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Our May Soul Matters Theme:

The Path of Creativity

Here's the link to the Soul Matters materials

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

April 30, 10:30AM

Renewing Ministry: A Celebration of

Co-Ministry and Affirmation of Covenant

Guest speakers Rev. Leslie Takahashi & Rev. Arvid Straube, with Co-ministers Lucy Bunch & Roger Jones, Worship Associate Dan Myers, Board President Anara Guard, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva and special music.

In serving together since 2013, Rev. Roger and Rev. Lucy have evolved a collaborative approach to ministry with UUSS. A year ago, the Board and Program Council voted to affirm this with new titles: Ministers of Equal Standing. Today we celebrate their commitment to shared ministry with UUSS. Both ministers and congregants will speak aloud our words of commitment. Don’t miss this milestone in UUSS history--and stay for the reception! 

Special Guests: The preacher is the Rev. Leslie Takahashi, president of the continental UU Ministers Association (and minister in Walnut Creek). The Rev. Arvid Straube of San Diego will give the Charge to the Ministers and the Congregation. The Rev. Kate Kennedy, the director of Clinical Pastoral Education at Sutter Sacramento, will give the prayer.

The Rev. Vail Weller will bring greetings from the Unitarian Universalist Association headquarters and invite the offering.

Sermon:

“A Sanctuary Called Community” -- Rev. Takahashi writes: “In today’s congregations, we come together across many differences—in experiences, generations, identities and what we want. The glue for what we do in our shared congregational life is covenant.”

We extend our love and condolences to our member Karl Bucholz on the loss of his wife and our member, Karen Robison.  Karen passed away peacefully at home at Eskaton with Karl. She was 85. A native of the Great Lakes region and a longtime Unitarian Universalist, Karen was a registered nurse. The couple met 32 years ago at a camp for UU singles on Lake Michigan. Karen leaves behind two children from her first marriage as well as Karl's two children, and four grandchildren. 

We extend our love and condolences to our member Leeanna Pierson on the unexpected loss of her younger brother, Chuck Pierson, at age 62.  He worked for the Plumas County roads department and lived in Quincy. Chuck was fishing at Pyramid Lake when he died.  

We extend our love and condolences to our member Bobbie Keill on the loss of her older brother, Hans Przirembel, in Hixon, TN. Hans was a retired test engineer for Pratt & Whitney. He was 85.

The Celebration of Life and memorial reception for our member Frankie Crawford will take place at UUSS at 10:30 am, Saturday, May 20.

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 with questions: CrystalFountain@uuss.org

Soul Kids -- Meets again this Sunday, April 30. Kindergarten to

grade 5 are invited to check in, light the chalice and join our activities related to our Soul Matters theme: The Path of Resistance. We will likely conclude on the playground.

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

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

the 3rd Sunday, this Sunday May 21 (This is the last meeting before summer break)! 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! A week from this Sunday, 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 grandchild 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

Child & Baby Dedication Ritual at UUSS: Conversation with a Minister

We will hold a ritual of blessing for babies and children of UUSS families on Sunday, June 4. The ritual is also an act of dedication by the congregation to the support and inclusion of these young lives among us. 

On Tuesday, May 16, at 7:00 pm, Rev. Roger will hold a Zoom conversation with parents or guardians to get acquainted and answer questions about the ritual. Contact him or Crystal Fountain for a link. Whether or not you are able to attend this meeting, please let him know if your family wishes to participate in the ritual. roger@uuss.org

UPDATE:

As of April 28, UUSS has received pledges from 238 households for a current total of $474,490 for the 2023-24 budget. Thank you!

This means nearly 90 people have not let us know their pledge. Please save our Stewardship volunteers and yourself from the reminder phone calls and emails that we must make soon to ensure that we hear from everyone about your pledge for UUSS.

Your generosity makes a difference. Together our gifts keep his 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. 

At uuss.org/stewardship , read a letter from our ministers, see the Monthly Giving Guide, read a chart showing the range of monthly pledges, and submit your pledge. 

At this link, you can watch wonderful pledge testimonials, enjoy a video message from a former UUSS intern and the UUA's Director of Stewardship, watch Rev. Lucy's "Abundant Community" sermon, and see a short video of coffee-hour responses to the question:

What Do You Love about UUSS?

UUSS Survey for Future Programming

Are we fulfilling our mission "to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world?" One way to explore this question is to consider all the programs, events, groups and activities currently going on at UUSS, and ask: Is anything missing?

The Adult Enrichment Committee is sending out this two question survey and would like to hear from you. The last day to respond is May 9.

All responses will be compiled anonymously. Open Survey Here

Reading & Responding to Poetry with JoAnn Anglin

Monday, April 3, 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.

This coming Monday, May 1st, our 10:00 AM Zoom gathering will feature the poem Palimpsest, by George Bilgere. It might remind you of the William Faulkner saying that “The past is never really past.” History has a way of seeping into our modern lives, even if it takes a slightly different form, a a somewhat different context. You can see his poem at: https://www.rattle.com/palimpsest-by-george-bilgere/

You are welcome to join our friendly discussion by going to our UUSS website on Monday. Just enter the group the same way you would attend a streaming Zoom Sunday service.

Saturday Stitchers and Crafters - Saturday, May 6,

10 am-Noon, in the Fahs Classroom. Bring sewing, coloring, beading, knitting, or any other portable craft and join us! Contact: stitchers@uuss.org

Beltane Celebration with CUUPs

Saturday, April 29, 4:00-6:00 p.m. in the Fahs Room

Everyone is welcome at the Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPs) Beltane Celebration. Spring is in full swing, come celebrate the Goddess and all that is blooming! Bring a potluck dish to share. Contact Laurie Jones or Leanna Pierson at cuups@uuss.org

Save the Date: Thursday, June 8, 9:15am – 2:00pm

UUSS Field Trip to Maidu Museum & Historic Site in Roseville for a private tour of the museum and the historic site. We’ll meet at UUSS and carpool. Maximum of 35 people. Contact: racialjustice@uuss.org if you want to participate and for any questions. 

Cost: $10 per person. More info to come! 

Family Ministry is looking for volunteers for the UUSS All-Ages Camp at Camp Norge in Alta, California. Our dates are June 9-11.

Please indicate your interest to camp@uuss.org.

Registration form & lodging options coming next week! Save the dates!

Helping Is a Two-Way Street:

Afghan Refugee Friends Working to Build a Life

Do you have some yard work, painting, house maintenance, financial record keeping, or other needs for help?  Our volunteers are supporting three refugee families from Afghanistan with tutoring, transportation, medical and school appointments. You may have met a few at church. As they await legal asylum proceedings, they seek to earn money to pay rent, buy food, and pay attorney's fees. Hence, they are available for short-term work.

All three fled Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover because a member of each family had served the US government. To support them, we have used some of the funds donated at in December and received pro-bono help from a lawyer for some legal fees, but not all. But the funds will run out and the families want to support themselves as much as possible. 

If you have questions, contact Susan Jones, Meg Burnett or refugeesupport@uuss.org.

Our next UUSS Congregational Meeting will be held immediately after the Sunday service on May 21, on Zoom AND in-person. Please plan to stay with the rest of the congregation to hear important updates and vote on next year's budget and slate of candidates for leadership positions. The meeting agenda will be posted online.

At the April meeting the Program Council set Sept. 10 as the tentative date for the 2023 Fall Activities Fair. The Fair would follow the Sunday Service marking the beginning of the new church year. We look forward to welcoming our next ministerial intern, Rosemary Dodd.

The Council also reviewed the status of new and on-going groups, committees, and activities. Noting the planned absence of co-chairs of the Memorial Reception Committee, two members of the Council (Jon Peterson and Joyce Ownbey) volunteered to help coordinate refreshments following the Celebration of Life Service for our long-time UUSS member Frankie Crawford on May 20.

Program Council members stay in touch with nearly 50 activity groups and program committees. Each PC member serves as liaison to a number of groups. If your group has not heard from us please get in touch with our Chairperson as we may not have up-to-date contact information.

The Program Council meets on Zoom the third Thursday of each month. Persons interested in attending a meeting can request contact information at programcouncil@uuss.org