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Weekly Message for UUSS
for October 23, 2020
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Trick or treat.
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Dear Congregation,
In the wake of a smooth and successful congregational meeting, I just want to say thank you. Thanks for being a part of UUSS.
In particular, thank you for your gifts of time, talent, and financial support. Thank you for approving the Board's proposed
Budget for this year (2020-21).
Things are challenging financially for many not-for-profit organizations, including this one. Yet your generosity has made a crucial difference in our vitality.
Rev. Lucy and I are working with dedicated UUSS volunteers to keep us cared for and connected in these times of uncertainty. We also appreciate the continued commitment and hard work of our administrative, custodial, music, and religious education staff members at UUSS. They have risen to the challenge. Together, we strive to keep the UUSS mission at the heart of all we do.
Likewise, all of your donations support the staff members, resource materials, public witness and outreach of the Unitarian Universalist Association. The UUA embodies the covenant which all UU congregations have made to support one another and sustain our shared values.
Your financial support makes this possible-it supports all of those who serve all of us. However, if you are experiencing a financial hardship, please let us know. We are a community of mutual support and inter-dependence. Rev. Lucy and I are able to provide emergency support to members in financial need from donations that several members and friends have been making to the Ministerial Discretionary Fund
If you need pastoral support, we hope you know you can reach out to Rev. Lucy or to me. We also have a team of Pastoral Volunteers who work with us to provide a listening ear and other volunteers willing to run an errand for those who need it. We're grateful for their ministries.
If you have other needs or questions, the staff of our UUSS Office is available weekdays by phone and email. If you need to drop something off or pick up something (like Chalice Blend coffee), they can arrange that. Our Music and Religious Education staff are available by email.
Please be sure to read the updates and invitations that follow in this Weekly Message. There are so many important ways to be part of this congregation. Thanks for your part!
Keep in touch and keep the faith!
PS--Bring your photographs or mementos to place on our altar to honor the memory of departed loved ones by Oct. 30; it will be featured in the Nov. 1 service. Also, please send digital photographs to office@uuss.org for the slide show in the service. We also will read aloud the Memorial Roll Call for members and friends or loved ones who died since last year's service, so please sendnames of those who have died since October 2019, also to office@uuss.org. More details below.
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Join Our Services Online or by Phone
October Theme: Deep Listening
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Join us for Worship Services:
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ~ Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday Oct. 25: Kairos and Chronos Rev. Lucy Bunch with Rev. Roger Jones and Worship Associate Frances Myers, Music Director Keith Atwater and Pianist Irina Tchantceva
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.  Tuesday Oct. 27: Listening: The Other Half of Prayer Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Karen Sparrow, Keith Atwater and Irina Tchantceva. As we wrap up October's theme of deep listening, tonight we consider that confusing word, prayer, which means different things to different folks. Perhaps what's important is not the meaning we give to the word but the attitude we bring to the practice.
 Sunday Nov. 1: Remembering Our Beloved Dead
Rev. Lucy Bunch with Rev. Roger Jones and Worship Associate Larry Boles, Music Director Keith Atwater and Pianist Irina Tchantceva
We come together in community to honor our loved ones who have died and whom we wish to remember and celebrate. We will read the roll call of names of those in our UUSS community who have died in the past year. Let Roger know of any family members to add to the list.
If you would like to have a picture of your beloved dead shared during the service, please send, scan, or bring photo to the office by October 28th.
Daylight Savings Time Ends Today November 1.
Tuesday Nov. 3: Election-night Vigil: Courage for the Long Haul
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Rev. Lucy Bunch
Worship Associate Frances Myers
Music Director Keith Atwater and Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Before this year's election results are tallied up across the country, and before California's polls have closed, we'll gather together to share our concerns and hopes but also our strength with one another. Make sure to vote first!
Be our Chalice lighter! We invite you to be an
on-screen chalice lighter--as individuals or as families--on a Sunday. You can light your home chalice or candle for all of us at the beginning of the service and extinguish at the end.
We'll Zoom you into the morning service. We hope to see more beloved and familiar faces.
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Three Ways to Remember
Our Departed Loved Ones:
Getting Ready for the Nov. 1 Sunday Service
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A highlight of our year is the Nov. 1 service to honor our beloved dead. Even though our service will be on Zoom this year, we will do that in three familiar ways.
1) Together we are building a real, tangible altar of honor and remembrance at UUSS. Bring photographs or small memorabilia honoring your beloved dead and add it to the altar. The completed altar will be featured on video throughout the service. Jenn Richard has set up the altar in the Fahs Classroom (education building). Stop by to place your items on the altar, light a battery-powered votive candle, and see what others have brought. The room is well ventilated, and we ask one family or person at a time to enter, wearing a mask. Open weekdays till Oct. 30: Monday-Thursday, 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. (and later if you make an arrangement with the Office).
On this Sunday, Oct. 25, Rev. Roger will open the room from 12:30-2:00 p.m.
2) Send in a photograph for our slide show; if you would like a name for a caption, please provide that. You may send a digital picture to office@uuss.org. If you are reading this Message on paper and don't have internet, you may bring or send a picture for our staff to scan. We need the picture by Wednesday, Oct. 28.
3) We will read aloud the Memorial Roll Call of the names of members, friends and members' loved ones who have died since October 2019. If you have a name to add to our list, please provide it to office@uuss.org by Wednesday, Oct. 28.
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California Ballot Propositions
Outreach & Advice from UUSS Partners
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Prop. 15--UUSS is a member congregation of Sacramento ACT, which has been part of a coalition that recruited 1.8 million voter signatures for Proposition 15, "Schools and Communities First." This
 would close property-tax loopholes for large corporations. It would yield at least $130 million a year for Sacramento County alone for schools and community services. Sac ACT is asking each of us to Pledge to Vote (and support Prop. 15). Join a team to text or telephone registered voters or share information on your social media: yes15.org
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Get Out the Vote--Last Call!
How You Can Help
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 UU the Vote is our denomination's nonpartisan voter-organizing effort, working in conjunction with partner organizations. One of those partners is Reclaim Our Vote, for which UUSS member Sue Jones is coordinating the work of regional volunteers.
Texting and Telephoning Campaign: From now to November 3, please help with phone banking or sending texts to voters to get out the vote. Sue can connect you with that or you can go through UU the Vote, as some of our UUSS members are doing. Contact Sue Jones at rov.sacvalley@gmail.com.
Through UU the Vote, a number of UUSS folks have joined a phone-bank team for national call-in days to battleground states. (We get oriented, trained in the first 30 minutes or so of the phone bank, make our calls together, and celebrate our results.) This work is fulfilling and fun. RSVP for the Next Phone Bank
If you would like to contribute to UU the Vote mail a check to UU the Vote, UUA, 24 Farnsworth St., Boston, MA 02201, or text VOTELOVE to 51555.
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Connections:
Classes and Gatherings
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Friday Morning Bookstore Hours at UUSS
Every Friday from 9:00-11:00. 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 some great reads--$1.00, hardback or paper. Also CDs by UUSS musicians, books by UUSS authors.
Chalice Blend Coffee is available in the Bookstore on Fridays
and at the Office: $12/bag (regular, decaf, ground or beans).
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.
Wellspring Wednesday with our Ministers
Join us every Wednesday on Zoom for 60-90 minutes.
Oct. 28: Rev. Lucy Bunch will continue the conversation about time from the Oct. 25 service. Come to our Wednesday night variety offering for community, learning, support, and fun. Every Wednesday, 7:00 p.m.
Religion Class with Keith Atwater!
Keith is offering a monthly class on the 3rd Wellspring Wednesday of every month, at 7:00 p.m.
Nov. 18 - "A Bible Study for UUs - Part One"
An academic and spiritual approach. Unlike many traditional Christian "Bible Study" classes, our interactive critical analysis will investigate this ancient text's sources, development over time, translations, interpretations, key ideas, and core narratives. (Part One - Hebrew Bible/ Old Testament: he'll post advance notes and questions or uuss.org, but you can email him directly: keith@uuss.org.
Meditation & Mindfulness Practices Monday, October 26, 6:00-6:00p.m. with teacher Ann Kronser and host Judy Bell from Adult Enrichment. The second and fourth Monday evenings. Zoom link here.
"Three Conversations About Death" with Molly Stuart on Zoom. In this program, we work our way from a practical understanding of the issues surrounding end of life care, then explore our life values so that we can respect them even during death, and finally articulate specific gradations in the kind of care we hope for. Please plan to attend all three. We do this to protect our family and caregivers from difficult and uncertain decisions and to receive the kind of care we wish for. Thursdays: Oct. 29, Nov. 5, Nov. 12. 1 pm. For more info email Molly@mollystuart.com. Suggested Donation to UUSS $50.
 Parent Voices Nov. 1, 8:00 p.m. The first Sunday of the month, supportive conversations with parents and grandparents, hosted by Miranda. The group is discussing "Growing UUs: A Recipe Book." Get link here.
Reading and Responding to Poetry with JoAnn Anglin, Monday, Nov. 2, at 10:00 AM via Zoom link. Usually this class meets t he first and third Mondays of every month. JoAnn is postponing until November as she cares for her family. We extend our love and care to JoAnn and our prayers and healing wishes to her son Miles Needham, who was very seriously injured in a car accident recently. See Miles and family at this GoFundMe page.
Theology on Tap - Friday, Nov. 6, at 7:00 p.m. The first Friday of each month. Bubbly conversation on yeasty topics of a UU flavor. Bring a beverage of your choice to your computer screen. Greet others in the large room, and then we go into small breakout rooms to reflect and share on one of many deep topics. Link here. Cheers! Visit with your old an and new friends and your favorite craft project. All welcome! Join via Zoom link
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 InterPlay led by Rev. Lucy and friends Takes place the second and fourth Saturday morning 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! Next session is November 14. Link here. Learn more about here.
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Religious Education for
children and youth
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Spirit Play
every Sunday at 9:30 a.m. for those in
grades K-5. With RE Coordinator Miranda Massa and adult volunteers. Maintaining our connections, remembering our Rainbow Promises, and sustaining our sense of wonder, online together. Get links here.
Junior High Youth Group
Sunday, Nov. 1, 4:00 p.m. with Rev. Cynthia Davis & Miranda Massa
1st and 3rd Sundays at 4:00 p.m for those in grades 6-7-8.
Making friendships, finding support and joy, online together,
with a team of adult volunteer leaders.
Senior High Youth Group (SHYG)
SHYG meets with adult volunteer leaders every other Sunday at 1:00 p.m. by Zoom with lead advisor Dirk Tuell and other volunteer adult advisors.
Reminder to families: See the Online Services listing for an invitation to be featured in a Sunday service to do the official rituals of Chalice Lighting and Extinguishing.
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Gather for reflection and discussion on Racial Justice: 1st & 3rd Mondays at 7:00 p.m.
2nd & 4th Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m.
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At UUSS we are on a journey together to work to dismantle racism, individually, organizationally and systemically. As a mostly White congregation, we are doing a lot of learning and finding ways to take action.
Join our Racial Justice team for thoughtful discussion on the 1st at 3rd Mondays of the month at 7:00 PM and the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays at 10:30 AM. See topics, reflection questions, and materials, including articles and videos, at this link at our website.
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Our Community Partner for October:
Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services
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 We share half of our October offering donations to Sacramento Food Bank & Family Services. It has evolved from a food pantry to a provider of regional services for lifelong residents--as well as immigrants and refugees who have made their home here. It's the largest nonprofit provider of basic human needs in Sacramento County, and offers educational opportunities and support services that allow people to shape their best tomorrow. Its Run to Feed the Hungry will be virtual this November. Click the organization's name above to find out!
Donate by credit card here to the Shared Offering or mail a check to UUSS, 2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento 95825. Whether on PayPal or by check, note "Shared Offering." Thank you for your generosity to UUSS and our community partners.
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How to Vote for Community Partners for 2021:
Ballot Links below--Deadline Saturday
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Fifteen not-for-profit organizations have been nominated by UUSS members to receive half of every month's offering donations in 2021. There are some changes to the voting process this year, which we announced at the Congregational Meeting and on the website. Members have until midnight Saturday, Oct. 24 (i.e., late Saturday night) to cast our vote for 12 of the organizations.
There are some new nominees this year, so please be sure to read up on them. Click here to read the full nomination forms by UUSS members, which explain how the organizations tie to our Mission and Strategic Plan. All of the organizations' websites are on the ballot, so you can visit them to learn more. Members, please vote for your top 12, and vote for no more than 12. Find the electronic ballot here.. Contact Anara Guard at boardsecretary@uuss.org if you have questions. Thank you!
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UUSS OFFICERS & BOARD of TRUSTEES
Sally White, President
Denis Edgren, Vice-President
Victoria Owens, Treasurer
Anara Guard, Secretary
David Harlow, Trustee at Large
Marilyn Reynolds,Trustee at Large
Hally Cahssai,Trustee at Large
Eric Ross, Trustee at Large
Tonie Darling, Trustee at Large
Board meetings: 7:00 p.m., 4th Thursday of every month; 3rd Thursday in November, December.
PROGRAM COUNCIL
Susan Davis, Co-chair
Margaret Wilcox, Co-chair
Tina Chiginsky-Lawrence
Lorri Reynard
Debby Powell
Jon Peterson
Youth Members: Jade Lewis-Boles and Alec Redmond
Program Council meetings: 7:00 p.m., 3rd Thursday of every month.
Ministers
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones and Rev. Lucy Bunch
Rev. Douglas Kraft, Minister Emeritus
Church Staff Members Krystal Gollaher, Administrative and Facilities Coordinator Michele Ebler, Bookkeeper ~ Elaine Cooper, Receptionist Miranda Massa, Religious Education Coordinator Keith Atwater, Music Director ~ Irina Tchantceva, Pianist Jesus Hoyos - Sunday thru Thursday, Evening Custodian Ivan Caballero, Sunday Audio Tech ~ Dirk Tuell, Web Master/Tech Support
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| UUSS Mission | |
We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world.
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