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Ministerial Message
Friday, June 12, 2020 
Beloveds:
Have you seen the New York Times Non-Fiction Bestseller list for this week? The top eleven books are all about understanding and responding to racism.   What's going on here? Well a lot actually. There seems to be some shift is awareness among white people, that is occurring because of George Floyd's death and the powerful protests that have  resulted. Voices are being heard that have been suppressed. People are listening, and those in power are compelled to pay attention.
 
These are challenging and exciting times.  I have been hearing from some of you that you don't know what you should be doing, or you feel like you are not doing enough.   But what does enough mean in times like these?   Right now enough might mean listening to black voices without turning away.  Enough might be reading and learning and asking questions when you have a strong reaction to a person or an idea. Enough might mean not rejecting people and ideas out of hand.  As an example I encourage you to read a powerful piece by our UUA President about defunding police.  

If you feel ready to engage more deeply with the issues see the list below of what you can do now for racial justice.   One special thing you can do is participate in the workshop on June 20 to learn about how we can address racism in our neighborhood and beyond.   The workshop is sponsored by our Environmental Justice Committee and let by Gabby Trejo, the Director of Sacramento Area Congregations Together (SAC ACT).  If you have been curious about community organizing and the work of SAC ACT, this is your chance.  More information below.    
 
We are living in time of great possibility, but also of contradictions - joy and pain, fear and possibility, beauty and ugliness, brokenness and wholeness.   Right now it might be enough just to stay present and breathe. We are holding a lot of emotions. If you need to give your body a treat and release some of your stress, I encourage you to come to our Interplay group tomorrow morning at 10:30. Zoom link here. Don't be intimidated by the name - its simple and fun and easy, and it might just be what you need right now.  I hope to see you there.   

Sending love to all.
Rev Lucy  
Join Our Services Online 
Sundays at 11:00 a.m.
Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.  
Info on phone or Zoom links here.

Sunday Morning
June 14 at 11:00 a.m.  
Another Look at Empathy: Starting Small
With Rev. Roger, Worship Associate Fred Best, RE Coordinator Miranda Massa, music by Keith Atwater and Irina  Tchantceva.  Celia Buckley will introduce will introduce youth Aliya Stanton, who will present her Credo statement from our   Coming of Age program.  We will have a guest from our Community Partner for June, Loaves and Fishes. 

Tuesday June 16 7:00 p.m.
We come together to celebrate the summer solstice. Led by our worship associate team.  

Sunday, June 21 11:00 a.m.
Father's Day
Raising White Boys to be Feminist Anti-racists 
Rev. James Galasinski, preaching, with Rev. Roger, Worship Associate Larry Boles, Guitarist Ross Hammond, Pianist Irina Tchantceva.
 

How does one pass on our faith to the next generation during these troubling times?  The Rev. James Galasinski serves the UU Church of Canton, NY, which boasts to be the United States UU congregation closest to a foreign capital. Before that, he was Ministerial Resident at First Unitarian, Albuquerque, NM.  A native of Milwaukee, he attended Meadville Lombard Theological School.  James enjoys jazz, hiking, and biking with his wife Ulrike and their two sons, Miles and Oskar.  Rev. Roger is virtually hosting his friend and colleague on Father's Day and will preach for the Canton church in August.
 
Sunday service includes all the familiar components and faces. Stay for our Coffee Hub after the service, where you can spend 15 minutes in a small group to get acquainted with newcomers and longtime UUs.

Be our Chalice lighter! We invite you to be an on-screen chalice lighter--as individuals or as families--at a Sunday service.   If any of you have a home chalice or candle, you will light it for all of us at the beginning of the service.  
All you have to do is sign-up  and we will Zoom you into the service as our official chalice lighters for the morning's service.   We hope to see more beloved and familiar faces. 

Tuesday Vespers (evening service) is a shorter and more casual service. It includes a time for Joys, Sorrows and Milestones, which you can post in the Zoom chat box for us to read.  At the end of the service, you are invited to "Start Video" on Zoom and greet everyone!
 
Visit another UU congregation 
Most congregations are meeting online, and many have recorded services available on their web sites.  You can also check out the Church of the Larger Fellowship. This is  a UU church online for those around the world who do not have a local congregation. CLF has been offering online worship services for 10 years, so they  must be doing something right.   Live stream Sunday at 5:00 p.m.   Access here.  
Addressing Racial Justice in Our 
Own Neighborhood and Beyond- Join Us June 20th
Historic and current systemic racism is making people of color sick in our own neighborhood of West Arden Arcade.
 
On Saturday, June 20, 10:00 a.m. - noon, join Sacramento ACT Executive Director Gabby Trejo and members of UUSS to learn about this and about faith-based organizing to address racial justice in our community and beyond. Rev. Lucy will open with an invocation.
 
Environmental and climate justice are huge parts of racial justice, and it's all connected and part of dismantling the culture of oppression.  We also join with members of the community and other Sacramento ACT committees to take racial justice actions.
 
Please come see what we are all about. REGISTER HERE
What you can do now for racial justice!
As protests continue in our country, many of us are wondering where we go from here.  As much as there is strife, there is also great potential for change and transformation.  Voices are being heard that have been suppressed for generations. Please take some time to listen. 

Here are some other resources to help you get engaged.  
  • Watch 
    • the powerful service at the First Universalist Church of Minneapolis from Sunday May 31.  It includes a message from Susan Frederick-Gray, president  of our UU Association of Congregations and a powerful sermon by Rev Karen Hutt.  We shared her sermon at Tuesday Vespers on June 2.  
  • Check out
    • Action steps recommended by the UUA Organizing Strategy Team, including a pledge to sign, opportunities to lift our voices, and recommendations for monetary donations.  
    • Advice for daily actions by the Movement 4 Black Lives
  • Read  
    • "A Pastoral Letter to Black UUs," by Rev. Lauren Smith, the UUA's Director of Stewardship and Development in Boston.  Earlier she was co-minister of South Church in Portsmouth, NH, with her husband, Rev. Chris Holton-Jablonski. Chris was our seminary intern in the early 2000s.
    • "A Message to White UUs," by our UUA President, Rev. Susan Frederick Gray. It is challenging, wise, and compelling.  
    • How to Be an Antiracist by award-winning author Ibram X. Kendi--our UUSS Bookstore has 2 copies left.  If you'd like to buy one, leave or mail a check to UUSS for $18. We will put a copy with your name outside Rev. Roger's office.  Contact Rev Roger (Also available on Kindle and at local book stores.)
  • Learn
  • Listen 
    • to the pod cast Save the people, featuring Brittany Packnett a young activist leader and the lecturer for the major Ware Lecture at our UUA General Assembly in 2018.  
Do you have ideas for how the congregation can engage with racial justice?  Contact our Racial Justice Action team   
Stewardship/Annual Pledging
Now More Than Ever...
... we cherish and support our Beloved UUSS Community. Please take a moment to appreciate the words of your fellow UUSS members on this beautiful image created by Stewardship Co-Chair Jim Eastman using a photo by David Dawson. This is the Stewardship Committee's gift to you for all you do in these troubling days and every day.
Adult Enrichment: Classes and Gatherings
Reading and Responding to Poetry
Monday, June 15, 10:00 a.m.
with Sacramento poet and UUSS member JoAnn Anglin and Rev. Roger.  The June 15 poem is "The Low Road," by Marge Piercy.  Join us!  In the Zoom stream
1st and 3rd Monday mornings, 10:00-10:45 a.m.  

Exploring Unitairan Universalism 
Every Wednesday at 7PM.  This week Rev Roger will continue with the topic of Humanism in Unitarian history. IN the Zoom Stream 


Interplay   Saturday at 10:30 2nd and 4th weeks -  Get your stress out and your joy in! Join Rev.Lucy and friends for movement, stillness, storytelling, and laughter. Try it, you'll love it. Next session: June 13.  Zoom link here.


Theology on Tap first Friday of the month at 7 PM   Bring a beverage of choice (from your own fridge) in the room of your choice (in your own place) and join in thoughtful community conversation.

See Draw, Paint:
Sketching Techniques Class with Patty Taylor
Two Saturdays, June 20 & 27, 10:00-11:30 a.m. on Zoom
       
 
Due to the current situation, none of us will be traveling very              soon, not even to attend a class.  In the meantime, you are at              home--perhaps with some time on your hands.   We will experiment with easy techniques to depict people, places and things you see on your travels or in your daily life.  Learn to pack a simple list of supplies and try out some basic drawing, collage, and watercolor techniques.  Off you go, sketch book in hand to explore your surroundings while getting in touch with your inner artist.  
No experience necessary, if you can write, you can draw.  

1) Saturday, June 20 from 10:00 to 11:30. 
2) Saturday, June 27 from 10:00 to 11:30.
 
1. Draw the way you draw and see what you see
This includes contour drawing, proportions, and composition.

To enroll, 1) send an email to auction@uuss.org or contact Patty by phone; 2) send a check for $40/person to UUSS or use PayPal (it does charge UUSS a fee): www.uuss.org/donate. Memo: "Auction"
Its Not Too Late to Register for General Assembly
At General Assembly, ministers and lay delegates from most of our 1,048 UU congregations in the USA gather to conduct the business of our denomination, the Unitarian Universalist Association. We also hear amazing lecturers, preachers and musicians, participate in workshops to learn new insights and skills for congregational life.  A few worship services are open to the public but most GA events are open only if you register for GA.

This year t he virtual GA will be much less expensive than in-person versions.  There is also a webinar available to help you get the most out of your experience.   Register at  www.uua.org/ga
Community Partner for June: Loaves and Fishes 
Every month we give half of the Sunday offering to a local not-for-profit group. UUSS members vote every year to choose 12 community partners that embody our values and reflect our mission to be a force for healing in the world.  

For June our community partner is Loaves & Fishes, a volunteer-staffed local organization that provides an oasis of welcome, safety, and cleanliness for homeless adults and children seeking survival services.   Thank you for your generosity.   
Long time UUSS member releases autobiography!
Richard Poppe is proud to announce that his father's autobiographical 
manuscript concerning his life and struggle to emigrate to this country in the 1920's/ 1930's has been published. Richard's parents,  Hans W. Poppe and Clari L. Poppe,  were members of UUSS for more than 40 years. The book   "Would You Like To See My Etchings? is available at  to  www.Amazon.com
UUSS Mission
We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.