Dear Friends,
Greetings and love to you on this milestone of one year since the Covid-19 pandemic began to ravage this country and the world. It has taken so many lives and caused grief, anxiety, disrupted lives, fear and economic harm to many people. It has kept us apart physically. At our one-year-anniversary Vesper Service at 7:00 PM on Tuesday, we will remember and reflect on much of what we have witnessed as individuals and as a UU community in the pandemic. In the past year of confusion, separation and stress, your UUSS ministers, staff members and volunteer leaders have been doing our best to serve and stay faithful to the mission, values and covenant of this congregation. It’s an honor to be with you.
Rev. Lucy and I hope to see many of you Saturday evening at 6:00 at the Service Auction Event online. We appreciate the many hours of work and care that the committee and other volunteers have put into making this event possible. An article below explains what you need to know and gives you a link to register. There is no cost to attend, but it’s necessary to register to attend. There will be some wonderful Live Auction items plus a little entertainment and some special guests.
Thanks to those who have been bidding, buying, and contributing already. In particular, thanks for your support of the Fund-a-Need Marketplace. There are several ways you can “sponsor” aspects of the UUSS Mission. On the auction site you can add these to your shopping cart. Or you can review the full list on a PDF form at this link. You can print the form out and mail it to UUSS with a tax-deductible donation. Many of the items on it are things that your friends and relatives may be impressed to know about UUSS, so we encourage you to share the Fund-a-Need Marketplace link with them or print a form to give to them.
We are especially excited about the opportunity to fund the New Meadow Project for the UUSS campus—4,000 square feet of pollinator-friendly, drought-tolerant native grasses and flowers to be planted and maintained between our Religious Education building, outdoor Labyrinth, and covered Patio. Please check it out.
This Weekly Message includes many of the ways we are striving to stay connected. Thank you for being here. Thank you for keeping the faith.
Yours in service,
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DON'T FORGET TO
SPRING FORWARD
REMEMBER TO SET YOUR
CLOCKS AHEAD 1 HOUR
SATURDAY NIGHT
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We extend our condolences to our members Kurtis, Stephanie and Dante Hardaway on the passing of Kurt’s father, Richard Hardaway, in Humboldt County, at age 88 after an extended illness. Rich was known on Sacramento television and radio, including as host of the California Lottery broadcast, with his signature signoff, “Good luck and good night.”
We extend our condolences to our members John McMillan, Janet Lopes and family on the passing of John’s brother, Francis (Frank) McMillan in Whittier, CA, from colon-rectal cancer at age 64. He was a US Postal Service carrier for 20 years prior to his illness. He leaves behind his wife and stepchildren and step-grandchildren and his eight siblings, including John.
If you have experienced the loss of someone recently, please let Rev. Roger and Rev. Lucy know. In addition to hearing about your loved one, we are open to including mention of your loss in the Weekly Message. Let us hold in our hearts the millions of people grieving the loss of so many friends and family members from Covid-19 over the past year—530,000 deaths in the United States and many more overseas.
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Service Auction 2021!
The Big Event is Here--The Annual UUSS Service Auction!
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Tomorrow we have a final opportunity to participate in this year’s online live auction. It’s not too late to register at uuss.org/auction by creating a username, password and entering a credit card.
The schedule for the auction is listed below. There is still time to be a winner!
The raffle is closed except for #701, Pick Your Paradise. Winners will be notified by email; non-perishable, tangible items will be ready for pick up starting during meal pick-up on Saturday.
March 13
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Silent auction closes at Noon. Pick Your Paradise raffle closes at 6:15 PM.
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Dinner pickup between 3-5 PM; an email has been sent to ticket holders with further instructions.
- 6:00 PM—shared dinner via ZOOM
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6:30 PM—live auction begins; bidders will use the Zoom chat box to enter their bid; each bidder will have 2 minutes to enter their bid. If you need help with bidding, contact auction@uuss.org and request a “bidding partner” who will help you during the live auction. Please remember, you will need to be registered, including a credit card and have access to a computer.
How do I know if I won?
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You will receive an email on Monday. The subject line will say: Notification—UU Society of Sacramento. The email will provide detailed instructions for checking out and paying for your winning items
I won a tangible, non-perishable Item…how do I get it?
- Pick it up when you pick up your dinner or in the Welcome Hall during office hours; your name will be on the description sheet.
- Perishable item winners will coordinate delivery with donor
Funds from our March 13 auction will keep our mission strong.
Together or apart....We are ONE HEART! Uuss.org/auction
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Join Our Services
March Soul Matters Theme--Commitment
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Join us for Worship Services:
Sundays at 11:00 a.m. ~ Tuesdays at 7:00 p.m.
For a full list of March services check here.
Miss a service? You can find links to past services here.
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Sunday March 14, 11 AM:
Reconsidering God
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, with Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Theo Claire, and Pianist Irina Tchantceva
The concept of God can be challenging, especially for UUs who have rejected the idea of a transcendent, all-powerful God. In what other ways can we conceive of God, and why does it matter?
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Tuesday March 16, 7 PM: A Year Apart: Remembrance, Grief and Hope for Better Days
Rev. Dr. Roger Jones, Worship Associate Suzy Mazrolle, and Pianist Irina Tchantceva
One year ago, the Covid-19 lockdown physically separated us from one another as a congregation, and one year ago we started Tuesday Vespers. For everyone, it's been a year of uncertainty, frustration, grief, injustice, and struggle-as well as creativity, hard work, learning new skills, renewed connections, and other surprises. Join us on this bittersweet anniversary.
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Sunday March 21, 11 AM: Your One Wild and Precious Life
Led by Rev. Dr. Roger Jones with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Jed Shapiro, Pianist Irina Tchantceva, and UUSS folks from age 9 to 90!
Join us for this favorite annual service. Congregants from every decade of age will present their two-minute answers in response to this question from a poem by the late Mary Oliver: “Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?”
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Tuesday March 23, 7 PM: Commitment to Your Life
Rev. Lucy Bunch, preaching, Worship Associate Fred Best and Pianist Irina Tchantceva.
The Soul Matters theme for March is commitment and, in this service, we will consider the vows we make in our lives, including the ones we make to ourselves.
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How to Be our Sunday Chalice Lighters!
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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Join us for Wellspring Wednesday
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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.
Third Wednesday Minister's Class: Theologies.
March 17: If you enjoyed the sermon on Sunday come join Rev. Lucy for further reflection on God
Fourth Wednesday: Exploring UUism -- rotating topics about Unitarian Universalism, of interest to newcomers and long-timers.
March 24: What Faith means to a UU with Rev Roger.
Bonus! Fifth Wednesday
March 31: Be surprised with Rev Lucy (or suggest a topic!)
First Wednesday: Soul Matters Theme
April 7: Becoming
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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. Look for us signing American Sign Language (ASL) to our most favorite song, Spirit of Life, in service this Sunday, March 14. Get links here.
UU Kids Playing Minecraft--Minecraft is a sandbox video game popular with several kids and youth at UUSS. Thanks to parent volunteers, we're trying it out here, 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.
All ages welcome. Come!
Junior High Youth Group (JHYG) on Sunday, March 21, with
Rev. Cynthia Davis and Terrie Ray, 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. Get your Zoom link here or email with questions. Note: no JHYG on Easter.
Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) Sunday, March 14, 1:00 p.m.
Reminder to families: Sign up here to be featured in a Sunday service to do the official rituals of Chalice Lighting and Extinguishing.
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by Jim Eastman, Stewardship Committee Chair
Flowers are blooming, birds are singing, the sun is warming—nature’s magnificent annual construction project is underway! Healing from the pandemic is on the way too as vaccine doses are delivered, infection rates are falling, and our region carefully begins to reopen.
Imagine what good things the future may hold for you and those whom you love. Think about all the good things that have been happening at UUSS during the pandemic, and all the great things we have planned. Remember all the wonderful times we’ve spent together with our UUSS community, then look forward to being together again in the coming months. Please consider these possibilities when planning your pledge this year to UUSS.
This year, for the first time, you will be able to make your pledge to UUSS online, in addition to our familiar mail-in option. While you’re online, you’ll also be able to find more information and messages about how to pledge, ways to pay for your pledge, and all the things your pledge does for our community to move our mission forward. During this Sunday’s service, we’ll unveil this year’s Stewardship logo, and tell you where to find our online resources.
Though there is so much to be done, positive changes are happening. We are Moving Forward to Better Days… Together.
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Groups, Gatherings, and Classes |
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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.
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Reading & Reflecting on Poetry with JoAnn Anglin
Monday, March. 15, 10:00a.m. at this zoom link. 1st & 3rd Mondays of each month. The poem to be considered at next Monday’s Lectio Divina is Her Head, by Joan Murray. It can be found at online here.
Access to our discussion is the same as used for Sunday services.
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Join CUUPS for a virtual Spring equinox ritual celebration Friday 3/19 7:00 - 8:30pm in Main UUSS zoom room. We will remember & honor losses, victories, strategies, challenges, tips as the earth is burgeoning. Likewise, lockdown is slowly opening even as we still have some months of relative isolation ahead. We will share what we miss & are looking forward to. Bring your thoughts, feelings (eg, humor, exhaustion), poetry, readings, music, artwork. Organizers: Laurie Jones & Leanna Pierson. To be added/deleted to the CUUPS listserv, please contact krystal@uuss.org.
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Meditation & Mindfulness Practices Monday, March 8, 6:00p.m. with teacher Ann Kronser and host Judy Bell from Adult Enrichment. The 2nd and 4th Monday evenings. Zoom link here.
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YOU should be coming to Interplay
Tomorrow March 13 at 10:30 am
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InterPlay led by Rev. Lucy and Friends March 13 -Takes place the 2nd and 4th Sat. 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.
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Invitation to Interplay!
A conversation with Susan Carlsen
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Visiting the UUSS Campus: Call Ahead |
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UUSS remains closed to visitors inside the building. If you need to drop off or pick up something, that can be arranged by calling the office or emailing a staff member: (916) 483-9283. There is Chalice Blend Coffee (regular/decaf, ground/whole beans) now in the Bookstore. (Cost is $12 a bag, checks payable to UUSS). Just contact the office, and it will be ready for you.
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The church grounds are open for visits. Note: among other improvements to the campus, there is a new metal fence protecting the inside part of the campus, installed as a result of research by our Safety Task Force.
If you would like weekday access to the Labyrinth, the children's playground, or the new patio cover, the gates will be unlocked on business days (M-F from 9 AM till dark), and Sundays from 8-10 AM and 1-3 PM. If you try the gate and it's not open, call or knock on the Office door. Meanwhile other improvement work is ongoing, inside and out!
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UUSS Engaged with the Community |
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Second Saturday American Parkway Clean-up Saturday, March 13 at 8:45 am
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To our Parkway Steward veterans and interested newcomers:
You are invited to come out this Saturday, March 13th, for our regular monthly cleanup on the “UUSS mile” of the American River Parkway!
We meet on the second Saturday of every month between 8:45-9:00AM in the parking lot, next to the levee, at the end of Northrop Avenue, off Howe Avenue, behind Panera. We sign in; trash bags are issued and new folks are oriented. We then spend one hour removing trash from the UU Mile. We meet back at the levee stairway at 10:00 AM for a photograph of our crew and the results of our efforts. Afterward, many of us continue the fun at Panera with refreshments and conversation. Remember to wear good shoes, bring gloves, a mask, perhaps a “grabber”, and your volunteer spirit…. this Saturday looks to be sunny with some clouds, but we will go out rain or shine.
Looking forward to seeing you soon,
Eric Ross
Mile Steward
UUSS American River Parkway Stewards
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We Feed People in Need:
Sandwich Brigade Volunteers Needed
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The "Sandwich Brigade" We will be building lunches for unhoused folks.
HOW IT WORKS: Designated UUSS volunteers will make 15 sandwiches each, put each into an individual lunch bag, add an apple, and leave bags open, then deliver to UUSS on the 3rd MONDAY of each month BETWEEN 11:00 and 11:30 AM.
WHO: New Sandwich Brigade, under showupsac.ca/, headed by Sally Wilkins
WHAT: A new volunteer activity to help feed unhoused in the Sacramento area
WHEN: Once a month, sandwiches to be delivered to UUSS, 3rd Monday of month, by 11:30am
WHERE: To UUSS, 2425 Sierra Blvd., 3rd Monday of month.
WHY: To feed people who don't have resources to do so themselves.
Now we're doing it on Wednesdays too!
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Our Community Partner for March |
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Every Sunday we give half the offering to a local not-for-profit organization. In January, we contributed $3,160 to the Black Child Legacy Campaign. Our community partner in March is Sacramento Family Promise . This organization helps low-income families achieve lasting independence. The problem of poverty is complex. It won't yield to a simple solution or a quick fix. It requires an integrated approach that begins with meeting immediate needs but reaches much further to help people achieve independence.
How to donate:
*Text the amount to (855) 935-2216 (a first-time setup is required)
*Credit card: Call the church office - (916) 483-9283 ext. 205
*Mail a check payable to UUSS, 2425 Sierra Blvd, Sacramento CA 95825
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Donate Men's Business Clothes to Youth In Need
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We are collecting used (but decent condition) men's office clothes for a local charity that helps homeless kids/teens. Wind Youth Services has been our community partner in recent years and we want to help out at this time.
The clothes are greatly needed by the homeless kids/youth so they can dress appropriately to go to job interviews.
Bring your men's office/business clothes (collared shirts, ties, pants (dress pants or khakis), belts, shoes) to the office office weekdays Mon-Fri 9 AM - 4 PM.
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Washington Commons Cohousing
Virtual Site Tour Tomorrow, March 13!
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Washington Commons is a planned 35-unit cohousing community. Each household will have its own one- or two- bedroom condominium. Extensive community facilities will include a kitchen and dining room, bicycle storage, guestrooms, and other amenities. Washington Commons welcomes all ages and embraces cultural and racial diversity to create a community of caring, supporting, involved individuals, couples and families. Located on quiet streets just a block from the Sacramento River, it is within walking distance of downtown Sacramento. We hope to break ground soon.
Learn more at www.Washington-commons.org and join them for Zoom site tours twice a month. Outreach Coordinator Shelly Parks would be happy to talk with UUs and other interested people: (425) 308-0639. "Neighborly by Design," in Comstock's Magazine, features Fair Oaks EcoHousing, where several UUSS members live, and talks about Washington Commons. "Learn About Washington Commons" is one hour long. TOMORROW: 10 AM Saturday, March 13.
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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
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, Tech support ~ Dirk Tuell, Web Master/Tech Guru
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We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. |
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