Weekly Message for UUSS
May 28, 2021
|
|
Greeting to all!
There is so much more activity on campus these days. Everyday it seems one of our small groups is meeting outside on the patio. And more to come. The board just yesterday approved the recommendation of our Physical Gathering Task Force to allow groups of up to 25 outside and groups of up to 12 inside. Stay tuned for details.
If you do come to campus, please make sure to stop by our succulent garden on the southeast corner of the main building. As you can see in the photo there are some beautiful specimens in bloom right now.
I am so proud of how our congregation is weathering this pandemic, and how thoughtful we are being about our return. Despite restrictions, we have accomplished a lot in the past year, and learned a lot in the process.
One of the things that makes me especially proud is that the congregation passed a resolution in support of the 8th principle at our meeting two weeks ago. Way to go UUSS! Our commitment to racial justice has been strong for several years, starting with our “Black Live Matter Here” Banner, and continuing with our strong commitment in our strategic plan two years ago. If this is all new to you, check out the information on our racial justice page.
Support of the 8th principle is especially significant because it connects us with other UU congregations who have also made a similar statement in saying that racial justice must be part of our principles as Unitarian Universalists. Since our vote we have been contacted by two congregations who want to learn from our experience so they can pass a similar resolution. Our association, the Unitarian Universalist Association is just beginning a long process to review and modify our seven principles. We will have a chance to give input as a congregation at some point in the process. And there will be a vote at a future General Assembly when congregational delegates will consider a proposal for a new or modified set of principles to inspire us into the future.
But approving the resolution and even changing our principles, is only the first step in our process of dismantling white supremacy. In doing this work we will need to be in community with other UU’s. One form that this community takes is our annual General Assembly of Unitarian Universalists. It happens online this year, June 23-27. It not too late to register. I encourage you to check out the program and consider participating. https://www.uua.org/ga
I am so proud to be your minister. Thanks for striving to make a difference.
Sending love to all,
|
|
Join Our Services
May Soul Matters Theme--Story
|
|
Join us for Worship Services:
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ~ Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
For a full list of May services check here.
Miss a service? You can find links to past services here.
Half of all offering donations made in May
will support our community partner:
|
|
Sunday May 30, 11 AM: Our Pandemic Stories
Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Celia Buckley, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Stories are a way that humans make sense of what has happened to us, to process and to heal. This Sunday we will consider the stories that will emerge from this pandemic time. Our Soul Matters groups are writing pandemic stories this month, and you will have a chance to do so as well.
|
|
Tuesday June 1, 7PM: Wanna Come Out to Play?
Worship Leaders Celia Buckley and Suzy Mazrolle, Pianist Irina Tchnaceva
This Tuesday we will explore the role of play in our lives. Recreation can be a wonderful way to rejuvenate our spiritual as well as our physical selves.
|
|
Sunday June 6, 11 AM: Honoring our Graduates
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Fred Best, and graduating seniors of UUSS.
It's that time of year when we celebrate our amazing high school graduates with a special service. Come hear their reflections on the next phase of their lives as we share in the recognition of ending and beginnings.
|
|
Tuesday June 8, 7 PM: "Though You've Broken Your Vows a Thousand Times..."
Worship Leader Allison Claire, Worship Associate Theo Claire, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
We all fail sometimes to live up to our values and our commitments. Can recognizing our" broken vows" be an opportunity for renewed engagement? Inspired by the words of Rumi, the 13th century Sufi poet, we will explore the invitation back into integrity and community that arises when we realize we have veered off our path
|
|
The May Congregational Meeting was a great success with a healthy quorum of members attending to elect the slate of officers and committee members and to approve adoption of the 8th Principle Resolution. Click on the links for details. Draft minutes will be posted soon.
|
|
Congregational Meeting June 13th |
|
Please join us on Sunday, June 13th immediately following the service for a brief Congregational Meeting. There will be only two items on the agenda: to approve the minutes from the May meeting and to approve the ordination of Sangye Hawke, a former Student Minister here at UUSS. Sangye will preach on June 13th so if you have not heard her speak before, this will be an ideal opportunity. We will need a quorum so please plan to attend for this very brief meeting. |
|
Join us for Wellspring Wednesday
|
|
Wellspring Wednesday
Each Wednesday your ministers host a gathering called Wellspring Wednesday. Each week of the month will focus on a specific theme. Join us for discussion, connection and learning together.
First Wednesday: Soul Matters Theme of the Month
June 2: "Play" with Rev. Lucy
Second Wednesday: Life Stories of our Elders
June 9: Rev. Roger hosts a conversation with one of our amazing members.
Third Wednesday: Minister's Class on Theologies
June 16: Rev. Roger hosts.
Fourth Wednesday: Exploring UUism -- rotating topics about Unitarian Universalism!
|
|
Virtual Religious Education for
children and youth
|
|
UU Kids Playing Minecraft every other Saturday morning. TOMORROW 5/29! 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.
Save the Date: At our 11:00 am service on Sunday, June 6, we will recognize graduating high school seniors from UUSS families. Please be in touch with Rev. Roger ASAP!
Reminder to families: Sign up here to be featured in a Sunday service to do the official rituals of Chalice Lighting and Extinguishing.
This summer look for A Pocketful of Principles: Religious Education at Home for preschoolers, kids, youth and adults! Religious Education will offer one Zoom session (for all ages with breakout rooms) in June, July, and August. Zoom sessions will keep us virtually visible while we explore resources, rituals, stories, songs, and activities for your whole family. 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 Unitarian Universalist 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.
|
|
Groups, Gatherings, and Classes |
|
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.
|
|
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. Zoom Link.
|
|
Theology on Tap - Friday, June 4, at 7:00 p.m. - Zoom link. Bring a beverage of choice (from your own fridge) in the room of your choice (in your own place) and a community conversation. Meets the 1st Friday of each month.
|
|
Saturday Stitchers Meeting - Saturday, June 5 at 10:00 a.m. via Zoom link here. First Saturday of each month. Everyone welcome!
|
|
Reading & Reflecting on Poetry with JoAnn Anglin
Monday, June 7, 10:00a.m. at this zoom link. 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month. The next poem is Try to Praise the Mutilated World, by recently deceased Polish poet Adam Zagajewski. It can be found online here. You are invited to join via the same process for attending Sunday services.
More poetry news: Tom Goff placed first in the 2021 prestigious Robinson Jeffers' Tor House poetry competition. The prize includes an honorarium of $1,000. Tom’s winning poem, Blind Tom’s Battle of Manassas, was first among some 1,350 poems from 41 states, Canada, Iceland, Japan and Mexico. You can read it here. He has been working for some time on a series of poems related to music and musicians.
Tom is a teacher, poet, and skilled trumpet player. He has often been one of the
musicians at our Sunday service and frequently plays with local orchestras. I had the honor of joining him and his artist-wife, Nora Staklis (also a poet), in co-hosting a monthly series, PoemSpirits, here at UUSS almost 20 years ago.
|
|
Interplay - June 12th
Give you body and spirit a recharge
|
|
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. |
|
UUSS Engaged with the Community |
|
Want to Help the Homeless?
Participate in our Meal Distribution Program
|
|
Join with other UU's to make and distribute meals to the homeless through the UUSS/Arden Arcade Homeless Assistance Resource Team (AAHART)
Description of Program -UU UUSS/Arden Arcade Homeless Teams composed of UUSS members, their friends, family members, volunteer and work associates prepare and deliver 30 take-out meals to individuals living unhoused on the streets in the Arden-Arcade area on a specific, assigned date. This effort is part of a consortium of congregations located in Arden-Arcade and is part of the Arden Arcade Homeless Assistance Resource Team (AAHART) efforts.
Creating your team - Who is on your team is up to you. Teams have included UUSS members, UUSS groups, other organization members, friends and family. Some teams were very small, just 3 - 4 people, others had 10 to 12. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP
Team Responsibilities - Each team prepares and delivers the 30 meals on your assigned date. The team can make all the decisions of who, how, what and where. here are the AAHART documents
Specific Tasks:
- Choose what take out meal and drink to provide
- think what works well as take out, can be served room temp, filling and nutritious
- example - (lasagna, green beans, garlic bread, cookies, juice box) or (sandwich, chips, applesauce, brownies, water)
- Buy all ingredients for the meal
- Communicate with UUSS
- Frances Myers will contact you a few days before your scheduled date to see what you need and coordinate dropping off materials.
- Prepare the food
-
the UUSS Kitchen can be used, you would need to schedule it with the office so that they can let the caterer know. Krystal Gollaher krystal@uuss.org
- If you are using the UUSS Kitchen, no more than 10 people and masks must be worn (this may change as Covid-19 rules change)
- Package the meal and any “extras” for delivery
- UUSS can provide 30 (3) section eco-friendly take out containers, plastic silverware and napkins
- Small paper bags work if you give out the take-out container separately from the stuff in the bag, or if you want to give everything away in one bag, start saving bigger bags now and ask your friends and neighbors, it usually isn’t too hard to gather 30 bags.
-
AAHART has extra things to give out including toiletries and clean socks - if you would like to pick up these items contact Kiera Miller ardenarcadehart@gmail.com
-
Deliver and distribute the meals before 4 pm
- you will be delivering with at least two of your team.
- there are car magnets identifying you as AAHART
-
you will be given locations where we can hand-out the food - here is the map Map for AA HART Winter Meal Distribution
- you will need to keep notes of where you delivered and how many meals you delivered
- it works well to have one person driving and another looking for places to give out meals
- if you or anyone on your team has never handed out food directly to someone who is homeless, it can be intimidating, we have people who have delivered before to help you.
|
|
We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
