The UNIGRAM
Monthly Newsletter of
the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
Vol. 31 No. 6
February 2001
A SAMPLE OF FEBRUARY EVENTS
·
Doug
Kraft’s Installation 2/4
·
Sunday
Services 11 a.m.
·
Sunday
Adult Education 9:30 a.m.
·
Sunday
Forums 9:30 a.m.
·
Religious
Education Sundays at 11 a.m.
·
Special
Friends Celebration 2/11
·
Chanteuses
Concert 2/11
·
Agenda Book
meeting 2/11
·
Communication
Workshop 2/18
·
Women’s
Alliance meeting 2/8
·
Valentine
Crafts sale 2/11
·
Servetus
Club Membership Party 2/4
·
Women’s
Ritual Group Open Meeting 2/5
Unitarian
Universalist Society of Sacramento
2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento CA 95825 (916) 483-9283
Activities/Information 483-9283 ext 208
Minister: The Reverend Douglas Kraft
Director of Religious Education: Kate Throop
Business Manager: Val Hutton
Organist: Barbara Lazar
Music Director: Mary WillAllen
Bookkeeper: Carole Petracek
Office Coordinator: Bobby Stewart
Office Assistant: Cynthia Creter
Building/Grounds Maintenance Mgr: Robert Hosley
Custodians: Elaine
Cooper - Greg Evans _____________________________________________________
PRESIDENT’S LETTER
I’ve been browsing a book written by Anne Odin Heller called Churchworks. A Well-Body Book for Congregations. Heller uses the body metaphor hoping to inspire us Unitarian Universalists to take charge of the health and well being of our congregation, just as we each try to maximize our own health.
Imagine a fine human body. Strong, healthy, and beautiful, resulting from a combination of exercise, relaxation, nourishing food, challenging and useful work, the love and support of family, colleagues and friends, plus a life of the spirit.
In using the book we are encouraged to find a passage related to a system needing a checkup to determine whether improvement is possible.
I was drawn to Chapter 4, titled “Ears,” because I have detected a problem that frequently pops up as our leaders try to go about the church’s business. We need to speak out when we have an idea, constructive criticism, or encouragement, and we as a people seem to have no difficulty with that. However, we do seem to need a thorough examination of our hearing, to inspire good communication, essential to a healthy congregation.
The author reminds us to practice hearing: observe the speaker’s many signals other than verbal speech, such as leaning forward or glancing to seek eye contact. Respond with the same signals—eye contact, nods, smiles, etc. We need not fear silence as needed. It builds trust.
When we block our ears, we don’t hear ourselves. Learning to listen unblocks our hearing. If we open ourselves to hearing, we clear the blockages, enabling us to hear ourselves and others, thus contributing to the improved understanding of each other and better health of our congregation.
Please hear my wish for our congregation’s good health.
Ruth Van Unen, President
_________________________________________________
A MONTH OF SUNDAYS – February 2001
2/4
9:30
a.m. Auditorium - Forum: “Ethics in the Legislature.” Ann Bailey,
Chief Counsel, Senate Ethics Committee speaks. A career as an elected official
ought to be viewed as an honorable form of public service. With the hard work
of individuals such as Ann Bailey, who served first as a consultant and now
Chief Counsel for the California Senate Committee on Legislative Ethics, can
our public servants avoid the conflicts of interest and divided loyalties which
(according to the media) beleaguer so many an elected official? Before joining
the legislative staff in 1981, Ms. Bailey was Deputy Executive Director for the
California Agricultural Labor Relations Board. She received her B.A.
(History/French) from Southern Methodist University and her M.A. (History) and
J.D. from Stanford University. Tami Buscho, Coordinator. Childcare Provided.
9:30
a.m. Library – Adult R.E. Series on love
coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11 a.m. Auditorium
– Service: “Gentle Strength.” How we look at ourselves is as important as what
we see. What we really need is not gentleness or strength by themselves, but
strength that is gentle and gentleness that is strong. In the words of Adrienne
Rich: “…gentleness is active/ swabs the crusted stump/ invents the more
merciful instruments/ to touch the wound beyond the wound/ does not faint with
disgust/ will not be driven off/ keeps bearing witness calmly/against the
predator, the parasite/I am tired of faintheartedness…” –Doug Kraft.
2/11
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum: “Tackling Barriers to Health Care in
California.” The speaker is Grantland Johnson, Secretary of California's Health
& Human Services Agency. Mr. Johnson is the first African American to hold
this position. From his activist days at CSUS to the present, he has
"waged the good fight" for public services for children, the elderly
and the poor. He has been a Sacramento City Councilman, a County Supervisor,
and more recently Director of the U.S. Health & Human Services Region IX
under Donna Shalala before being appointed to his present position by Governor
Gray Davis. Ruth Hultgren, Coordinator. Childcare provided.
9:30 a.m. Library – Adult R.E. Series on love
coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11:00 a.m. Auditorium
– Service: “Loving Kindness.” “Metta” is a Pali word usually translated as “loving
kindness.” Several years ago I participated in an intensive meditation retreat
that used this ancient Buddhist practice to cultivate metta in the mind/heart.
This Valentine’s Sunday I would like to share with you some of my personal
experiences and insights that arose out of this training. – Doug Kraft.
2/18
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum: “The Radical Side of the Black Liberation
Movement: Think--It Ain't Illegal yet!” Speaker Ahjamu Umi was raised as a
product of the African Liberation Movement as a child participant in the Black
Panther Party's Free Breakfast Program in San Francisco. While a college
student in the early 1980s, Ahjamu helped found and coordinate the
African/Black Statewide Student Alliance (A/BSSA), which consists of Black
Student Unions for all of California's college campuses. Since graduating from
CSUS in 1984, Ahjamu has been an active member and organizer for the All
African People's Revolutionary Party (A-APRP). Ahjamu has organized for the
party in Ghana and Nigeria, West Africa, Cuba, Britain, Jamaica, and in many
cities and states throughout the US. Rick Caughey, Coordinator. Childcare
provided.
9:30 a.m. Library – Adult R.E.: Series on love
coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11
a.m. Auditorium – Service: “Money.” I
would like to share some thoughts about money, generosity and spirituality. We
will focus on our feelings toward money and how they tend to isolate us. We
will also look at what it might be like to be free of the many projections we
put onto money. – Doug Kraft.
2/25
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum: “Walls of Heritage - Walls of Pride.
History of African American Murals.” Jim Prigoff, photographer, activist. A
unique experience. Travel through inner-city USA and see never before published
images from Jim Prigoff's new book, co-authored with Robin Dunitz, “Walls of
Heritage - Walls of Pride.” A seminal book on the history of African American
murals, these images will thrill you with the vitality of the art, the colorful
exuberance of the murals and the serious social content of the walls. Jim will
share personal commentary that makes the walls come alive. Autographed copies
of the book will be available. Rick Caughey, Coordinator. Childcare provided.
9:30 a.m Library – Adult R.E. Series on love
coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11
a.m. Auditorium – Service: Speaker
Botti Capandi is a Unitarian minister from Transylvania. He is this year’s
Balázs scholar, chosen to study for a year at Starr King School for the
Ministry.
_______________________________________________________________________
Rev. Doug Kraft
Over 30 of
us crammed into the library in casual disarray. A few sat at tables. The rest
of us ate lunch off our laps. A few were long time members. Most were newcomers
considering joining our church. We went around the room with each person
sharing a bit of their personal religious odyssey.
If we had done this 25 years ago, many of the odysseys would have been similar. Back then, most people coming to us were “come outers” — they were coming out of churches that had stifled their individuality. Someone once called us “a methadone program for people coming off religion.” Many felt wounded by a rigid church. They were looking for a safe haven to explore and express their individual religious belief.
In the last ten years, we have begun to see “come inners”— people who had not been to a church for years, if ever. Rather than talking about what they wanted to get away from, they talked more about what they wanted to come in to. They had less need to explore and express their individuality — they’d been doing that for years! If they were wounded it was from having too little contact than in having too much of the wrong kind of contact.
The other day as we went around the room at the new member orientation, I was struck by an even greater variety of backgrounds. There were come outers and come inners. There were also people coming from mainline churches that had not been particularly wounding – many mainline churches are not as oppressive as they used to be. There were people coming from other Unitarian Universalist churches, people from Eastern practices, earth centered spirituality, and from brand new religions.
The variety was rich, wonderful and inspiring.
Diversity has implications for how we see ourselves as a church, how we program and how we care for each other. Those who need to explore their individuality may need something different from those who want to explore our commonality and interconnection. Those with children may be looking for something different from those who don’t. Those who came from a time when people gave a little money to the church but were always there to help, have different expectations than those who are used to services and are willing to pay for them.
It also means that there is more potential for conflict and misunderstanding than if we were all clones of one another. It requires listening more carefully, being sure others are included and being willing to address needs in others that we may not have for ourselves. But this seems to be to be a small price to pay for the enrichment that comes from the variety.
The other thing I was struck by was the sheer number of people considering joining us. We ran out of programs and seats last Sunday. We can print more programs, but the sanctuary and religious education space is overflowing.
One option is to seed another congregation. But losing friends is hard and, as a colleague recently pointed out, it wouldn’t really handle the growth pressure. In a few years, we’d grow right back to this size.
Another option is to plan for growth. The next step would be to go to three services (two religious services and the Forum).
A third option is to create some conflict that gets so acrimonious that it “thins out the herd” a little. I mentioned this to someone the other day. They shook their head and said, “Been there. Done that.”
The only option that is not available to us is staying like we are. “Like we are” at the moment is growing at about 10-20% a year. This is hardly staying the same.
So how big to we want to be and how do we handle it? It’s a lovely problem to wrestle with.
Finding
Doug
My normal office hours this month are 2 to 4 p.m. on Tuesday,
1 to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and 3 to 5 p.m. on Thursday. There are so many
meetings and goings on, that it has been hard to set up more regular hours that
I am sure I can honor each week. However, on any given week, I’m around at many
other times. So, if these are not convenient and you need something, please give
me a call, send me an email, drop me a note … I’d love to hear from you. My church number is 483-9283 x 201.
.
Doug
_________________________________________________
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS
Doug’s installation on February 4 will bring ministers, religious educators, and congregational leaders from the four corners of our district and beyond to celebrate Doug’s ministry in Sacramento.
Like the Velveteen
Rabbit, Doug has become very “real” to each of us. May we all savor the time we
have set aside on February 4 to honor our commitment to Doug and to one
another. Kate
Throop, Director of Religious Education
R.E. Calendar Notes
Feb. 4 – Final day of “People First” mini-curriculum
12:30 p.m. Youth Choir – Fahs Room
12:30 p.m. R.E. Committee meets in Room 7
4:00 p.m. Installation of Doug Kraft – childcare in Room 11
Feb. 11 - Second Semester begins. Children attend first part of worship service, then go to classrooms. Newcomers, please complete a registration form at the R.E. Table in the main hall or in the R.E. office.
Special Friends Celebration in main hall after the service. A complimentary lunch will be served to adults, children and youth participants. Special Friend photos will be taken to commemorate the occasion!
From February 10 – 19 I will be on a (hopefully) carefree trip to Toronto and Milwaukee, Madison, and Door County, Wisconsin. I’m traveling to Toronto to visit and select a hotel for the Liberal Religious Educators Association (LREDA) Fall 2001 conference. In Milwaukee, I’ll have dinner with my nephew, niece, and former sister-in-law. In Madison, the LREDA Board meets for three days, and in Door County I will be presenting the Sunday Service on the 18th at the Door County UU Fellowship. UUFDC is a lay-led group of about 50 adults and no children, and my talk with them will be about growing a religious education program from scratch.
In my absence, the R.E. Committee will oversee classes and administration, and will host the gala
Special Friends party. I will miss you all when I am away!
First-Second in Room 9 will continue with “Special Times.”
Third-Fourth in Room 7/8 will continue with “Timeless Themes.”
Fifth- Sixth in Fahs Room will begin “Kingdom of Equals: Jesus’ Radical Path to Love and Justice.”
[As I write this, the Fifth-Sixth group teaching team is in need of one additional person, as is the Third-Fourth. Please call me if you are interested in learning more about these opportunities!]
Junior Youth in “Our Whole Lives” (OWL) are on holiday Feb. 11 and 18. February 11 the class will help with the Special Friends Party; February 18 activity TBD. (This class is closed to new enrollment. New 7-8 graders please see Kate).
Senior Youth Group meets in Room 12 at 11:00 a.m.
_________________________________________
A very special thank-you to Diane and Bill Forrest who have been coordinators of childcare volunteers for over two years.
They are retiring from this role, and I am happy to announce that new members Lisa and Gary Malkin, parents of Connor, have agreed to take on the task of scheduling volunteers to work with Nancy Beach on Sunday mornings.
_______________________________________
UUSS NEWS & EVENTS
Board Notes
Board lowers minimum pledge, receives land appraisal
These are some of the important issues discussed at the December 28 Unitarian Universalist Society (UUSS) Board of Trustees meeting.
The minimum pledge for fiscal year 2001-2002 was set at
$1.00.
With this sharp change from last year’s minimum of $180 for a single member and $240 for a couple, the Board hopes to (1) make the church as inclusive as possible—not to deny anybody membership due to lack of money; (2) to emphasize generous giving— not to minimize giving, so that we can truly pay our way; and (3) to educate the members as to the cost of the programs the church provides.
At one time, joining UUSS involved only signing a membership book. This resulted in many members, but some of them signed and never showed up again.
Kudos to Lance and Becky Ryen
The Board praised Lance and Becky Ryen for their work beyond the call of duty as leaders of the Jr. High OWL program.
Barbara Amberson
__________________________________________
What is Small Group Ministry?
Ministry Circles explained
What is Small Group Ministry? We almost always hear
two basic responses when people are asked why they come to church: to explore
spiritual (i.e. life) meaning, and to make new friends. In a church as large as
ours, worship and social hour just aren’t enough to meet these basic needs. The
Small Group Ministry concept was designed to fill in what may be lacking.
So how does this work? The intent of these groups is
to promote active discussion and caring. Groups of 7-10 people will meet
regularly to deepen their relationship with each other and grow spiritually.
Sessions will focus on some theme or topic that expresses Unitarian
Universalist values and provokes interest and meaningful conversation. Each
group will have a facilitator whose purpose is to guide the session and create
an environment of open exchange and kindness.
When does this begin? To join a UUSS Ministry Circle is simple. Everyone is welcome. You do not need to be a member of the church. (Only facilitators are required to be members of UUSS.) We will begin the sign-up process after Worship Services on April 8. A brochure explaining the program in detail will be available in March.
Have any questions?
Feel free to call me.
Fran Oyafuso
________________________________________
Communication Workshop 2/18
How to Talk So People Will Listen & How to Listen So
People Will Talk
In this experiential workshop we will practice active listening and learn about avoiding defensiveness and promoting empathy. Lisa Karkoski, a
Licensed Clinical Social Worker, will share tools she uses with all ages to build positive communication and more fulfilling connections with others.
Sunday February 18
12:45 p.m. in Room
7/8
Sponsored by the
Communication
&
Conflict
Management Committee (CCMC)
Communication Committee
Judy Bell
___________________________________________
From the Business Manager
I’m writing this article on one of those wonderful winter days that begin crisp, white and wispy with fog, and become bright and sunny in an instant. My chair faces my office window, and I observe that the winter bareness of the trees is complimented by a host of red flowers that some thoughtful person planted before I came here. A neighbor is walking her dog, and stops by for a brief chat. Concerned that the dog may steal the food they thought they’d stored under my window, a few squirrels scurry about anxiously. The dog ignores them – he’s seen squirrels before, for goodness sake. Humans are cooking turkeys in the kitchen. On the pretense of needing more coffee, I wander down the hall to savor the smell. One of the cooks takes pity on me and promises free samples later.
Of course this
idyllic scene won’t last. All the more reason to enjoy it now. Dare I risk
putting my feet up on my desk? Darn! There goes the phone. I long for the
weekend. Maybe I’ll take a drive in the country… Val Hillsdon-Hutton, Business Manager
Jazz Enthusiasts Take Note
Hosts are needed for out-of-town visitors
We are hosting Unitarian Universalists from all over at our UUSS Jazz B&B this Memorial Day weekend from noon May 26 through 4 p.m. May 29. Flyers and ads are going out to our churches nationwide. I invite you to host a friendly UU face or two for three nights + three breakfasts and help facilitate a contribution of $110 (for singles) and $180 (for couples) to UUSS. It is best if you live near downtown or light-rail or bus lines, but we can arrange transportation for guests if you live further away. We need beds: singles, doubles, queens, kings—IN your home of course. Daybeds in multiple purpose rooms won't do. Private bath is very nice, but not essential.
Please contact me and offer this mutually rewarding gift. Thanks!
Anna Andrews
New Member Facilitators
Membership Committee’s new program
Membership Committee
will soon initiate a New Member Facilitator program. Current members will get
in touch with new members on a monthly basis for a period of six months. The
contacts could be by phone, e-mail, or in person at church or elsewhere. We’ll
see if we can connect the Facilitators with new members with whom they
sense some affinity—occupation, hobbies, etc. It
will be the facilitator’s responsibility to see that the new member is
introduced around and becomes aware of the many things we do in our church. We will only involve those new members who
indicate they wish to be part of this effort.
The point of it all is for us to reach out
to our new folks early on so that their transition into the life of the
congregation is as smooth and rapid as possible. Since this is a new program,
we'll be reaching back to members who have come in since January 2000. I know
that a number of them have jumped right in and are already involved in various
church groups and committees. They may well not feel a need to hook up with one
of our Facilitators. That's perfectly fine.
We are looking for at least 50 regular
members to get involved initially. We have a pretty steady influx of new
members coming into the church now (November alone brought in 15 or 16 and as I
write this, January looks the same) so we'll need the
involvement
of many of our members. You may not be paired up with someone initially, but
it'll just be a matter of time before you are.
I hope you all understand that this is an
important (and interesting!) job and only you can do it. To save us from having
to make many, many phone calls, we'd like you to call us so that we can get off
to a fast start and can focus our energies on monitoring and improving this
program and on the other duties and projects of the Membership Committee. When
you call, we'll try to answer all your questions.
Call Nancy Oprsal or me.
Clair Urness, Chair, Membership Committee
__________________________________________
Collect Your Starts Now
Annual Green Thumb Sale is April 7
All you gardeners: please begin to collect any starts of plants, seedlings, seeds, or other contributions for the Green Thumb Sale held Saturday April 7 (in connection with the Rummage Sale) and after church on Sunday April 8 so that we have lots to sell!
Barbara Amberson
Transportation Network is Coming
Do you need a ride?
Can you give a ride to the rideless?
Some of us have difficulty getting to the Sunday service and committee meetings or other activities, and these people may also need a way to get to doctor’s appointments or grocery shopping. Plenty of us are willing to give rides to the rideless—we just have to get them together. If anyone is willing to help with this—perhaps to form a subcommittee of the Caring Committee?—please call me.
Barbara Amberson
__________________________________________
Women's Ritual Group Opens
The Women’s Ritual Group, which meets the
first and third Mondays of every month, will be having an open meeting on
Monday, February 5, 6:30 p.m. in the church Library for women interested in
joining the group.
If you are interested in attending or
-would like more information about the group, please call Laurie Jones or Judy
Bell.
Cathy George
__________________________________________
Don’t
Forget Mumbo Gumbo
Celebrated band to perform March 24
UUSS will
host a concert and dance celebrating the Spring Equinox on Saturday, March 24
at 8 p.m. The featured band is Mumbo Gumbo, a seven-piece band with a
strong Gulf Coast influence. Who can resist a band with a washboard, sax, and
an accordion?
We’re going to have a good time and, with
your support, raise a bunch of money for UUSS. Many have signed up to help, but
there’s always more for others to do. If you’d like to help, please contact me.
Terry Throop
__________________________________________
Eleanor Roosevelt’s Biographer to Speak March 11
Forum, Betty Ch’maj fund are sponsors
Blanche Wiesen Cook will present the Betty Ch’maj Memorial lecture on March 11 at 1:30 p.m. In last month’s Unigram we told you about Dr. Cook as a recognized scholar and author; but many people would describe her first as “a committed activist” who shares Eleanor Roosevelt’s dedication to the principle of greater dignity and security for all women and men. She was Vice President and Chair of the Fund for Open Information and Accountability; co-founder and co-chair of the Freedom of Information and Access Committee of the Organization of American Historians; Non-governmental Organization (NGO) delegate to the United Nations; and a panelist at the Hague Appeal for Peace meeting in 1999. She will be one of the major speakers at the 2001 Peace Odyssey Interdisciplinary Conference to be held in November in recognition of the 100th Anniversary of the awarding of the Nobel Peace Prize.
As part of the research for the upcoming Volume 3 of her biography of Eleanor Roosevelt, Dr. Cook has been pursuing records about “ER’s” travels as an activist for peace and human rights, and she interviewed people who had been with Mrs. Roosevelt at a crucial civil rights conference.
Dr. Cook’s classes in Women’s Studies reflect her involvement in issues related to gender justice: “The Costs of the Cold War,” “Women in War and Peace,” and “War, Peace and Imperialism.”
Plan to attend on March 11, and invite your friends. Call the church office (483-9283 ext. O) if you can help with the Autographing Reception following the 1:30 p.m. lecture. Treat yourself to Eleanor Roosevelt Volume 2, available at our bookstore.
Esther Franklin
__________________________________________
What is the
Committee on Ministry?
The Committee on Ministry has a dual role: we assist Doug Kraft and serve as one of his sounding boards. Just as important, we serve as your sounding board. If you have compliments or concerns, please speak with Doug. But if you are uncomfortable doing that, please speak with one of us.
We are constantly working with Doug to evaluate and strengthen the ministry of our church. We welcome your thoughts.
The Committee on
Ministry
Ginny Johnson, Clair
Urness, Christine Webb-Curtis
__________________________________________________
OUTREACH
Support the Service Committee
Let’s revive our membership now!
Our congregational membership in the Unitarian Universalist
Service Committee (UUSC)—which has been working worldwide for human rights for
over 60 years—has dropped and it’s time to revive it. Minimum membership, which
includes their interesting newsletter, is a mere $25 per year, but a $60
contribution will be matched, doubling your impact. Please call Judith Dewey or
me for more information. Send your dues now to UUSC, 130 Prospect St, Cambridge
MA 02139-1845. Nancy Gilbert
_____________________________________________
Bread For the Journey
Help start a chapter in Sacramento
I am interested in starting a local chapter of this national philanthropic and community-building group, and am looking for others who might want to be involved at any level. Bread for the Journey is based on the philosophy that our natural impulse is to be generous, useful, and kind and uses the natural generosity of ordinary people. Its goal is not to try and superimpose a “fix” on problems. Rather it is to listen for those persons living in our various local communities who already have the knowledge, creativity, energy and capability to help their local communities, but are in need of “seed” money. It is important to this group to remain small and simple with minimum meetings and paperwork.
At its heart, I hope it to be satisfying, fun, community-building. And the “heart” part is key.
So if you are interested in any way, please contact me for more information. I come to services regularly and am home most afternoons and evenings.
Barbara Gardner
_____________________________________________
Last Wednesday Club to Meet
Come to the FIRST ground-breaking meeting of the LAST Wednesday Club, February 28 , 6:30 p.m. in the Fahs Room. Share a short social issue film, discussion, and simple eats. Become a charter member and influence its future meeting time and direction.
Nancy Gilbert and
the Social Responsibility Committee
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Latino Outreach
Vamas a charlar! Let’s talk!
Some of us already speak Spanish but rarely use it, and would like to improve our conversation and get acquainted with Spanish-speaking persons. We are starting a Spanish Conversation group Sunday, February 18, 2-4 p.m. in the Fahs Room. Call me if you are interested, or just come.
Frank Winans
_________________________________________
AMONGST
OURSELVES
In Memoriam
Rodney Cobb, a member of our church since 1956 and our church historian, died on December 16 at the age of 93. A memorial service was held at UUSS on January 14, with Doug Kraft officiating and Ted Webb participating.
By profession, Rodney was a botanist. He earned his Bachelor’s degree from Colorado College and a Master’s from the University of Washington, and was awarded a Phi Beta Kappa key. He was a member of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and worked for many years as program supervisor of the California Department of Agriculture’s food laboratory. Rodney served in the Air Force during World War II. He and Genevieve had been married for almost 60 years. Our sympathies are extended to Genevieve and family members. Rodney Cobb will be missed by his many friends and we will not forget him.
Carl Horn, a member of UUSS since 1951, died on January 2. He was 94. Carl Horn was an orthopedic surgeon who pioneered hip surgery in Sacramento. One of his many gifts to UUSS was the donation a few years ago of a condo in Maui. He was one of the founding members of our church when it was located on 27th Street. A memorial service was held at UUSS on January 12 with Doug Kraft officiating. A lovely flower arrangement was provided by Carl’s daughter Jacqui Bazzaroni. Jacqui’s mother Ruth Horn, who died in 1974, is well remembered for her many volunteer services to UUSS over the years. Our sympathies to Jacqui, to Carl’s young sons Ed and Ken Horn, and to the rest of the family. We will miss him.
“Fun” raising at Border’s Books
Members participated in a “fun” raising activity in December that gave us great visibility in the community and sparked interesting conversations about Unitarian Universalism and our church These folks volunteered to help gift-wrap at the Borders store on Fair Oaks Blvd. on December 18 and 19: Barbara, Dan, Daniel, Matt (and Matt’s friend Casey) Ford; Shirley Hines; Lisa Langhorst; Rachel and Rebekah Nesom; Lois Panting; Kate Throop; and Kathryn and Marilyn Young.
Thanks to one and all!
_______________________________________________
UUSS NEWS
& EVENTS
Classy Clarinet Concert
Donald Williams performs March 4
The Music Committee is pleased to announce that the clarinet concert by Dr. Donald Williams, father of UUSS member Pam Martin, which was previously scheduled for October will now take place on March 4. Principal clarinetist with the Huntington Symphony Orchestra in West Virginia, Dr. Williams, has been Chair of the Department of Music at Marshall University for 15 years. He is touring the United States before he retires and has agreed to play during the 11 a.m. service and to give a recital that afternoon at 3 p.m.
In addition to performing in symphony orchestras, Dr. Williams is the founding father of the Huntington Pops Concert series. His interest in a variety of music styles will be evident in the March 4 program, which will focus on the connection between performers who first played the Polenc Sonata: Leonard Bernstein on piano and Benny Goodman on clarinet. Dr. Williams will also perform works by Copland and Bernstein as well as more traditional pieces by Schumann, Milhaud and Tomasi.
This promises to
be an event for the whole family. Tickets for the concert are $7. Children
under 12 are free if accompanied by an adult. Don't miss this unique
opportunity to hear a first-class clarinetist and support the music program at
UUSS.
Mary Howard
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What Do We Want?
And where are we going?
Come to the February 11 Agenda Book meeting to discuss our ideas, thoughts, and visions about where UUSS is going in terms of growth, size, and spiritual direction. Do we want to be a large congregation with two Sunday services and the Forum? Do we want to start satellite fellowships with UUSS as Parent church? Are we afraid of getting too big and losing the “family” feeling? Be with us February 11 at 12:45 p.m. in Room 7/8 to explore and share feelings about this vital issue.
Harley Sebastian Lewis
__________________________________________
Be Heard on the Sound System
If you have input to contribute on the sound system in the church auditorium or if you would like to learn how to operate the system, please contact me. I’ll tell you about a group that has been formed to evaluate the system and how we are using it.
Be Patterson
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Power of Dream Group Process
Working with dreams and engaging in the dream group process has given me the deepest respect for the potential for transformational healing and self-discovery. Just ask any of our Dream Group members and they will tell you about how many times we faced our demons, discovered our blind spots, found answers to our troubling dilemmas, and shed light on circumstances in our lives that previously may have seemed unexplainable.
Working with dreams is not easy or a “quick fix” but it is not difficult either. Anyone can do it. All that is needed is the desire to learn more about one’s self and the potential that lies hidden within each of us. Dream Group meets every Wednesday from 10 a.m. to 12 noon. Everyone is welcome. (Our Tuesday evening group will begin meeting again in March.
Fran Oyafuso
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Calling all Sweethearts…
...the Betty Nash Memorial Crafts Group will sell a selection of handmade gifts on Sunday 2/11 before and after services, just in time for Valentine’s Day.
By the way, do you
have any old keys you don’t use? We can make wind chimes with them. Just bring
them to the church office.
Gayle Voeller
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New Shoes
At the Board Retreat on November 18, it became clear that our Society is in transition from Small Church to Midsize--or at our rate of growth, Large Church. It is important for us to make changes in the way we conduct our business. We are outgrowing our shoes.
Perhaps the most noticeable change is the balance between volunteer service and professional service. We are fortunate to have many talented members in our congregation, especially in the technical areas. On January 13 representatives of the Property Management and Planning and Building Committees met, along with other interested members. Those at the meeting recommended that each UUSS committee prepare a list of members of the congregation who have expertise in that committee’s area of responsibility. These experts would be asked to advise the committee from time to time, as the need arises, before the committee approaches the Board with a proposal. Implementing this recommendation will help us function effectively as we continue to grow.
We are fortunate to have an outstanding professional staff who have been dealing with emergency situations as they arise.
Ruth Van Unen
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A.R. Cleanup Crew CLEANS
Wow! What a turnout! Twelve people came out to clean—correction: to scour--the UUSS mile of the American River Parkway on a beautiful January Saturday. Just as six of us completed picking up trash over the entire mile, another six showed up and, looking more closely, collected as much as on the first pass. Mile 3 to 4 is looking terrific thanks to Barbara, Dan, and Matt Ford; Whitney Rimel; Tami Buscho; Kathryn Young; Taylor and John Carey; and Jacob, Rebekah, and Rachel Nesom. Our next quarterly Parkway clean-up will be in March—watch the Unigram for details.
Jeff Voeller
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Last call for Finance Workshop
A team of members is going to the workshop on “Creating Congregations of Generous People” in Palo Alto on February 10. If you are interested in attending, there might still be time to sign up as part of the team. Call Ruth Van Unen.
Barbara Amberson
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Rummage Roadshow 2001
It’s coming on Saturday, April 7
The UUSS Rummage Sale may be over two months away but there are three things we need to do now to make it a big success:
1)
Donate
good quality clothing, furniture, hardware, toys, books, electronics, and
kitchen items. If you need help getting the items here to be stored until the
sale, call the church to arrange for pick-up at 483-9283 ext. 0. By April 7 we
hope to have our warehouse bursting at the seams with quality goods.
2)
Volunteer
to help ahead of time with pricing, sorting, sign-making; or work as a cashier
on the day of the sale.
3)
Help
spread the word. We are known for the quality of our Rummage Sale—we just need
to let people know when it is!
Arnie Godmintz
A Word from Cindy
Now that I’ve been here for about three months, I think it’s time to introduce myself. I’m Cynthia Creter—you may have seen my name in the announcements and on the Order of Service every Sunday.
I want to tell you
what a joy it has been to work with the minister and the staff and to meet the
members that have come through the office. I would like to meet each and every
one of you, so please feel free to stop by the office and say hello.
Cynthia Creter
Important Facility Planning
Bathroom remodeling
Some very important facility planning will take place on Saturday, February 3,10 a.m. to noon, in the Fahs Room. We need to decide the best way to handle the remodeling of the Fahs Room bathrooms. After a brainstorming session we will hold a discussion and set priorities for the work. A facilitator will keep the meeting focused. All interested members and committee representatives are invited to attend.
Barbara Amberson
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Gap
Group Plans Ahead
The Gap Group is a loosely-organized group
of middle-aged people, single or not, who enjoy getting together for social
occasions. New people are always welcome to join us or to host activities.
Please call me with your suggestions.
2/18 Judy Bell will host her movie and dessert.Call her for movie
selection and the time.
3/19 or
4/1
Rick Caughey is hosting the Sacramento Ballet's “Rite of Spring” by Stravinsky,
a very interesting, controversial ballet work. Call Rick for the exact date and
to reserve tickets.
Tickets are
$15. Rick asks that you get the reservations and money in by March 1.
Shirley Hines
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UU
Young Adults
UU Young
Adults is a group of Unitarian Universalists in their 20s and 30s. Some of us
are single, some are married, and some are in between. Newcomers are always
welcome! For information on the group and to learn the schedule for February,
please contact Carolyn Wiggin. To join our e-mail collective, send a message to
Dean Baird.
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Thanks
From Loaves & Fishes
Kate Throop
received this thank-you note dated 12/15:
“On behalf of the Loaves & Fishes staff
and guests I thank you for the wonderful donations received yesterday from the
Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento. You have helped make life more livable for some of our
homeless guests—and we appreciate your compassionate love.
“We know it takes time and effort to
organize drives for supplies and we very much appreciate all of that. God Bless
you all.
“Gratefully, Sr. Marie Fitzgerald.”
Alliance
“Teapots & Toads”
February 8 topic is Collecting
Thursday
Feb. 1, 10 a.m. Women’s Alliance Board meets in the Library.
Thursday Feb. 8, 10:15 a.m. Meeting in
the Auditorium with lunch and program: “Teapots & Toads: The What &
Why of Collecting.” You are invited to bring some of your favorite
collectables and/or a family heirloom, and you may talk about your item if you
wish. Please call Fran Oyafuso if you are bringing something so she can arrange
display space.
Bring a sandwich and $2 for dessert and
coffee. Guests are always welcome.
Don’t forget Maryhouse—they continue to need
cash, toiletries, and baby supplies.
Come to the meeting on February 9 and let
us all have fun together! Joyce
Chadd
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Servetus
Membership Party
Renew your membership or join on 2/4
Servetus is a social club for older
singles. We have potluck suppers at UUSS the first Sunday evening of each month
and visitors are always welcome. We also have occasional other parties and
activities—a whale-watching trip is planned this month.
Our Annual Membership Party will be held in
the Fahs Room at 6 p.m. on Sunday, February 4. A special champagne dinner will
be provided at no cost to those renewing their membership; $3 for guests.
Dorothy Engelstad
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Constitution
Revision Continues
Next meeting Wednesday 2/14 at 7 p.m.
The
Constitution Revision Ad Hoc Committee has been going through the UUSS Constitution and Bylaws, looking at areas
that need revision, deletion, or expansion. The committee would like to have
more membership—so join us. If you would like us to look at a certain topic,
drop in at the meeting and state your case.
Barbara Amberson
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No
PMC Workday in February
Next workday: March 10
Property
Management Committee (PMC) expects the Sheriff’s Work Project Crew on Saturday,
March 10, to help us with the heavy work. If you can help supervise the workers
(no work required), please call Pete Larsen.