|
Our Weekly Message
News, Invitations, and Ministerial Reflections
September 30, 2022
| |
|
Dear Congregation,
I hope this finds you well. I'm amazed that it's already the end of the first quarter of the church fiscal year! It's also the middle of the Jewish High Holy Days, as Rev. Lucy told us on Rosh Hashanah (last Sunday) with a prayer by Rev. Lyn Cox.
The Soul Matters theme for October is courage. We will explore this in services, Religious Education, and our Soul Matters Small Groups, which kick off a new year at UUSS in October.
There are many kinds of courage, starting with the courage to be yourself. I have gained courage and encouragement from several sources--individuals and communities alike. Nearly 40 years ago, I was a new UU and was starting my first career. After a year in the church, I was asked to help out in Religious Education. I had many excuses. I had no kids; I didn't want to miss any of the Sunday services; I was not a teacher; I was too new. But mainly I was afraid. I didn't think I had any tricks up my sleeve or the magic, enthusiasm, or charisma that I assumed a Sunday School teacher or youth group advisor needed. I didn't feel either cool enough or creative enough.
But I said yes. I was paired with a church dad with whom I could exchange ideas and encouragement. I had an engaging UU-based curriculum to help in preparing for it. And I didn't have to miss every service! What I got out of it was delight at the enthusiasm and curiosity of grade-school kids. I learned that I didn't have to be magical or dramatic.
I only had to be myself--and be present. Though I didn't know it, saying yes in spite of my fear was one of many steps that changed my life. Nine years later I was in seminary! And 15 years after I did that, one of the little girls in that RE class was in seminary too!
With new and returning families at UUSS at the start of this church year, there is new energy here. And there are opportunities for you to make a difference, to be be yourself and stretch yourself, to say yes. Perhaps you could help out as we reboot Religious Education and Family Ministry at UUSS. Let me know if so! Or perhaps there is another area of opportunity at UUSS that is whispering to you. Rev. Lucy and I are happy to help you listen to that whisper, that calling. We are here to en-courage you as you explore it.
Love,
Rev. Roger
| |
|
Have you noticed the link that says "(Message clipped) View entire message" near the bottom of these Weekly Message e-mails? We have so many invitations and so much news in here sometimes that it does not all show up when you open the email.
Scroll down and click on the link to see more!
| |
|
Sunday Mornings with UUSS
Masks Required to Attend in Person on Oct. 2
Join us for Worship Services in person or on Zoom Zoom links here
Service time 10:30 a.m.
Did you miss a service? You can find links to past services here.
| |
|
Sunday Morning Programs at UUSS
Join us before the service at 9:30 AM at UUSS
1st Sunday - Labyrinth walk in the meadow (next one: Oct. 2)
2nd Sunday - Racial Equity conversation - Fahs Room (Oct. 9)
3rd Sunday Qui Gong/Tai Chi - patio (Oct. 16)
4th Sunday - Exploring Unitarian Universalism - Fahs Rm. (Oct. 23)
| |
Join us for a Newcomer Orientation and Tour the second of every month Sunday right after church in the Welcome Hall; Next one is Oct. 9 with Rev. Roger. | |
Joys and Sorrows: If you would like to have a joy, sorrow, concern, or milestone spoken aloud by a minister in Sunday’s prayer time, at this link. You may also use that link to inform us of a joy, concern or sorrow and let us know if you do not want us to mention it in church, or if you would like a phone call by a minister.
| |
|
Sunday October 2, 10:30 AM:
Everyday Courage
Rev. Lucy Bunch and Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, with Worship Associate Courtney O'Neil, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva.
Many of us are in awe of the courage of the Ukrainian people. While we may not be able to solve all the world's problems, we can take simple courageous actions that can help tug the arc of the universe to bend towards justice.
| |
|
Sunday October 9, 10:30 AM: Conflicted Conversations in a Culture of Shaming
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching; Dan Myers, Worship Associate, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
"You're dead to me!" Increasingly it seems that we would rather write people off than summon the courage to explore disagreements or our feelings of hurt.
Yet the playwright Sarah Schulman asks: "If a person cannot solve a conflict with a friend, how can they possibly contribute to larger efforts for peace?" Having anxieties about our differences is normal, but even the most conflict-averse among us (like today's preacher) can learn the skills and find the courage to have real conversations.
Newcomers' Orientation & Tour of UUSS After the Service
| |
|
Sunday October 16, 10:30 AM:
Enlightenment and Endarkenment
Allison Claire preaching, with Worship Associate Karen Sparrow, UUSS Choir with Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
UUs sometimes speak of "the light of truth," and other traditions promise enlightenment, but why should only light and not darkness be associated with wisdom? This service explores non-dualistic approaches to light and dark as symbols, embodied experiences, and guides to spiritual practice. Now that the equinox is behind us, the emphasis will be on the gifts of darkness. Our preacher and member Allison Claire is a longtime UU and mother of three grown UUs. Her spiritual practices are Buddhist and earth-based.
| |
|
On Sunday, Oct. 2, we will host the celebration of life and reception for our member
Ray Reynolds, at 2:00 pm in the sanctuary (note chance of room); it will not be streamed online. Snacks welcome for the reception as well as cleanup help afterwards; contact Nicole at memorial@uuss.org.
We extend our condolences to our member Alicia Taylor on the death of her father, Gene Pat Taylor, known as Pat, at 85. He was born Oct. 26, 1936, in Texas, where he spent most his life. The last three years, he lived with Alicia's sister in LA. Pat loved to read, especially newspapers, and would send links of articles to his family and friends.
Recently our member Diane Doddridge met with her sons met to distribute the cremated remains of her late husband, Don Thomas. By boat they went out on Puget Sound, near Olympia, WA. When the boat was stopped, they had a brief memorial, and she placed the ashes in the water. She writes, “A lovely spiritual thing happened next: a very large jellyfish came up on the right side of the boat! I felt it was giving the message to me, ‘We’ve got him now. Thank you. He will be fine.’ Everyone was in tears! How beautiful!”
| |
Community Partner Nominations | |
|
Every month UUSS gives away half of our Sunday offering to a local not for profit organization. Who will be our 12 Community Partners for 2023 will be decided by voting members after the Oct. 23 Congregational Meeting. Nominations are now closed. Thank you for your support!
| |
Fall Dinner & Service Auction Event--Saturday, Nov. 12 | |
|
Delicious dinner, a live auction, entertainment, and raffle baskets! Our fall fundraising event returns to UUSS on Saturday, Nov. 12. If you love the Silent Auction, we need volunteers to help organize it. And we'll need your offerings for it: dinners, outings, tickets, parties, instruction, rides or other services. We also will need help at the registration desk and during the live auction as well as for cleanup. Contact auction@uuss.org. Mark your calendar and consider helping to make this fun event a fundraising success! The Autumn Auction webpage will go live in the next week or two.
| |
Be a Force of Healing in the World | |
|
Update from our Homelessness Resource Task Force
You can contact the Task Force with questions or comments at homelesssupport@uuss.org We will be available after services on October 2 and 9.
| |
|
The Racial Justice team is proposing a land acknowledgement for use at UUSS and we'd like your feedback. Here is a link to the draft and a place to make comments: http://www.uuss.org/racialjustice/draft-land-acknowledgement/
Acknowledging the land and indigenous people of the area where UUSS is located is a powerful way of giving respect and honor, as well as a simple way to resist the erasure of indigenous histories.
| |
|
Our Voter Outreach Team
Postcard writing--2 more Thursday mornings!
UU the Vote works with Reclaim Our Vote (ROV), a black-led organization working with local groups in Southern states and high-minority states like Arizona. They are using several methods to counter the "you can't vote" message that minority voters have received for generations and still receive. ROV has hired local people to register voters, and we writers and callers and texters will encourage those voters to go to the polls.
It's Easy to Participate and Make a Difference
Join Susan Jones and Theo White for postcard writing on Thursdays, 10 am to noon, on the UUSS patio. Two more Thursdays: Oct 6 and 13. Yesterday we had 15 folks! We write to voters of color who are registered, but who don't vote in every election. This one is important! Neat handwriting is the only requirement.
Contact Susan at rov.sacvalley@gmail.com to get involved!
Channel your frustration and your hope--and join us!
| |
Religious Education (RE) Offerings this Week | |
|
New Religious Education Registration Form - Please click here.
This Sunday families gather together in the sanctuary at 10:30. After the chalice lighting ritual we will sing a lively blessing to the children, youth and volunteers as they go together to the education building in room 7/8. Be sure to register your child or youth.
Soul Kids -- Kindergarten to grade 5 (10:30 start in sanctuary)
Junior High Youth Group (JHYG) -- Grades 6-7-8 on the 1st and 3rd Sundays of each month (10:30 start in sanctuary)
Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) -- Grades 9-12 on the 3rd Sunday of every month. Takes place AFTER the Sunday service, so come to the service!
This Sunday!
Kids Freedom Club -- all age levels will gather to build community and raise awareness of modern slavery and raise money to help to free enslaved people around the world. On the 1st Sunday of every month. Takes place AFTER the service.
Nursery Care job openings
For infants and toddlers, we have a goal of re-opening our Room 11 nursery on Oct. 9 and are now advertising for two part-time Sunday child care providers via Craigslist.
See the ad on our website at this link and tell people you know who might be interested in this part-time opportunity to do an important ministry at UUSS. We also welcome parents or grandparents who wish to volunteer as substitutes in the room.
Religious Education Coordinator job opening
As announced in an email Message in August, Miranda Massa will be leaving UUSS in late October after nine years in this position and 13 years total with UUSS! See the announcement of this opportunity on our website, and be sure to tell people you know who might be qualified for and interested in working for UUSS in this area. We are promoting it through online media of the UUA's Pacific Western Region and area Liberal Religious Educators Association as well as online job search resources.
| |
Join us this Sunday, Oct. 2, for soup and fellowship as we kick off the Soup Sunday season! | |
|
For a $5 suggested donation, members and friends can enjoy a hearty bowl of soup, bread and a cookie the first and third Sunday of the month through February. The soup will be served in the Welcome Hall and eaten on the patio.
Still seeking groups for two Sundays: Nov. 6 & Nov. 20. If your group is interested, contact SoupSunday@uuss.org. Each group is responsible for providing 6 crock pots of soup and serving it. The Soup Sunday team will help you with the logistics of set-up, clean-up, and other supplies. If your group would like to partner with another small group, our team can help you do that.
Are you a baker? Providing cookies or making a donation is another way to support Soup Sunday and UUSS. Soup Sundays are also great opportunities for getting to know each other better over a bowl of fragrant soup.
Set up and clean-up help: We are also recruiting volunteers to help out on a rotating basis on Sundays with set up and clean up during these 5 months.
| |
Groups, Gatherings, and Classes | |
|
Lectio Divina -- Monday, October 3, via Zoom, at 10:00 AM
JoAnn Anglin writes: I think Lectio Divina means Holy Words, but our next poem is full of ugly words. Words we would never use, but probably heard at times when we were growing up. The poem by Amy Uyematsu is called Mugsheet.
We’d like to think that anti-Asian bigotry is part of the past. The pandemic reminded us that this poison still lingers. Some of the expressions of anti-Asian violence during this period have been particularly against Asian women. The poet reminds us of what it’s like to be on the receiving end of this bigotry. You can see her poem at: https://eastwindezine.com/pandemic-postscript-and-more-poetry-by-amy-uyematsu/ Join us by going to uuss.org the same way you would Zoom to a service.
| |
|
Saturday Stitchers and Crafters - Tomorrow, Saturday, October 1, 10-Noon, in the Fahs classroom. Bring sewing, coloring, beading, knitting, or any other portable craft and join us! Contact: stitchers@uuss.org
| |
Lift Every Voice! Sunday, October 2. What keeps people from becoming involved in community and neighborhood organizations? Must we be split into communities of “us and them”? Join Jim Ewing and Max Soucia on Sunday, October 2, for a discussion after the service at 11:30 a.m. on the Covered Patio. Sponsored by Adult Enrichment. Look for the “Lift Every Voice” table. | |
|
BLOSSOMS and BUSHES --Have fun weeding, trimming, and beautifying our campus for one hour, followed by a soup lunch, this month it will be Friday, October 7, 10:00 AM. Just show up with clippers, sun hat, sunscreen, stool if needed, and good cheer. Contact: blossomsandbushes@uuss.org
| |
|
Ukulele Strum-Along on Monday, October 10, 2:00 - 3:30 p.m. in the Fahs Room. Everyone is welcome. The UU Beginning Ukers meet on the 2nd Monday of each month. Beginners are encouraged to come at 1:30 for help getting started. We welcome brand-new players, and we supply the music and have ukes to lend. Contact: ukes@uuss.org
| |
|
Notice of UUSS Fall Congregational Meeting
Sunday, October 23, 2023
After the service
In the Sanctuary and on Zoom at uuss.org/online
| | |
Staff and Minister Availability | |
|
Rev. Roger (Roger's day off is Monday; study day is Friday)
Rev. Lucy (Lucy's day off is Monday; study day is Friday)
Rev. Roger & Rev. Lucy will be out of town at the fall meeting of the district chapter of the UU Ministers Association Oct. 14-16.
Both are available for pastoral support by appointment by phone, Zoom or in person, and the Pastoral Volunteers are available for support by phone.
Schedule an appointment with Lucy at calendly.com/revlucyb.
Our office staff members (office@uuss.org or 916-483-9283) are available to respond to your phone calls and emails weekdays 8:30-4:30. Our RE Coordinator and Pianist and Music Director are available by email.
| |
We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. | | | | | |
