Our Weekly Message

News, Invitations, and Ministerial Reflections

January 10, 2025

Living Love Through the Practice of Story

We gather as a house of stories. As we learn of those who have gone before, the way in front of us becomes clearer.

As we weave together our individual tales into a common story, our loneliness lessens, and the ever-present web of our oneness is revealed.

As we listen deeply to each other’s difficult stories with tenderness and trust, we descend into the longings and learnings, hopes and fears, of the humanity we share.

-Rev. Scott Tayler

At UUSS we participate in a theme based ministry program called Soul Matters. We use the monthly themes in our Sunday services, and they are the foundations for our Soul Matters small groups which meet twice a month.

This month the theme is: Living love through the practice of story.

We will explore this theme on two Sunday this month, the first with our guest minister, Rev. Aija Simpson-Newbury, whose topic is Unreliable Narratives. She says “We are the stories we tell. And we tell some pretty wild stories!”

At the all-ages circle service on January 26 we will take time to reflect on the people, places and events that have shaped ours story and we will share our stories with each other.

At our Women's Retreat next month the theme is Honoring Women's Stories.

In our Soul Matters groups groups we will reflect on questions about our stories, and create a “reverse bucket list” of all the things that we have done and learned in our lives so far.

But you don’t have to be part of a Soul Matters group to participate. You can find materials to explore the theme this month (and every month) on the Soul Matters page .

Here is a question that we are exploring in our groups this month:

What story told by or about your ancestors has shaped or supported you the most?

What’s your answer?

Sending love and blessings as your story unfolds.

Rev. Lucy

Sunday Mornings with UUSS

Face masks are available but not required.

Join us for Worship Services in person or on Zoom Zoom links here

(Closed Captioning available on Zoom)

Service time 10:30 a.m.

Fellowship afterwards in the Welcome Hall and for 22 minutes on Zoom

Did you miss a service? You can find links to past services here

Sunday Morning Programs

Join us before the service at 9:30 AM at UUSS

1st Sunday - Facilitated labyrinth walk in the meadow. Jan. 5.

2nd Sunday - Sermon Reflections with Lue & Peter, 9:30-10:15, Fahs Room. The theme will be Gentle Epiphanies from the sermon last Sunday, January 5.

3rd Sunday - Qui Gong/Tai Chi - Covered Patio. Jan. 19

4th Sunday - Exploring Unitarian Universalism. NEW: We repeat Exploring UUism on Zoom the first Tuesday of each month. uuss.org/online

Sunday, January 12 10:30am: Unreliable Narrators

Rev. Aija Simpson-Newbury, guest preacher, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Courtney O'Neill, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva.

We are the stories we tell. And we tell some pretty wild stories. Our guest will address the Soul Matters theme of Story. Rev. Aija Simpson-Newbury is a lifelong Unitarian Universalist who grew up in the church down the road in Berkeley. After years on the east (wrong) coast, serving our congregation in Cumberland Valley, PA, she has been delighted to return to California as the minister of our congregation in Petaluma. She can usually be found playing trains with her 5-year-old or fantasy meal planning at the Farmers' Market.

*Pre-service sermon discussion with Lue & Peter at 9:30 a.m. (Fahs Room)

*Newcomers Orientation and tour of campus at 11:50 a.m. (Welcome Table)

Sunday, January 19 10:30am:

James Baldwin: America’s Great Prophet

Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, Worship Associate Karen Sparrow, UUSS Choir with Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva

On this Martin Luther King Sunday we will reflect on the life a words of James Baldwin an author and civil rights activist. Baldwin’s work has much to teach us about life, love, and identity. Baldwin said, “Not everything that is faced can be changed; but nothing can be changed until it is faced.”

Sunday, January 26 10:30am:

The Power of Story: A Circle Service for All Ages

Rev. Lucy Bunch, Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Andy Cramer, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva

It is likely that there are many stories told about you by your family and friends, spouse, co-workers, other in your life. But what is your story?

This Sunday we will take time to reflect the people, places and events that have shaped your story and will share some of it with each other.

Invitation to Participate: "Your One Wild and Precious Life"

For this favorite annual service on Sunday, Feb. 16, congregants from every decade of age will present their two-minute answers to this question from a poem by the late Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”

We seek to hear from people aged 5 to 95, give or take. Roger and your fellow presenters will provide encouragement and feedback, so you will be supported!

Contact Rev. Roger soon if you are curious (or eager) to participate!

Our Soul Matters Theme for January is

Stories

Here's the link to the Soul Matters materials

Joys and Sorrows in Our Congregation

If you would like to have a joy, sorrow, concern, or milestone spoken by a minister at Sunday’s prayer time, let us know at this link.

We continue to extend our love to Jon Peterson, who has moved to a care facility to receive palliative care due to his brain tumor. You may write to him c/o UUSS member Sybil Lawson, his step-daugther. We hold Jon in our thoughts with appreciation for his friendship and service and with prayers for comfort.

Janet Lopes has announced a celebration of life for Jerry Lopes, her father and local music teacher and founder of the Capitol Pops band, it will take place at UUSS on Saturday, Feb. 1. Catherine O'Brien has announced that the celebration of life for Anthony Montanino, her husband, our friend, and highly regarded local artist. It will take place at the Torch Club on Sunday, Jan. 19.

We extend our love and condolences to our member Mollie Jackson on the loss of her only daughter, Anne Elizabeth Jackson, on Dec. 24. Anne had a sudden onset of medical complications and died in the hospital surrounded by family. She was born on August 18, 1956, in Harlingen, TX, while her dad was in the Air Force in Alaska and Mollie was living with her parents. In an accident at age 10, Anne received a number of physical injuries, some permanent. She graduated from La Sierra High School and CSU-Sacramento and worked for the State of California for 30 years. Anne and Mollie walked every afternoon together at Sunrise Mall. Anne is survived by her husband, David Barton, and younger brother, David Jackson, as well as Mollie. Her brother John passed away in 2016 and her father died in 2018. Memorial contributions in her honor may be made to Smile Train, Operation Smile, or St. Jude's Hospital.

Rosemary grew up in the Petaluma congregation, attended Harvard Divinity School, church, and served as our ministerial intern at UUSS in 2023-24. Seating is limited, so please respond soon:

https://invite.social/rosemary. If you wish to attend the ceremony by Zoom, you may register at the same link.

Join us in Religious Education!

Click here to read this week's RE/Family Ministry Email

Childcare--The Nursery welcomes infants (6 months +) through age 5. Staff supervise child-led play in a fun, friendly nursery filled with toys and games. Snacks are offered. Access through the main entrance. Don't forget to sign in when you get to Room 11. Please contact Crystal with questions.

Soul Kids (grades K-5) meets this Sunday, Jan. 12. Come to light the chalice, check in, share a story, a meditation and a Lego build to connect us to the UUA's Article II values. Please start in service; we will leave as a group when the congregation sings us out.

This week we're talking about Interdependence and growing gardens in the soil and within ourselves. Come hang out with us!

Junior High Youth Group (JHYG) and Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) will meet Sunday, Jan. 19 during service. Please start in service!

Wanted: Large Boxes for Puppet Crafting

This spring, UUSS attendee and RE volunteer and parent, Elizabeth Leonard is offering giant puppet-making workshops to UUSS youth and adults and is asking for donations of large cardboard boxes to use as materials. Boxes should be clean (no dirt or spiderwebs) and bigger than one foot on all sides. Please bring your box donations to RE Coordinator, Crystal Fountain on Wednesdays and Sundays before Monday, January 13, 2025.

For more information, please email Elizabeth Leonard at eo@elizabethandesign.com

RE Coordinator Crystal Fountain has weekly office hours and is available by email too.

Family Dinner Potluck Returns on Friday January 24 at 5:30 pm!

Come and share a meal with our warm and friendly, intergenerational community! Bring a dish to share (or just bring yourself). We plan to eat at 6 pm and clean up by 7:30 pm. Meet us in the main welcome hall.

You are invited! Bring family and friends!

Contact Crystal with questions.

Whether after service or in your own home, you

can enjoy coffee created just for UUSS: Chalice Blend!

Beans are grown by women-owned cooperatives in Latin America and roasted and blended by a café in Oakland. Fresh beans sold for $15 a bag in the Sunday Bookstore or in the Office weekdays.

What's Happening?

For a listing of all events this week and coming up

check out our Weekly Calendar/Bluesheet.

Soul Collage Second Saturday, Jan. 11,

10:30 a.m. to noon in Room 7/8

Come embrace your intuition and creativity by making collage cards with images that you choose. The purpose is to offer a flexible, creative, accessible, and inclusive tool that can be used as a practice for our own exploring, healing, and empowering.

No experience (or talent) required; all materials provided. Suggested donation for materials: $5-10 If you choose you can bring a favorite picture to include in your collage. Questions? Contact: soulcollage@uuss.org

Sermon Reflections: Gentle Epiphanies Sunday, Jan. 12, from 9:30 to 10:15 am in the Fahs Room and the second Sunday of every month. This month's theme will be Gentle Epiphanies from last Sunday, Jan. 5. We will reflect on the epiphanies that Rev. Roger and Courtney shared and share some our own, gentle or otherwise. Come join us to further deepen our lives. Contact Peter or Lue with questions or comments directly or via adultenrichment@uuss.org. Find the sermon from Jan. 5 (uuss.org/sermons) either to read the PDF manuscript or watch on YouTube.

Young Adult Meet-n-Greet & Discussion Sunday, Jan. 12, 11:45am - Room 7/8 Join us for connection and conversation with like-minded younger people (aged 18-40) of the UUSS community! Monthly discussion topics range from reflection on the day’s service, world events and personal passions. Contact: youngadults@uuss.org

Second Tuesday Forum:

Let's Talk with a Futurist

Join Rev. Dr. Roger Jones and his various guest presenters for a monthly talk about aspects of religious history or current religious and social issues. Roger will be hosting this in the UUSS Library, but you can also attend on Zoom via uuss.org/online

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7:00 PM.

Preparing for an Uncertain Future

with Dr. Peter Bishop & Rev. Dr. Roger Jones

A new UUSS member, Peter is a retired professor of strategic foresight (University of Houston). He's also the founding CEO of Teach the Future, a national nonprofit that helps educators to equip students with skills to deal with uncertain and ever changing futures--and to shape those futures. Join us for an introduction to this field, as Peter brings compelling examples of what it means to study the future.

Open to all ages, hosted by UUSS Adult Enrichment. No charge but donations to UUSS are welcome.

Tuesday, Jan. 14, 7:00-8:30 pm in our Library and on uuss.org/online

Understanding Age-Related Health Changes: Facts, Questions, Answers

next Sunday, Jan. 19, 12:00-1:30 at UUSS Led by Olga Sukhenko, UC Davis Geriatrics Clinical Nurse Specialist and UCD Geriatric Resource Nurses. They will answer questions that are submitted ahead of time to Glory Wicklund or at the Sunday Connections table. No charge, but $10 donations to support Adult Enrichment programs are welcome.

It's a Soup Sunday, with tables in the Main Hall. (For conversation over soup, please move to the tables in the Welcome Hall so others can hear this important presentation.)

Fun and Enlightenment with ChatGPT, Tuesday, Jan. 21, 1:00-2:15 p.m.

A talk with slides, practice, sharing, and Q&A online at http://uuss.org/online with instructor Tiffany Urness (a real person). Learn what ChatGPT is and how it works. Practice using it for fun and practical tasks, and explore its possibilities and limitations. Best viewed on a laptop. Helpful but not required is to download ChatGPT on a smartphone before class to allow you to practice during the class. Sponsored by Adult Enrichment.

Mindfulness Meditation Jan. 22 & 29 - 6:00 pm in the Library & on Zoom

On the 2nd, 4th and 5th Wednesdays, we support one another by sitting for 20 minutes to practice awareness of the present moment. Show up to the Library/Bookstore or log in at uuss.org/online Contact Rev. Roger with questions. To read about this kind of meditation or watch videos, check out the Insight Meditation Center's website.

Singer Solicitation

Calling all Sopranos and Altos to come together in harmonious and joyful, a cappella music-making If you can learn music on your own, contact treble@uuss.org for more information. - Christiana Quick-Cleveland

Our January Community Partner

SAC ACT

Sacramento Area

Congregations Together

Work for Justice

The Mini-forest Revolution in Urban Areas

Thursday, Jan. 16 at 6:00 pm

Islands of greenery have been appearing in urban areas, featuring plants that are native to each region. The Miyawaki Mini-Forest concept originated in Japan and has been taking root worldwide.(See the book Mini-Forest Revolution by Hannah Lewis.) UUSS newcomer Muriel Strand invites you to an info meeting for Sacramento: Thursday, Jan. 16, 6:00 pm, in the Friends (Quaker) meetinghouse, 890 57th St. To RSVP: sacminiforest.sfm@gmail.com

New Phishing Scam of the Month: "Special Party!"

From Rev. Roger: Nobody who cares about you (including your ministers) will ask you to provide gift card serial numbers or ask for personal information, including your passwords.

I received two virtual party invitation emails supposedly from people I know with the Punchbowl invite logo. I clicked "Open Your Special Card." Then it said in order to open a PDF I should click on a button with the name of my email provider and enter my email address and password. ("We will never share your information," it said.) When it didn't open an invitation, I contacted the person directly about her party. She said it was a scam. They were phishing for my email and password. So I changed my password immediately.

Criminal groups are using Artificial Intelligence to mimic the voices of people from the Web and social media. They make phone calls impersonating family, friends, public officials, etc. A criminal group could sample a small part of an online sermon and then mimic a minister's voice in order to defraud you. If you get any urgent calls for help from a person seeming to be a familiar person, hang up and call the person directly by the number you have for them.

Read about scams in the Sacramento Observer, an African American weekly, including phony charities, appeals for help, package deliveries, IRS, and schemes using deceptive phone calls, US Mail, email, text and websites. Click this link to read the article.

Staff and Minister Availability

Rev. Roger is available for pastoral support by appointment by phone, Zoom or in person, and the Pastoral Volunteers are available for support by phone. His day off is Monday.

Rev. Roger will be out of state Jan. 18 through Jan. 20.

Rev. Lucy is available for pastoral support by appointment by phone, Zoom or in person. Schedule an appointment with Rev. Lucy at calendly.com/revlucyb.

Our office staff members (office@uuss.org or 916-483-9283) are available to respond to your calls and emails weekdays 8:30-4:30, except public holidays. Our part-time staff have hours that vary (some of them serve UUSS only on Sundays), so please call the office if you have a question or need to be in touch with them. Our Pianist and Music Director are available by email and invite you to choir practice Wednesdays at 7:00 starting Jan. 8.