Weekly Message for UUSS
June 25, 2021
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Greetings friends,
This past Tuesday was our last evening vespers service. We ended it after 63 weeks. I remember when Rev. Roger and I were sitting in the Welcome Hall after the first Sunday Zoom service in March 2020, still in a bit of shock for how quickly things had shut down. We were considering how we were going to keep people connected during the shutdown and the idea for a mid-week service came up. That would be good we thought, we can handle two services a week for a few months. Little did we know that the pandemic would last this long, and we would still be offering the vespers service fifteen months later!
Our Soul Matters groups are ending as well. Over 100 people participated in those groups, building community and connections that will last far longer than this pandemic time. We will form new groups beginning this fall, so you can look forward to participating.
It is time for these activities to end to make room from what is to come. The virus is retreating, and the world is opening. However, we are still in a between time – not quite out of the pandemic but not quite shifted into what is to come. Getting back to normal life, but not quite – and then of course there is the question – what is normal life?
These are challenging times, simply because we are entering into something new, and unfamiliar and yet at the same time familiar. These changes bring up a lot of feelings – anxiety, excitement, concern, joy, frustration – I am sure you can name a few more.
We are in a period of discovery. What will our lives be like going forward? What will we leave behind? What will we carryforward and what will be discovered in the future?
Many of you are anxious to return to Sunday morning services in our sanctuary. And you will soon get your wish. Next month we will begin broadcasting our services from the sanctuary and will invite a small “studio audience” to be in attendance. Once we have had a few weeks of practice delivering hybrid services (for both the Zoom crowd and in-person) we will open our space to a larger number. Stay tuned for information about how to sign up to attend a of the service in July or August. The goal is for all of us to be back together in September.
In the meantime, there are many ways you can gather with other UUSS folks. We are having campus clean-up days on July 1st and 29th. See the information below. You can join the team that cleans up the UU mile on the American River Parkway on the second Saturday of each month. If you like political discussion, join our Ted's Webb group on Tuesday mornings in the welcome hall. Interplay will start meeting in person next month. And please mark your calendars for the all-church gathering on July 31 in the afternoon. We will come together to dedicate our patio cover, play some games, and reunite with one another. I can’t wait to be with you.
Sending love to all,
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Join Our Services
June Soul Matters Theme--Play
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Join us for Worship Services:
All Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ~ Tuesday, June 22, at 7:00 p.m.
For a full list of June services check here.
Miss a service? You can find links to past services here.
Half of all offering donations made in June
will support our community partner:
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Sunday June 27, 11 AM: "Worship at UU General Assembly: Circle ‘round for Justice, Healing, Courage"
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Rev. Roger Jones,
UUA President Rev. Susan Frederick-Gray and a Cast of Thousands
This is the closing worship for General Assembly, the international gathering of Unitarian Universalists, this year meeting virtually. We will join with congregations around the country and beyond—and at least four thousand other UUs who are attending GA. The service will be led by clergy of the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis. Zoom into our space for a UUSS welcome, and we will link you into the service that is part of our annual gathering of UUs. We return for our Coffee Hub afterwards for discussion and connection. Don't miss it.
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Sunday July 4, 11AM: "Independence and Vigilance"
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Karen Sparrow, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
To affirm and promote the democratic process is one of our UU Principles. As we say in Religious Education, all people deserve a vote about things that concern us.
Yet access to voting is under attack by state legislation around the nation, aimed especially at citizens of color. As we celebrate Independence Day, let's see what we can do to keep freedom ringing!
Today is our first service to be broadcast on Zoom from the sanctuary, with the worship team in the same room! We are learning as we go, and soon we plan to welcome studio audiences for the summer services as we hope for a full opening in the fall!
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Join us for Wellspring Wednesday Conversations
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Wellspring Wednesday
Every Wednesday your ministers host a gathering for conversation and community-building. Each week of the month will focus on a specific theme. Join us for discussion, connection and learning together. All welcome!
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Fifth Wednesday
June 30: Bonus session with Rev. Roger
First Wednesday:
July 7: Rev. Lucy hosts
Second Wednesday:
July 14: Life Stories of Our Elders, conversation hosted by Rev Roger
Third Wednesday: Minister's Class on Theologies
July 21: Rev. Lucy hosts a conversation about an aspect of our UU theology
Fourth Wednesday: Exploring UUism
July 28: Join Rev. Lucy for an exploration of our Principles and Sources
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Religious Education for
children and youth and families
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A Pocketful of Principles:
Summer Religious Education at Home
for all families and all ages!
This summer in Religious Education we will offer one Zoom session for all ages in July and August. Stay tuned! Please contact Miranda to get your supplemental materials for our Summer RE theme.
In the Zoom sessions, we'll explore resources, rituals, stories, songs, and activities for you and your whole family--people of any age.
Let us stay in the flow, connected, rested, joyful and equipped for all that life brings our way. Our hope is that these lessons, songs, stories, activities and articles will give you new ways of understanding our 8 UU Principles, so you can "put them in your pocket" and pull them out when you're in need of guidance, inspiration or encouragement.
Our Unitarian Universalist Principles
help us discover and create a
world of love and liberation.
Respect the worth and dignity of each person.
Offer fairness and kindness to one another.
You and I grow wiser and brighter together.
Goodness and curiosity guide our search for truth.
By listening deeply and deciding together, we make better choices.
I join you as we work for peace, freedom and justice,
Value and care for the web of life that connects us to all,
and Build the Beloved Community, free of racism and oppression.
UU Kids Playing Minecraft every other Saturday morning. June 26 at 9AM! 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.
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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. Now meeting in person at UUSS!
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Reading & Reflecting on Poetry with JoAnn Anglin
Monday, June 21, 10:00a.m. at this zoom link. 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month. Because JoAnn is feeling horrified at the news that more than 10 percent of the world’s Great Sequoia trees were consumed by the California fires, she has chosen two poems that include reflections on trees. They are: "Power Lines" by Ada Limon, and "Famous Americans and Why They were Wrong," by Kaveh Akbar. Unfortunately, the poems are not available online unless you are a subscriber to the Paris Review, or have received the latest copy of it, #237, for Summer 2021. However, JoAnn is willing to email you copies of the poems. You can request here.
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Save the Date: First speaker of the 2021-2022 school year series of the Renaissance Society held at CSUS. Professor Katherine Hayhoe, PhD, Climate Scientist on September 10, 2021 at 3 PM online. Details of online registration to follow.
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Interplay - Saturday, June 26
Give your body and spirit a recharge
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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.
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UUSS Engaged with the Community |
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A member of our community is in need of a place to live. He needs a room and access to a kitchen and bathroom. Needs to exchange house or yard chores for low rent. Perhaps you have a room in your home that you can rent to him, or know of someone who does.
This is a chance to help someone in our community who is in need.
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We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. |
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