Dear Members and Friends,

This is a fraught and unsettling time in this country (and in countries whose fates are tied to US actions). Rev. Lucy and I have held the worries and hopes of many of you, and we are holding you in our hearts. We invite you to join us in extending prayers, good wishes and good will for safe elections and for peace in this country in the days that follow.

Speaking of peace, please think about what it means to take care of your spirits at this time. It might be helpful to watch the recording of the Oct. 13 service on anxiety (uuss.org/sermons). It might be helpful to sit quietly and breathe for 10 minutes a few times a day, or to walk, roll, bike or stroll out of doors. As Election Day draws near, I am listening to more music and less political talk. I’m reading a novel and reading less news analysis and opinion.

Of course, even in a less polarized era than our current one, election time can be stressful for those who care about the common good. A decent measure of anxiety can spur us to get involved, which is what keeps a representative democracy vital. And this year I am so grateful to those who have been staffing phone banks, canvassing neighborhoods, writing letters and postcards to voters in other states, and making financial donations to a variety of campaigns. This energy is reassuring. It gives me hope.  

Speaking of hope, join us for the Poetry of Hope service this Sunday at 10:30. Also, come early for the Labyrinth Walk (why not--you’ll have an extra hour of sleep!) Then light a candle in the sanctuary to reflect your hopes and prayers (we’ll have extra candles). Our children’s program and youth groups will take place too. Stay afterwards for coffee and conversation and especially for Soup Sunday!  

Even on Zoom, there are ways to be together at UUSS. Join me for our first Zoom session of Exploring UUism at 7:00 pm on Tuesday, a wonderful way to disengage from obsessive election coverage. Read about our Zoom-accessible programs at uuss.org/updates

A helpful way to deal with stress and worry is not to “go it alone” but to be with others, meet new people, hug friends, share a meal, sing a song, sit in silence together for a bit. Let us exchange reassurance together. What gives me peace and hope is the gift of being together here, with you.  Keep the faith and keep in touch!

Love,

Rev. Roger

P.S.—I look forward to the Nov. 9 Flamingle Auction Event and am now reviewing the online Silent Auction catalog. (Today is the deadline for tickets.) Also, I’ll be attending and helping out with our Thanksgiving Day dinner at UUSS. Below in this Message you can read about these (and so many other) opportunities to be together.  

NOTE: For your nourishment, at the end of this Weekly Message is a moving poem about casting a vote, "Prayer Ballot," by the minister of the UU Church in Rochester, MN.

Sunday Morning Programs

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

1st Sunday - Facilitated labyrinth walk in the meadow

2nd Sunday - Post-election sharing on Nov. 10 with Lue & Peter, 9:30-10:15, Fahs Room

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

4th Sunday - Exploring Unitarian Universalism. NEW: We will offer Exploring UU Theology and History again on Zoom Tuesday, Nov. 5, 7:00 pm uuss.org/online

Sunday, November 3, 10:30am: Poetry of Hope 

Rev. Lucy Bunch, with Rev Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Dawn Huebner, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva 

Our annual poetry service will focus on hope this year – something we all need more of in our lives and in our world. Rev. Lucy and Dawn will share and reflect on three poems about hope.  

Come and be inspired.

Note: Fall back! Set clocks back one hour.

Labyrinth Walk in the Meadow at 9:30. Soup Sunday after the service! 

Joys & Sorrows candles & prayer cards in the sanctuary before the service.

Sunday, November 10, 10:30am: Our Mission & Values, No Matter What: A Post-election Reflection

Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch Worship Associate Jenni Gouine, the UUSS Choir, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva

Election Day is over, and we gather again for mutual support. The presidential campaign rhetoric of scapegoating and violence has troubled many of us who cherish the values of honesty, compassion, fairness, democracy, and protection of the most vulnerable of our neighbors. No matter the results of this election, how shall we embody these values in the days and years ahead? 



Pre-service discussion: post-election sharing with Lue & Peter at 9:30 a.m. (Fahs Room)

Newcomers Orientation and tour with Dave & Deirdre at 11:50 a.m. (Welcome Table)

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. On the first Sunday of the month (Nov. 3) you may come a bit early to light a candle and fill out a prayer card for inclusion in Joys and Sorrows (or just to let the ministers know without a spoken mention in the prayer time.)

We will hold a memorial service for our departed member Cherie O'Boyle at UUSS on Friday, Nov. 22, at 10:30 a.m. Contributions in her memory may be given to Sacramento SPCA.

We learned recently of the passing of Calvin (Clay) Nelson a year ago on Nov. 2, in Auckland, New Zealand, at age 74. He died surrounded by his wife and family. Formerly an Episcopal priest, Clay served UUSS as the business administrator in 2002-03. His funeral was held at the Auckland Unitarian Church, where he had served as a minister.

Last Chance to Buy Flamingle Event Tickets!

Help make this beloved community builder and fundraiser reach our $40,000 goal. In addition to the online Silent Auction, plan to attend our re-imagined, happy hour event Saturday, November 9, 4-6pm. 

It will include "sips" and a variety of savory and sweet small "bites" (see below for the menu). There will be a live auction, Fund-A-Need, gift baskets raffle, 50/50 cash raffle and a Flamingle Photo Booth. 

Today is the last day to purchase event tickets ($25/person). Click here to purchase yours.

Free childcare with pizza and flamingo bingo is available for the event!  Register here. 

The online Silent Auction is LIVE! Bid high and often on 100+ outings, dinners, services and classes offered by members and friends of our congregation. You can also contribute to our Fund-A-Need for kitchen upgrades (energy-efficient range with a broiler, new refrigerator and freezer) as well as "Flock Funds" supporting:

- Religious Education Supplies and Materials

- Guest Musician Stipends

- Coffee Hour Supplies

- Zoom Subscription

- Printing costs for the weekly order of service and Blue Sheet

- Safety and Security Items (e.g. security cameras, fire extinguishers, alarm system)

We are gratefully accepting bottles of wine that we will serve. You can bring them to the Flamingle table during Sunday coffee hour or drop off in the church office M-F, 9am-4pm.

We hope you will Fla-mingle with us for fun, funds and community!

Questions? Contact Auction Chair, Jennifer Webb at auction@uuss.org.

FALL FLAMINGLE MENU

Savory Bites:

* Chicks in a Blanket (Dairy Free)

* Roasted Potatoes w/ Chive Pesto (Vegan, Gluten Free)

* Goat Cheese w/ Bell Pepper & Herb Dressing on Baguette Toasts (Vegetarian)

* Chicken & Cilantro Bites w/ Dipping Sauce (Dairy Free; GF)

* Polenta Bites w/ Sun-Dried Tomato Tapenade (Vegan; GF)

* Creamy Artichoke Dip; Hummus w/ Pita Chips (Vegetarian)(Hummus: Vegan)

* Charcuterie Board: Meats, Cheeses, Olives, Roasted Vegetables (GF; Optional Vegetarian)

* Gravlax w/ Mustard Sauce (Dairy Free)

* Mini Quiche (Vegetarian)

Sweet Bites:

* Brownies 

* Mini Carrot Cupcakes

* Lemon Bars  

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.

Grades K-5 are invited to join Soul Kids for the next installment of the Lego ValUUes Curriculum continuing this Sunday, November 3.

Come and build community, understanding of our UUA values and Lego projects with us! Please start in service.

Youth Sundays--both Senior and Junior High Youth Groups--will be the 1st and 3rd Sundays of the month, continuing this Sunday, November 3. Youth are invited to conversation and connection with their age group. Please start in 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.

Heads-up for ukulele players - we are cancelling our November meeting because it falls on the Veterans' Day holiday. We will strum along again on Monday, December 9.

Saturday Stitchers and Crafters - Welcome Hall, tomorrow, Saturday November 2, 10am Bring sewing, coloring, beading, knitting, or any other portable craft and join us! Contact: stitchers@uuss.org

Soul Collage - Saturday, Nov. 9 10:30am, Room 7/8 Come embrace your intuition and creativity by making collage cards with images that you choose. Rev. Lucy will lead card making sessions and walk us through the process to learn how to access our inner wisdom by voicing the cards. No experience (or talent) required. For questions: soulcollage@uuss.org

Family Movie Nights - Fahs Room. Our Justice & Equity Team is hosting one per month. Each movie explores the genre of Afrofuturism at UUSS on Fridays at 6:00PM:

Nov. 15 - Black Panther, Dec. 20 - Jingle Jangle: A Christmas Journey. Snacks and conversations around race and ethnicity in movies. All ages welcome. jet@uuss.org 

The Dalai Lama and Tibetan Buddhism, a forum with Keith Atwater, Sunday, Nov. 24, 12:00 to 1:00 p.m., Fahs Room. Read more at the Sunday Connections Table or in next Friday's Message. Contact adultenrichment@uuss.org

Thanksgiving dinner! When: Thurs., Nov. 28, 2pm (3pm for eating). Where: UUSS. Cost: $5 per person. What to bring: side dishes, desserts, condiments, whipped cream, sparkling cider, etc. See Sally Wilkins in Welcome Hall or visit https://www.uuss.org/familyministry to sign up. We also need volunteers to help with precooking, set up and cleanup. Let’s make this a thankful event, sign up to help! Sign up to shop! Sign up to attend with friends or family!  

Mindfulness Meditation-- Join Rev. Roger on the 2nd, 4th, and 5th Wednesday evenings of the month in person at UUSS or at uuss.org/online.  Next one is Nov. 13!

We will gather at 6:00 and settle in with a Chalice Lighting, brief words to invite mindful attention to our breathing, and then 20 minutes of sitting in silence. Done at 6:30.

UU the VOTE at UUSS -- Election Day Approaches!



Links to resources for understanding the ten propositions on the statewide ballot:

CalMatters: calmatters.org/california-voter-guide-2024

UU Justice Ministry of California

League of Women Voters

It's easy to make phone calls to encourage people in other states to vote: uuthevote@uuss.org And you can register or check your registration status here.

Contact Debrah to get access to our online directory. She will send you an invitation to our database. Just click on the link and get set up. Its a Breeze! Only members can access the directory and you will be able to see the names of other members. If there is someone you want to contact who is not in the directory, call the office and Elaine will provide their contact information to you.  

Program Council Announces the Unsung Hero Awards

At the Congregational Meeting, two members were announced as our 2024 Unsung Heroes, to recognize significant contributions in time and effort to our Beloved Community in mostly "behind the scenes" work. Recipients were selected based on recommendations from past awardees. You can see all their names on the plaques in the Library/Bookstore. 

Meg Burnett has spent a lifetime as a UU. She is always willing and able to offer her best efforts to support our congregation. Here is just a sampling of what she's accomplished over the years: She directed the UUSS choir as a volunteer, led the team that refurbished the sanctuary banners, and served on the Board, as a Worship Associate, a fundraiser, and a banquet organizer. Her most recent work as the co-leader of the Refugee Team has made a life-changing difference to five Afghan refugee families. No matter what is going on at UUSS, she shows up! We all wonder “how she manages to get all this done!”

David Dawson has a quiet presence that is felt by many in our congregation. His love of nature shines through in his photographic art pieces that are part of UUSS exhibits now and in the past, as well as in portfolios he donated to two other UU congregations for their own service auctions. He led the UUSS team of American River Parkway Stewards for many years and continues to participate. Ditto for keeping our grounds tidy with the Grasshoppers. He has served on several ministerial committees, and has offered his special skills by hanging the art in our Sanctuary exhibits for the last 10 years. Lastly, all of our musicians are grateful for his donation in honor of his late wife Linda, a former UUSS pianist, that was used to fix our piano. One past Unsung Hero called Dave "simply one of the nicest guys to inhabit the planet." 

Please join the Program Council in thanking both Dave and Meg for their efforts to keep UUSS a thriving community.

Prayer Ballot

by Rev. Luke Stevens-Royer

UU Church of Rochester, Minnesota

I enter, as on pilgrimage.

The altar cloths are red, white, and blue

the ushers are the women

who have been running these things

who have been running everything

since before I was born.

I’m handed the ballot like a scroll

because the questions seem that important -

ancient and modern

of what my God and country ask of me: who?

Who – for commissioner, mayor, president –

who –for district 8, ward 7, school board –

who – will do justice, love mercy, and walk humbly?

I make my mark

with at least a shred of hope

that something good will come from this.

And regardless, I remember:

the world won’t be destroyed, entirely, by this;

the world won’t be saved, entirely, by this.

Marking my vote is like kneeling in prayer

because neither will accomplish anything right away -

but the purpose of both is to remind me

of my deepest hope

for the world that I’m trying to help create.

So I rise from prayer, and turn in my ballot

and remember the who is me,

and us, and we the people -

and again I set to the task that is mine:

justice, mercy, humble service

in my small corner of the world.

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