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Our Weekly Message
News, Invitations, and Ministerial Reflections
September 15, 2023
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Greetings! I love alliteration (phases where each word starts the with same letter) and what I am reflecting on today is Caring, Connecting, and Committing.
Caring - Thanks to member Dawn Huebner, our new Caring Committee is off to a great start. Read about it here. This Saturday (as in tomorrow!) there will be a soup making and card making event to lay the stores we need to support people in times of challenge. Its not too late to volunteer. Contact Dawn at caring@uuss.org.
Connecting - We had a great ingathering this past Sunday, including the Activities Fair. I hope you were able to join us. It was so inspiring to see people engaged with all the groups and activities at UUSS. I hope you find an opportunity to connect with our community. You can find links to all our groups on the website.
Committing - Six new members have joined since August 1! We are delighted to welcome Christie Braziel, John and Pamela Martin, Sarah Patton, Cheryl Timmons, and Camille Waggoner into membership. Make sure to say hello and welcome if you see them.
What about you? If you have been attending for a while and feel ready to make a commitment to our community, send me a note. I would love to meet with you.
Sending love to all,
Rev. Lucy
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Sunday Mornings with UUSS
Face masks are available but not required.
Join us for Worship Services in person or on Zoom Zoom links here
Service time 10:30 a.m.
Did you miss a service? You can find links to past services here
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Sunday Morning Programs
Join us before the service at 9:30 AM at UUSS
1st Sunday - Labyrinth meditation in the meadow (October 1)
2nd Sunday - Justice & Equity Conversation (Oct. 8)
3rd Sunday - Qui Gong/Tai Chi (Sept. 17)
4th Sunday - Exploring Unitarian Universalism (Sept. 24)
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Join us for a Newcomer Orientation and Tour the second Sunday of every month,
right after church, in the Welcome Hall. September session is canceled so newcomers can participate in the activities fair. Next one is October 8.
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Sunday, September 17, 10:30: Loving Our Neighbors - Really
Ministerial Intern Rosemary Dodd, preaching, with Rev. Lucy Bunch, Worship Associate Andy Cramer, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva
Sometimes, it can be harder to love one another once we discover our differences and flaws. This week, I'll explore the call to love our neighbors as ourselves through the work of Howard Thurman. How do we move past tolerance and into true welcome and acceptance?"
*9:30 a.m.: Introduction to Tai Chi and Qi Gong on the Patio or in the Fahs Classroom
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Sunday, September 24, 10:30:
World Religion in the 21 century – What Matters Most
Rev. Lucy Bunch preaching, with Ministerial Intern Rosemary Dodd, Worship Associate Celia Buckley, Music Director Anthony Tavianini, Pianist Irina Tchantceva.
In our globally connected world, religions have faced new challenges. We explore the complexities and complementarity of the major world religions and consider how UU fits into it all.
*Exploring UU 9:30 in the Fahs Classroom. Rosemary Dodd leading a session on the UU principles.
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Save The Dates!
October 22 after the service: UUSS congregational meeting
November 4 at 5 PM: Auction - Magic of Community
February 2 - 4 2024: UUSS Women's retreat - The Spirit of Creativity
June 28 - 30, 2024 All Ages Camp at Camp Norge in the Sierra
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Our 2023 Auction & Dinner “Magic of Community” will be held Saturday, November 4, 5-8pm. We are looking for donations of experiences, adventures and talents for our auction as well as themed baskets for our raffle. Visit the auction table during coffee hour or contact auction@uuss.org to learn how you can help make this event a magical success!
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We're back at it! The UUSS Choir season for 2023-2024 is underway, with a first showing at the In-Gathering service on September 10th. Thank you to all the singers who lifted their voices and the spirits of the congregation with our processional, "The Tide is Rising", (by Rabbi Shoshana Meira Friedman and Yotam Schachter) and a special presentation of Melanie DeMore's "Lead with Love", which as been the RE send away song for the past year.
We rehearse Wednesdays from 7:00-8:30pm. All are welcome, and experience is not a prerequisite. If you are a tenor or alto, we are looking to bolster those sections with additional voices.
A great year is in store, with selections from traditional choral to contemporary choral works, tunes very much in the UU rotation, musical theater, and even the Beatles!
Our next service appearance will be on October 15th, followed by the Beloved Dead Circle Service on October 29th. If you are interested in the choir, please contact Anthony Tavianini, music director at anthony@uuss.org.
We would love to have you join us!
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Joys, Sorrows, and Caring | |
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If you would like to have a joy, sorrow, concern, or milestone spoken by a minister at Sunday’s prayer time, let us know at this link. Make sure to tell us you do not want us to mention it aloud, or if you would like a phone call from one of the ministers.
If you know of someone in the congregation facing surgery, dealing with loss, coping with a new and serious diagnosis, etc., please encourage them to inform one of our ministers and/or to reach out to the Caring Committee at caring@uuss.org.
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Community Partner Nominations for 2024 now open | |
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As part of our commitment to being “a force for healing in the world” every month UUSS gives away half of our Sunday offering to a local not-for-profit organization. Who will be a Community Partner for the upcoming year is decided by the UUSS congregation in the fall after the congregational meeting in October. Click here to find out more or to nominate an organization Nominations need to be submitted by October 1. Voting will commence after the Congregational meeting on October 22nd.
If you have questions, please contact Bobbie Keill at communitypartners@uuss.org.
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Join us in Religious Education! | | |
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.
Please contact Crystal with questions.
Soul Kids -grades K-5- meet this Sunday (Sept. 17) during service. Come join Annette for fun activities celebrating our Soul Matters theme: The Gift of Welcome. Please start in service!
Senior High Youth Group (SHYG) -grades 9-12- meets after service this Sunday (Sept. 17). Come to connect, and to plan service and art projects with Theo Claire and Dirk Tuell.
Other engaging activities for children, youth and families are available and information can be found in the email linked above! There's always a lot happening in RE!
Our RE Coordinator Crystal Fountain has weekly office hours and is available by email too.
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What's Happening?
For a listing of all events this week and coming up
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Mabon Celebration with CUUPs
Saturday, September 23rd, 5:00-7:00 p.m. in the Fahs Room
Everyone is welcome at the Covenant of UU Pagans (CUUPs) Mabon Celebration. Harvest is in full swing, come celebrate the Goddess and Harvest! Bring a potluck dish to share.
Contact cuups@uuss.org
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Community Partner
Half of the Sunday morning offering donations made in September
support our local community partner:
Mustard Seed School
To donate now at the UUSS website, click here.
"May generosity bless our world, and may gratitude nourish our spirits."
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Staff and Minister Availability | |
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Schedule an appointment with Lucy at calendly.com/revlucyb or ministerial intern Rosemary Dodd: rosemary@uuss.org
Rev. Roger is on sabbatical Sept. 4 through Jan. 31.
Our office staff members (office@uuss.org or 916-483-9283) are available to respond to your calls and emails weekdays 8:30-4:30, except public holidays. Our Pianist and Music Director are available by email and invite you to choir practice Wednesday nights at 7:00.
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We come together to deepen our lives and be a force for healing in the world. | | | | |
