information, contact the UUSS Book Readers at
uureaders@uuss.org
or (916) 475-7269
|
|
Second Tuesday Night of the Month
TED
Talk
The Power of Vulnerability
|
|
March 10, 7 p.m., Welcome Hall
: Brené Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In her TED Talk, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.
Do you have a TED Talk that you would like to share? Email
TEDTalk@uuss.org
to find out how you can host one of these sessions.
|
|
UU Theologies for the 21
st
Century
March 17, at 2:00 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. (also available on Zoom)
And every third Tuesday through May
|
|
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? Eager to talk about religion and spirituality with fellow UU’s?
March theme: Evil
Join Rev Lucy for the seventh class in our monthly series.
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 the sessions which interest you. The class will take place after the theme-based sermon and address the same topic. Each class will include presentation, discussion and time for reflection.
Our grounding resource for the class will be
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 chapter 5 for the class
.
Zoom connection for 6:30 p.m. class is
https://zoom.us/j/9164839283
. The Zoom room opens at 6:15 p.m. Look for information at the Connections Table on Sunday and on the Adult Enrichment page at
www.UUSS.org
. Let’s learn and grow together. Join us!
|
|
Sunday Morning Spiritual Practices
|
|
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 Practices 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 9:20 a.m.
|
|
Exploring UUism:
The UU Principles & Sources of Our Tradition
|
|
Sunday, March 15 at 9:45 a.m. in the Fahs Classroom.
This month’s topic:
Principles and Sources of Our Tradition
. Join us the third Sunday of every month before the service for Exploring Unitarian Universalism. There are four 45-minute sessions offered consecutively.
- Principles and Sources of Our Tradition (March 15)
- Faith: What Does It Mean to a UU? (April 19)
- Social Justice: How Do We Live Our Values? (May 17)
- Survey of UU History (June 21)
Both newcomers and longtime members are welcome. Each class includes some presentation, sharing by current members, and opportunity for small group discussion.
|
|
MORE THINGS TO KNOW AND DO
|
|
Alliance for All Program
iPad Art Demo & Documentary Screening
|
|
Renowned Sacramento artist, Anthony Montanino, and documentary film maker, Catherine O’Brien will provide an entertaining visual program
Thursday, March 12 ,10:45 a.m. – Noon.
Montanino will demonstrate his technique of painting with his fingers on his iPad using the Brushes app. O’Brien, an award-winning documentarian, will then screen
It All Started with Mom
, her funny and touching 24-minute film featuring Montanino’s iPad animations. The Film:
The agony and ecstasy of dating
is examined through the perspectives of six women in the filmmaker’s family. With an age range of 70 years, their experiences are as varied – and amusing – as they themselves are. iPad animations illustrate the humor.
Anthony Montanino is a life-long, award-winning oil and water-color painter whose landscapes depict a strong sense of place and his figuratives a strong sense of character. His work is in many private and public domestic and international collections. He paints nearly every day in the field or in his studio. He discovered digital painting in 2010 with the release of the first iPad. He teaches iPainting at the Crocker Art Museum.
Catherine O'Brien retired from a two-decade career as Director of Stanford University’s television studio where she produced countless videos including Stanford’s NCAA commercials. She began her career in 1976 as co-host of an evening magazine on KVIE, Sacramento’s PBS station and founded Presto! Productions. Her personal documentary about dating,
It All Started with Mom
, was featured on PBS stations and in various film festivals.
Preview
It All Started with Mom
on YouTube
|
|
What Do You Call 4,000 UUs under one Roof?
General Assembly in June!
|
|
Every June ministers and lay delegates from most of our 1,000 UU congregations in the US gather to conduct the business of our denomination, the Unitarian Universalist Association. We also hear amazing lecturers, preachers and musicians, learn new insights and skills for congregational life, engage in a local social action or service project, browse the UUA Bookstore, sing, dance, and make new friends. You don’t have to be a voting delegate to attend, but you might enjoy serving UUSS in that way. GA is in Providence, Rhode Island, June 24-28. GA registration is open now! Hotel listings open March 1. The sooner you sign up, the lower the fee and the better your options for lodging. See
www.uua.org/ga
.
|
|
Sacramento Master Singers March Concert
Songs in the Key of Life
|
|
Come join Rev Lucy, Keith Atwater, Celia Buckley Michele Dunnaway and the rest of the the Sacramento Master Singers as they present their March concert
Songs in the Key of Life
at the fabulous new Sofia Tsakopoulos Center in midtown.
We will hsare the stage with professional soloists mezzo soprano Buffy Baggott and baritone Omari Tau and a 14 instrumentalists. You'll hear
Dancing with Creation
by Ron Kean, a new work commissioned by the Sacramento Master Singers along with Robert S. Cohen’s work
Alzheimer’s Stories
. The piece is a poignant, hopeful, and at times humorous look at the experiences of people affected by Alzheimer’s and of the caregivers and loved ones who surround them.
|
|
Concert Dates:
Saturday, March 14 at 7 p.m.
Sunday, March 15 at 3 p.m.
|
|
|
CUUPs Celebrates the Spring Equinox
|
|
UUSS CUUPs will hold an open Spring Equinox with indoor labyrinth, ritual and potluck supper (bring a dish to share), calling directions, discussion, goddess chants, bring drums. Come celebrate the fertility of life and the mind on Sunday, March 22, 2:00 - 5:00 p.m.
Contact:
Laurie Jones
|
|
WHO WE ARE AND WHERE TO FIND US
|
|
The
UUSS Office
is open Monday thru Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
OFFICE CLOSED
March 30 for Cesar Chavez Day
|
|
Are you having an event at UUSS, and need to find a custodian ASAP? You're in luck! Custodians have a direct number
916-215-0658
.
|
|
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
Hally Cahssai
Board meetings: 7:00 p.m., 4th Thursday of every month (changes in November & December)
|
|
PROGRAM COUNCIL
Susan Davis
Kathleen Olson
Lorri Reynard
Terrie Taylor
Margaret Wilcox
Claudia Desmangles
Program Council meetings: 7:00 p.m.,
3rd Thursday of every month.
|
|
|
Ministers
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones & Rev. Lucy Bunch
Rev. Douglas Kraft, Minister Emeritus
Church Staff Members
Krystal Gollaher, Administrative and Facilities Coordinator
Michele Ebler, Bookkeeper ~ Elaine Cooper, Receptionist
Miranda Massa, Religious Education Coordinator
Keith Atwater, Music Director ~ Irina Tchantceva, Pianist
Shannon Ebler and Leticia Valdez, Childcare Providers
Miguel Neri - Friday to Sunday, Custodian
~ Jesus Hoyos - Sunday thru Thursday, Evening Custodian
Ivan Caballero, Sunday Audio Tech ~ Dirk Tuell, Web Master/Tech Support
|
|
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento, 2425 Sierra Blvd, Sacramento, CA 95825
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
