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Our Summer Message

Sent Biweekly in July and August

News, Invitations, and Ministerial Reflections

August 9, 2024

Dear Congregation,


I started serving as a UUSS minister 16 years ago this month and Rev. Lucy started serving here 11 years ago this month. Happy Anniversary! We feel blessed to be here.

We’re so happy about all of the activities taking place right now, in what used to be a slow time of year in church life! Today's biweekly message is filled with opportunities.


We are both proud that the years of our ministries here at UUSS are already above the 7-year average tenure of ministers in UU congregations, a number which has been going down in recent years. 



Moreover, in recent years there has been a shortage of ministers who want to serve congregations. Older ministers from the Baby Boom generation have been retiring in waves. During and after the pandemic lockdown, exhausted ministers decided to retire earlier than they might have otherwise--or to change careers.


Of course, people are still entering theological seminaries as UUs, but now more than half of them are drawn to be chaplains in health care settings or in the military, or to work as community organizers and activists, or to teach or provide ministries of spiritual direction and counseling. While it’s good to know that UU values continue to light up new ministers in a variety of ways, it’s not so good when a congregation can’t find a parish minister. 


Last year and this year, a number of smaller UU congregations have not been able to fill vacancies for ministry.  Sometimes Rev. Lucy and I have been asked to help some of them out—whether by an encouraging phone conversation or preaching in their pulpits. We’ve even welcomed the use of our recorded sermons at other UU churches.  


We are happy to help out in ways that sustain communities and spread the light of our UU values. And we are grateful to be serving here with you. Because you support us as your ministers, this is one of the ways UUSS contributes to the larger UU movement. 


Thank you for this and for so many other ways that we come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. Keep the faith and keep in touch!


Love,

Rev. Roger



P.S. I'm pictured above in a favorite tee shirt to remind you to get yours out and wear it to the August 18 Sunday service for all ages (see below).

Sermon discussion: Facing Autocracy with UU Values

(and Even with Serenity?)

This Sunday, August 11, 9:25-10:15 am (enter the main building to reach the Fahs Classroom), facilitated by Peter Bishop.

If you heard or read Rev. Roger’s August 4 sermon (Toxic Soup), join us this Sunday before church for a session of engaging more deeply. We’ll consider its themes of confronting political opinions we dislike and especially facing current threats of American autocracy and fascism. 


UUSS member Peter Bishop (pictured above) will facilitate the sharing of individual responses, personal stories, and choices we make to protect the principles of democracy, decency, and human flourishing. Rev. Roger will start by summarizing his intentions for the sermon and some key points but will not be present for the full discussion. The session will end in time for you to make it to the service at 10:30.


To watch the Aug. 4 service or read a PDF of the text (including Courtney’s personal reflection), click https://www.uuss.org/sermon/toxic-soup-american-style-how-to-cultivate-serenity-without-surrendering-our-values/

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 - Labyrinth meditation in the meadow

2nd Sunday - Last week's sermon discussion ("Toxic Soup") with Peter Bishop and Rev. Roger (see box above) Aug. 11 at 9:25 in the Fahs Classroom.

3rd Sunday - Qui Gong/Tai Chi - Covered Patio

4th Sunday - Exploring Unitarian Universalism: Social Justice in our tradition

This Sunday, August 11, we will be gathering for a Newcomer Orientation and Tour.

This month's leaders are Mary Howard (35 years with UUSS)

Join us on the second Sunday of any month, right after the service, in the Welcome Hall.

This Sunday, August 11, 10:30am:

Reflections of a Zen Unitarian Universalist

Allison Claire, preaching, with Worship Associate Celia Buckley, Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Pianist Irina Tchantceva


UUSS member Allison Claire is a longtime UU and a Buddhist practitioner in the Soto Zen tradition.  She recently received lay ordination in a Zen vow-taking ceremony.  Join us for Allison’s reflections on what it means to be both a UU and a Zen Buddhist, and how the two traditions’ understandings of interdependence support and deepen each other.



Newcomers’ Orientation to UUSS with tour of campus starts 15 minutes after service, ending at 1:00. Look for other newcomers and your guides (Mary Howard and Rev. Roger) at the Welcome Table.  

Sunday, August 18, 10:30am:

Tee-shirt Spirituality: 

A Circle Service for all Ages

Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associates Andy Cramer & Celia Buckley, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Courtney O’Neill, Religious Education Coordinator Crystal Fountain—and you!



Wear a tee shirt with an image or message proclaiming your faith, philosophy, theology, ethical outlook or other commitments. Threads of spiritual wisdom, social justice, or huo are welcome. (No vulgarity, please.) If you don’t have a shirt to show, wear whatever you like, but come!


If you have an amusing or touching story behind a tee shirt that means a lot to you, tell Rev. Roger by Aug. 10. Pictured: John from UUC of Asheville.


*Intro to Tai Chi & Qui Gong before the service at 9:30 a.m. (on the covered patio)

Sunday, August 25, 10:30am:

Summer Repeat! Chronos and Kairos

Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Worship Associate Dawn Heubner, Pianist Irina Tchantceva, song leaders from the UUSS Choir

 

This Sunday Rev. Lucy will share a favorite sermon from October 2020 when we were in the height of the pandemic.  Maybe your past self will remember it, but if not, hopefully, your future self will.  


As the pandemic wears on, time seems to have changed. What’s up with that?  The ancient Greeks had two words for time: Chronos and Kairos. The former refers to chronological or sequential time, while the latter signifies a proper or opportune time for action. We will explore both this Sunday.

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. Make sure to tell us you do not want us to mention it aloud, or if you would like a phone call from one of the ministers.


As of yesterday we knew that Taylor Lewis was at the end of his life. He was given a terminal cancer prognosis last fall and has kept his gardening practice and kept his beloved smile through an often painful journey. He turned 48 in March. A member since 2009, he brought up two of his three children at UUSS. He acted on our Theater One stage, worked on our ground, and served on the Program Council, as a Worship Associate, and as a Coming of Age mentor and Religious Education volunteer. In June hundreds attended Taylor's Farewell Garden Party, where he was able to hear the appreciation and love of so many friends and family members. It was held at the UC Davis Arboretum's Teaching Nursery, where he was the manager and a mentor to many students. The staff has named its management office in his honor. We extend our condolences to his wife, Ilana, and his daughter, two sons, grandchildren, mother, siblings, and countless friends who were touched by his genuine, caring presence and will remain inspired by his life.


We send prayers for healing and strength to Ted Scott-Femenella, who had a cardiac event on Wednesday and was treated in the ER for this and high blood pressure. his wife, Renee, has just texted positve for Covid. We send love to Ted, Renee, Selena and Theo.


We continue to send love and healing prayers to members who have been ill, undergoing treatments, rehabilitating from injuries, and confronting an unwelcome diagnosis or an unfair prognosis, including Sarah, Alice, Gary, Karen, Cathy, Anthony, Christie, Tom, and other members. Please let the ministers know of others with needs for support.

Soul Matters Small Groups are Starting up!

Registration is now open

Groups will begin the fourth week of September.

Registration closes on September 2.

* Register Online *

 

Are you looking for ways to connect with members of the UUSS community? Wanting to talk about what is important and meaningful to you?   Longing to listen and share deeply?

 

Soul Matters groups will meet twice a month to build connections and provide a place where participants can share and discuss what matters most.  Group activities are structured around monthly themes that are also used in worship and religious education.

 

You may contact soulmatters@uuss.org if you have questions or go to our website: uuss.org/soulmatters. Debby Powell will be at a table after church this Sunday.

 

These facilitated groups of 8-10 people will meet twice a month starting in September and ending in May. We ask that if you join a group that you make a commitment to participate for the entire 8 months.

Join us in Religious Education!

Click here to read the most recent RE/Family Ministry Email

Childcare--The Nursery welcomes infants (6 months +) through age 5, year round. 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.

 

Sunday, August 11, children and youth are encouraged to attend our next installment of Art Works for Peace in the RE classroom. Please start in service!

Sunday, August 18, all ages are invited to join the Tee-Shirt Spirituality Circle Service.


Other engaging activities for children, youth and families are available and information can be found in the email linked above!

There's always a lot happening in RE!


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

What's Happening?

For a listing of all events this week and coming up

check out our Weekly Calendar/Bluesheet.

"Scenes from The City of David": Exploring the political roots of Jerusalem’s most sacred traditions, and their lasting impact on the region today". Three Tuesdays: August 6, 13, and 20 at 6:30-8:15 p.m. Lectures include photography, charts and maps, with author Noah Kennedy. Next Tuesday, Aug. 13, we will meet in the Library/Bookstore.

Learn more about the topic and Noah's other work at www.noahkennedy.net/uuss.

Info at our Sunday Connections table or adultenrichment@uuss.org.

You are invited to join the monthly Family Dinner Potluck

Friday August 16 at 5:30pm

We will plan to eat at 6:00pm and wrap up around 7:30pm

Bring a dish to share and meet us in the UUSS Main Welcome Hall

No sign-up is required. There are facilities for re-heating food

Send questions to CrystalFountain@uuss.org

Theology on Tap will be meeting this month on Tuesday, August 20, from 7:00-9:00 at

Burning Barrel Brewing Co. 11210 Sun Center Dr. Rancho Cordova 95670

(Take Sunrise off the 50 and go South. Turn Right on Sun Center and left into the parking lot) Contact: theologyontap@uuss.org

Our 2024-2025 Choir Season The UUSS Choir will return to action on Wednesday, August 21, 7:00pm in the Fahs Room. If you have been involved in choir previously (whether years ago or recently), or you are looking to join for the first time, YOU ARE WELCOME! Please join us for this first rehearsal back: sing, make connections, and see what a wonderful year of music and community are in store! Please see Anthony Tavianini (anthony@uuss.org) with questions.

End of Life Planning, Tuesdays, 6:00-8:00 p.m., September 3, 10, and 17 in the Fahs Room with Instructor Molly Stuart. Consider your desired end of life care, be assured your values are respected, and protect family from uncertainty. $40 to be paid at the first class as a donation to UUSS Adult Enrichment. Please plan to attend all sessions. Questions? 

E-mail adultenrichment@uuss.org and sign up there or at the Connections table on Sundays.

UUSS 2024 ACTIVITY FAIR--after our annual Ingathering Sunday service on Sept. 8, plan to stay to check out the 50+ groups at UUSS at tables on the covered patio. This is a great way to learn about opportunties for community building, spiritual deepening, fellowship, and volunteer service within UUSS and in the local community. If your committee or UUSS activity group would like table space, contact programcouncil@uuss.org


Save the date for our Fall Fla-mingle!


The annual service auction gathering, our second largest fundraiser, is happening on Saturday, November 9, 4:00 to 6:00 p.m. We have an amazing leadership team in place but are still seeking a Raffle Basket Lead. If you're interested in hearing more about the position, please contact Auction Chair, Jennifer Webb auction@uuss.org

Our Work for Justice


Our August Community Partner

Loaves and Fishes

A Gathering of Black, Indigenous, People of Color Unitarian Universalists

DRUUMM | Diverse Revolutionary Unitarian Universalist Multicultural Ministries


Saturday, August 17, 10:00am - 4:00 pm

In-Person & Online | 685 14th and Castro, Oakland


Family Promise


UUSS Volunteers for Family Promise/Tiny Homes! Thurs., Aug. 15 9am to 11, bring gloves, spades and pruners, if possible. We will be planting flowers and light gardening. Also Saturday August 24 will be our day to prepare breakfast for our families past and present. Please confirm and/or volunteer with Elyse at familypromise@uuss.org

 Thank you so much for your time and generosity. -- Elyse Metune


Get all the details by clicking here.

Staff and Minister Availability


Please look for Our Summer Message to arrive every other Friday until September when we resume Our Weekly Message. Next one: Aug. 23.


Crystal Fountain will send out the Family Ministery RE Outreach email every other Thursday. Next one: Aug. 16. Subscribe at re@uuss.org.


Rev. Roger: (Roger's day off is Monday; study day is Friday) is available for pastoral support by appointment by phone, Zoom or in person, and the Pastoral Volunteers are available for support by phone. Rev. Roger will be out of state Aug. 19-26 and will see emails after his return. The Office can reach him in an emergency.


Rev. Lucy: (Lucy's day off is Monday; study day is Friday) is available for pastoral support by appointment by phone, Zoom or in person. Schedule an appointment with Rev. Lucy at calendly.com/revlucyb. Rev. Lucy has been leading a UU spiriutal retreat (Spirit Rest). She will be with her family for her father's memorial service Aug. 17-19.


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 starting August 21 Wednesdays at 7:00.

UUSS Mission

We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.  

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