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Our April Soul Matters Theme:



The Path of Resistance

Here's the link to the Soul Matters materials

http://www.uuss.org/soulmatters/

April 9, 10:30 AM: Rising to Love

Special Guest Preacher Rev. Carlton E. Smith, with Rev. Lucy Bunch and Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Colette Kavanaugh, UUSS Choir, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva.

Special music by Celia Buckley, Courtney O’Neil, and Catherine Desberg.

Pulpit flowers by Elinor Anklin

In the spring, we celebrate the cycles of life as we move from the chill and barrenness of winter toward the warmth and fruitfulness of summer. This Resurrection Sunday, we will consider the ways that death and loss create the context for birth and renewal, whether in the natural world, in our congregations, or in our pursuit of justice. What can we learn from our spiritual forebears about the power of love to transform our world?

Rev. Carlton E. Smith is the Regional Lead for the Pacific Western Region. Before that, he was a parish minister serving UU congregations in Metro New York, Greater Boston, Northern Virginia and Oakland, California. 

• At 9:30 a.m.: Racial Equity Conversation in the Fahs Classroom--with Racial Justice Team members. Focus: Taking Action for racial justice. Discussion included!
• At 11:40 a.m.: Pledge Drive Procrastinators, visit the Pledge Table (cookies!)
• At 11:50 a.m.: Newcomers’ Orientation & Tour (meet at the Welcome Table).
• At 12:00 p.m.: Kids' Easter Egg Hunt in the meadow; art for all ages on the patio

April 16, 10:30 AM:

The Future of Unitarian Universalism – Where Are We Going?

Rev Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Worship Associate Dawn Huebner, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva. Special music by the cast of Theater One’s “Green Room Confidential”

“Where do we come from, what are we, where are we going,” has been the theme song of our series this year.  This Sunday Rev Lucy will wrap up the theme with her reflections on the future of UU. How can we stay relevant but still true to our roots?  What does the current rewrite of our principles and sources mean for our relevance in this troubled world? UUSS member Karen Gunderson will give us an update on the Article 2 proposal to be voted on at General Assembly this year. 

April 24, 10:30 AM: Loving the Earth

A Circle Service for All Ages, led by Rev. Lucy Bunch with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associates Courtney O’Neil and Ginny Johnson, the UUSS Choir, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva

For our Earth Day service, we welcome leaders from the Quaker Arts Network. For the Loving the Earth project they asked people from around the world to create fabric panels that express their love and concern for a world endangered by environmental change. This beautiful artwork will be on display in our sanctuary for the entire month of April.  At this Earth Day celebration we will create “heart cards” where each of us can either draw or write about something or someone they love that they want to protect from the ill effects of climate change. Come and share in the love for our earth. 

*At noon: Forum on our heritage from the Unitarian Polish Brethren in the 1600s

with Rev. Roger & Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson and a preview of the tour they will lead in Poland this September. Read about the trip by clicking on the box at uuss.org/adultenrichment.  

Childcare--available from 9:15 to 12:15 most Sundays in Room 11 (Nursery). Room and resources for feeding/nursing infants are accessible in the nursery. Please enter campus via the main doors.



Extended childcare available for special events. contact Crystal for details: CrystalFountain@uuss.org

Soul Kids -- Meets again this Sunday! Kindergarten to

grade 5 are invited to join Duncan for activities related to the Soul Matters Theme: The Path of Resistance! Kids start in the service.

Junior High Youth Group (JHYG) -- Grades 6-7-8 on the 1st & 3rd Sundays of each month (10:30 start in sanctuary); meets again Sunday, Apr. 16.

Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) -- Grades 9-12 on

the 3rd Sunday (Apr. 16) Takes place AFTER the all-ages service.

Also, note that SHYG meets with Kids Freedom Club on the 1st Sunday of each month (May 7). Contact shyg@uuss.org to find out more!

Kids Freedom Club  -- MEETS 11:30 am the 1st Sunday of every month!

All age levels of kids, youth and parents gather to build community and raise awareness

of modern slavery and raise money to help to free enslaved people around the world. Contact freedom@uuss.org to find out more before the next meeting!

Is your child or grandchilde interested in Chalice Camp during the week of July 17-21?

The pandemic interrupted our participation in Chalice Camp these past few years, but we are looking for attendees to help us bring it back. A day camp for rising 1st to rising 6th graders with the theme of climate justice.

Email CrystalFountain@uuss.org to express interest.

Please email Crystal if you would like to receive the Weekly

Religious Education and Family Ministry Update Email. CrystalFountain@uuss.org

UPDATE:

So far, UUSS has received pledges from 145 households for a current total of $339,535 for the 2023-24 budget. Thank you! This means nearly 200 people have not let us know about their pledge.

Thank you to everyone who has made a financial pledge for the next budget year. Your generosity makes a difference in keeping this abundant community strong and vital as we live out our mission, support our ministers and staff members, pay our bills, maintain our buildings and grounds, and contribute to the larger UU movement. 

Now's the time for the rest of us to make a pledge!

At uuss.org/stewardship you can read a letter from our ministers, see the UUA Monthly Giving Guide, read a chart showing the range of monthly pledges to UUSS, watch Rev. Lucy's sermon, and submit your pledge. You can also see Tina Chiginsky Lawrence's heartfelt testimonial and a short video from a UUA leader and a former UUSS intern.

Below, click to watch the video montage of brief coffee hour answers to the question: What do you love about UUSS?

Freedom and Liberation Passover Seder with JVP -- Saturday, April 8, 5:30-8:30 

Last Chance to Register for tomorrow!

Led by Jewish Voice for Peace and hosted by UUs for Justice in the Middle East.

Kibbitz from 5:30 to 6:00 PM. Enjoy the Seder ritual at 6:00 PM. Hear a talk by a teenage Palestinian exchange student followed by dinner at 7:30 PM. Free.

Please RSVP to Patricia Johnson uujme@uuss.org.

Ukulele Strum-Along - Monday, April 10, 2:00-3:30 pm in the Fahs Classroom. Everyone is welcome. The UU Beginning Ukers meet on the 2nd Monday of each month. Beginners are encouraged to come at 1:30 for help getting started. We welcome brand-new players, and we supply the music and have ukes to lend. Contact: ukes@uuss.org

Depression Peer Support Group Sunday, April 16, 12:15 pm Room 7/8 Are you living with depression? You are not alone. Our confidential, in-person is for adults with depression. Email peersupport@uuss.org for information.

Reading & Responding to Poetry with JoAnn Anglin

Monday, April 17, 10:00 am, Zoom



Enter via the UUSS website, as you would attend a service. We meet the first and third Monday mornings. All are welcome to reflect together on a poem. This practice is called Lectio Divina.

InterPlay with Friends In-Person with Rev Lucy and Friends! Tuesday, April 18, 6:30- 8:00 PM in the Welcome Hall. Join us every third Tuesday for movement, storytelling, laughter, and fun. More info here.

Unitarian Heritage in Poland Forum 12:00, Sunday April 23

with Rev. Roger & Rev. Dr. Jay Atkinson

Unitarian religious ideas and a radical practice of community

flourished in the 16th century in a movement called the Polish Brethren. Unfortunately, they were expelled after a century.

Come learn about our brave ancestors of the early Protestant Reformation. In September, Roger and Jay will be leading a Unitarian Heritage tour to historic sites near Krakow and a visit to current UUs in Warsaw. Read about it at uuss.org/adultenrichment.

Attention New Members and Active Newcomers

New Class: Your UU Journey 

Wanting to explore your spiritual journey as a new UU? Join Rev Lucy for a 4-session class starting April 25. The group will meet four Tuesdays: April 25, May 2, 9 and 16, 6:30-8:30 at UUSS. This class is for new members and active newcomers who are new to Unitarian Universalism. Please contact Rev. Lucy lucy@uuss.org if you want to sign up or want to know more.  

Family Ministry is looking for volunteers for the UUSS All-Ages Camp at Camp Norge in Alta, California. Our dates are June 9-11. We have a chair and we have staff support, but we need a team! Please indicate your interest to Rev. Roger or Crystal Fountain.

Join an Action in support of low income renters

On April 20 at 10 AM join hundreds of people from all over the state are to gather at the capitol in support of housing legislation. Our justice partner, Sacramento ACT (Area Congregations Together) and PICO-CA are starting a 10-year fight to increase affordable housing. April 20 is the first lobby day at the State Capitol. We are lobbying for Senate Bill 567 which protect California’s low-income renters from unjust evictions and exorbitant rent increases. Learn more here. Come out and let your state representatives know how important this is for all California families. Contact Meg Gunderson for info racialjustice@uuss.org or come to the table on Sunday April 9 & 16.

Family Promise 18th annual dinner, Thursday, April 27, 5:30-8:30 at Our Lady of Assumption Church, 5057 Cottage Way, Carmichael. I’d like 7 folks to join me at no charge. Two very generous donors have “bought a table” for 8. Thanks to them for their support. If you’d like to attend, please reply to Sally Wilkins at familypromise@uuss.org

Consider being a delegate to General Assembly -- GA will be held in Pittsburgh, PA, and online June 21-25.  UUSS will host "watch parties" during GA. UUSS will offer reimbursement for virtual or in-person delegate registration. Anyone attending in person is responsible for all travel costs. The UUA by-laws are being revised-- the "Principles and Purposes." (See www.UUA.org/studycommission). Delegates will vote on the proposal and proposed amendments made before GA. Contact President Anara Guard: board@uuss.org.

Some members get emails or texts that appear to come from another member or from a minister. These "phishing" scams typically ask for "a favor." If you reply to the sender you get a request to help them help others in need (or for gifts for a family or staff member). They ask for you to buy gift cards from a merchant and then provide the gift card information and PIN to them. We will never ask for "help" or donations or "a loan" in this way.

Delete such emails, or "block and report" them. Don't reply directly to the imposter email! If you are not sure about a request, contact the "person" through another means.