The UNIGRAM
Monthly Newsletter of
the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento
Vol.
31 No. 7
March 2001
A SAMPLE OF MARCH UUSS
EVENTS
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.
All-church Celebration Dinner 3/3
Clarinet Concert 3/4
Servetus Club 3/4
UU Young Adults 3/4, 3/11, 3/18, 3/24
Women’s Alliance 3/8
Eleanor Roosevelt celebration 3/11
Jesus Seminar Speaker 3/11 & 3/18
Writing class 3/17
Communications Workshop 3/18
Vernal Equinox Celebration 3/18
Gap Group 3/18, 3/24. 3/31
Mumbo Gumbo Concert 3/24
WANT
ADS: To place an ad, send copy to the church office with
a donation of $3 for 30 words or less. Ads will be accepted only from Members
and Pledging Friends of UUSS, and for one month at a time. Ads are limited to
space available. Priority will be given to new ads.
______________________________________________________
Unitarian
Universalist Society of Sacramento
2425
Sierra Blvd, Sacramento CA 95825 (916)
482-9283 ext 0
Activities/Information
Line (916) 483-9283 ext 208
Fax
(916) 483-4934
____________________________________________________
Minister: The Reverend Douglas Kraft
Board President: Ruth
Van Unen
Director of Religious Education: Kate
Throop
Business Manager: Val Hutton
Music
Director: Mary WillAllen
Organist: Barbara Lazar
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
With
all the positive energy generated around our church lately, I feel as if I’m
caught in a whirlwind!
Doug’s installation was a joyful
celebration. He’s a blessing to us all. We owe the hard-working Search
Committee and the gods of ministry many thanks for bringing him to us.
The Canvass Committee, headed by Pete
Martineau and Bud Lembke, is hard at work organizing this year’s Canvass, titled “Rollicking Abundance.” Pete
and Bud went to a workshop on church pledge drives in Palo Alto on February 10,
accompanied by eight additional concerned members and the Business Manager.
The workshop was based on the book
“Creating Congregations of Generous People” by Michael Durall, who also served
as our trainer. This book is packed with truly inspirational information, and I
highly recommend it. You may borrow a copy from the office or order it through
our bookstore.
It’s past time to catch up on much-needed
maintenance of our facilities, and to bring the treatment of our employees into
line with our Principles. Let’s all participate joyfully in the campaign of
“Rollicking Abundance” and plan to support all our fund raisers. Ruth Van
Unen, President
____________________________________________________________________________
A MONTH OF SUNDAYS –MARCH 2001
3/4
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum:
“Celebrating Women’s Resistance in Kenya: The Women’s Group Movement.” Edda
Mutua-Kombo, Ph.D. An indomitable Kenyan woman scholar and activist, Dr.
Mutua-Kombo speaks on her research on women, communications, and development in
rural Kenya, East Africa. She is an educator and women’s rights advocate in
Kenya. She is working on a book with Dr. Maria Alexandrino documenting the
personal experiences of African women immigrants in the United States. Sharon
Alexander, Coordinator.
9:30 a.m. Library
– Adult R.E.: Series on Love coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11:00 a.m. Auditorium
– Service: “Rollicking Abundance.” Doug Kraft.
Abundance is too often
measured in the accumulation of things: toys, books, clothes, money,
relationships. But at best these are only pale, two-dimensional shadows of
spiritual abundance. True abundance is a feeling toward life that is peaceful
and joyous, deep and wide, powerful and playful, quiet and over-flowing. We
have all felt it during some of the more moving events in our lives. But
without a common theological language, us Unitarian Universalists have
difficulty talking about it. This morning I want to talk about it and how a
religious community cultivates true rollicking abundance.
3/11
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum: “The
First Coming,” Rev. Robert W. Moon, Rev. Moon drew huge audiences to the Forum
last year in series about the Jesus Seminar. He will also speak on March 18
(See “Forum News” below.) Bud Lembke, Coordinator.
9:30 a.m. Library
– Adult R.E.: Series on Love coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11:00
a.m. Auditorium – Service: “Shared Ministry.” Doug Kraft. We
are all ministers. Some of us carry the professional label. Most do not. Some
minister in obvious ways. Others are more subtle. But whether we consciously
acknowledge it or not, we all “do ministry.” Our religious society is stronger
when we consciously acknowledge this fact.
1:30 p.m. Blanche Wiesen Cook, biographer of
Eleanor Roosevelt, speaks.
3/18
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum: “Is There Any News About God?” Rev. Moon
returns for the second of two talks on the Jesus Seminar. (See “Forum News”
below.)
9:30 a.m. Library
– Adult R.E.: Series on Love coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11
a.m. Auditorium – Service: “Better for All.” Doug Kraft. This
is the “sermon that Lou bought.” At the HarvestFest last fall, Lou Watson
bought the right to give me a topic to preach about. His concern is the need
for us all to interject ourselves more actively into helping others. Our
Society is hollow if some are left out of the bounty. Today, more and more
people are getting left out. Lou will share one of his many poems as part of
the service.
3/25
9:30
a.m. Auditorium – Forum: “This Little Light of Mine, Please Let it
Shine.” The speaker is Dr. Daniel M. Berman. All must agree on this one: what
puts power in our light bulbs and lights our stoves--electricity and gas—are
two gigantic issues. At the Forum we need to listen, talk, and act. In Dr.
Berman, we have the man who can tell the story. His book, Who Owns the Sun? has
been praised by Sen. Ted Kennedy, Barry Commoner, Ralph Nader, and Ed Smeloff.
Ted Webb, Coordinator.
9:30 a.m. Library
– Adult R.E.: Series on Love coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11:00
a.m. Auditorium – Service: “Women's History Service.” A tribute to four
diverse women of influence to Unitarian Universalists and our Sacramento
community: Sophia Lyon Fahs, educator;
Jorjana Holden, artist; Rebecca Parker, minister; and Effie Yeaw, naturalist. We can be open to learning what each of
these women have contributed and to bringing some of their gifts into our
lives. Presented by members of the UUSS
Women's Ritual Group.
4/1
9:30 a.m. Auditorium
- Forum: “The Electric Power Issue in California.” Speaker Barbara George is a
leader among those organizing to prevent the utility companies from raping the
people in California in the present situation. She lives in Berkeley and has
been an activist in the anti-nuclear struggle since the 1970s. She wrote a
comedy-horror show, “Everything I Ever Wanted to Ask About Nukes and was Afraid
to Know,” and toured the country with it for four years. She is the founder of
“Women’s Energy Matters,” and is currently active in the “Public Power
Campaign” to organize and lobby the Governor, the Legislature, and others to
educate the public about these issues. Leon Lefson, Coordinator.
9:30 a.m. Library
– Adult R.E.: Series on Love coordinated by Jeff Watson continues.
11:00 a.m. Auditorium
– Service: “Fools Day.” Doug Kraft, Dan Ford, Heather.
________________________________________________________________________
AT THE MOMENT ....
Rev.
Doug Kraft
I
met Susan at a five-day workshop several years ago. We had much in common and
struck up a friendship. Then, several days into the workshop, it came out that
she was quite wealthy. I thought, “How could that be. She’s such a nice
person.” I guess I secretly believed that people could be nice or wealthy, but
not both. I was embarrassed and fascinated by my prejudice.
Money carries an emotional charge for most
of us. Unexamined, it can distort perceptions and create emotional barriers.
When someone has a great deal more or less money than we do, it can make
communication a little difficult.
Fortunately, I had developed enough
openness with Susan that I could acknowledge all these feelings. She was not
offended. If anything, she was appreciative of my openness.
She said that she had inherited the money
in her early twenties and had struggled with it for years. At first, she tried
to hide it, as if it made her bad or scary. Then, for a few years she gave it
to worthy causes as if that would make her a better person. Then she rebelled
and just spent on herself, as if that would make her freer. Finally, the
struggle burnt itself out and she just let the money be money and her life be
her life. If somebody needed a few dollars, she gave it. In fact, she had paid
the registration at this workshop for three of her friends. But money no longer
had a charge for her.
Then she turned to me, “And by the way, if
you need something and a thousand or so would help, just ask.”
Her offer was unsettling. There were no
strings attached. I guess I expected anything involving money would come with a
push or a pull. But she was not trying to alleviate guilt or buy friendship or
do anything. I felt like I had gone to a tug-of-war, picked up the rope, pulled
hard and found there was no one pulling on the other end. It set me off
balance.
I couldn’t think of anything I needed. I
thought about it for days. My stereo was worn, my car was old, the church
steeple needed repair. I could list a thousand things for which I could have
said, “If I had a little more money for this, I’d be happier.” But did I really
need any of those? Would they make me happier?
I never asked her for anything.
I don’t know what this says about me except
that money is surrounded by lots of conflicting feelings. As I said, money has
a charge for most of us. We talk about sex more easily than our feelings about
bucks. Perhaps money is the last great conversational taboo.
We Unitarian Universalists pride ourselves
on having a practical religion, one that doesn’t separate spirituality from
social action or inner beliefs from outward deeds. In Sacramento, we say
anything is fair game for thoughtful examination. So why are we tight lipped
when it comes to greenbacks? Do we harbor guilt, resentment, insecurity,
unworthiness, greed or fear? Is money a way we struggle for some sense of
control or security in a world gone slightly mad? If we freed ourselves of a
few of these demons, would our natural generosity express itself more freely?
The conversational taboo around money is
not so much about how we spend it. We can browbeat each other into talking
about that: “Give to the church. Give to Greenpeace. Give to the women’s
shelter.” The taboo is around how we feel about it. Money, after all, is
completely neutral. Our feelings come solely out of our inner workings. As
such, examining money can be a way of studying ourselves.
Doug
Finding
Doug
My
regular office hours at the church are Tuesday afternoons 2:00 to 4:00,
Wednesday 1:00 to 3:00, and Thursday from 3:00 to 5:00. I’m around at other
times, but I’ll be there for sure during those hours unless something specific
takes we away. I keep Monday as a day off and reserve mornings for sermon
preparation. I’m going to try to get back East for a few days at the end of
March for my son Damon’s senior project exhibition. You can reach me at church
at 483-9283 ext. 201. Please don’t
hesitate to give me a call or stop by.
______________________________________________________________
RELIGIOUS
EDUCATION NEWS
Sophia
Fahs wrote: “The function of the church for both young and old is not to give
us on Sundays certain kinds of experiences different from the experiences of
every day. The function of the church is rather to teach us how to put
religious and ethical qualities into all kinds of experiences.”
The “People First” mini-course completed in
early February was just that sort of teaching, thanks to Michael Whipple (who
consulted with us from home as he recovered from a broken leg), and to Luda
Gogolushko, Mary Howard, Liz Scheff, and Theresa Stutz who worked with each of
the groups. Mary, Luda and the 3-6th grade group conducted an accessibility
audit of the Religious Education buildings. They have submitted their findings
to the Property Management Committee with a request for remediation of some
problem areas. Applying our first principle to the issue of accessibility on
our campus was a valuable experience for children and adults alike.
Thanks also to the Children’s Choir,
directed by Janet Lopes, for practicing every Sunday in January to prepare to
sing at Doug’s Installation. Alice, Hillary, Ian, Jessica, Judy and Rhisa – you
were wonderful!
Beginning
later in February, and continuing through the spring, there will be several
Sundays when Janet will gather two groups (the Pre-school through Second Grade
and the Third through Sixth grade) for more music-making during class time. On
those Sundays, children will not go to the beginning of the church service,
they will go right to music-making. Please watch for the announcements on
Sundays, and for signs on the R.E. bulletin boards.
As part of our ongoing happy struggle to
alleviate crowding and find the best combination of rooms and children and
youth, the Preschool-Kindergarten class will move to Room 6 on February 25 - “A
room of their own!” They had been sharing space with the toddlers in Room 11.
The Junior High “Our Whole Lives” class will move to Room 10 for their last 2½
months of meetings.
The Senior High Youth Group has almost
finished completely re-painting their meeting room (Room 12). Julie Heston,
Youth Advisor extraordinaire, was their crew chief and consultant, with
assistance from Russ Denney, Dan Lewis, and Shirley True.
More on Youth: The Pacific Central District
Religious Education Committee will sponsor a 15-hour training on Ministry with
Youth to be held here at UUSS March 9-11. This mini-course is open to anyone
interested in deepening their understanding of youth work – Please call me by
March 2 if you are interested. We also offer home hospitality to those
attending from around the district; if you can provide a comfortable bed for a
visitor, we would be very grateful. (You do not need to provide any meals—just
sleeping accommodations on Friday and Saturday nights).
Second term classes began on February
11. Teaching teams are:
P-K: Caralynne Gregg, Penny
Howard, Sandy Lewis (her second term) and Phil Melchers;
1-2: Denis Edgren, David Libby,
Hill Snellings and Jonathan Teague (these great guys are spending a second term
with the 1-2 group!);
3-4: Carol Doehne (her second
term), Alan Ebler, Suzanne Hambleton, and Robin McBride;
5-6: Marty Heckeroth (also
continuing from first term), Liz Scheff, Theresa Stutz, and Tom Tinti. Becky
and Lance Ryen continue with the “Our Whole Lives” Junior High group,
and Dennis Clear, Russ Denney, Gina Heckeroth, Dan Lewis and Dennis Clear
continue as Youth Advisors.
It is never too early to begin thinking
about next year, to consider what part you might like to play in the religious
education of our young Unitarian Universalists! I welcome your questions about
volunteer opportunities and curriculum, and would be glad to talk with you
about next year.
Love,
Kate
_________________________________________
Save
the Dates!
UUSS
R.E. Camp 2001
Lake Oroville - Loafer Creek Campground
June 1-3, 2001
Registration forms will be available
beginning March 18.
_________________________________________
UUSS NEWS & EVENTS
Highlights of 1/25/01
Meeting
· Val Hillsdon-Hutton was approved as a permanent
employee of UUSS.
· The Board reaffirmed its decision to purchase a new
dishwasher and expressed their appreciation to Lou Watson for his dishwasher
repair work temporarily enabling the kitchen to be used for certain functions.
· The plan of Vice-President Tiffany Urness for
developing a Long Range Strategic plan for UUSS was approved.
· A Study Action Issue on Racism was approved for
submission to UUA for possible consideration at General Assembly this June.
· Approved the recommendation of the Committee on
Ministry for Rev. Douglas Kraft’s compensation package for the next church
year.
· Approved the goals for the 2001-2002 canvass.
· Approved the formation of a task force that would
begin exploring the possibility of having two services on Sunday, in addition
to the Forum, beginning in the fall of 2001.
· In Executive Session, reviewed the membership status
as of January 31 of all members for whom no contribution of record can be found
for this fiscal year, for the purpose of reporting our membership total to the
UUA.
Dennis Clear
_________________________________________
Writing
Session with Rev. Kraft
“Writing from the Heart/Writing from the
Soul” on March 17
Join Doug
Kraft on Saturday, March 17, for a wonderful morning of writing from the heart
and soul. We'll write about our experience to better understand ourselves and
to reach others. Meet in Room 11 from 9 a.m. to 12 noon. Please bring paper and
your favorite pen or pencil. There will be simple breakfast breads and juice
served. Child care will be
provided.
Judy Bell
_________________________________________
WANT AD
Reliable
used car needed by UUSS employee Cindy Creter. Reasonable price. Call Cindy at
the UUSS office (483-9283 ext 206).
_________________________________________
Learn Anger Management
Communications Workshop
March 18
Wendy
Cioni, school psychologist, will present “Anger Management with Teenagers and
Children” in a Communications Workshop on Sunday, March 18, 2:45 p.m. in Room
7/8. Wendy currently works with emotionally disturbed adolescents in the Elk
Grove School District. She will discuss skills for dealing with anger and
problem solving. The Communications Workshop is sponsored by the Communications
Subcommittee of the Communication & Conflict Management Committee
(CCMC).
Yvonne
Harvey
_________________________________________
TransNet is Coming
Transportation Network
takes a survey
We
are in the process of organizing a network of members to help each other with
transportation to the Sunday services, to committee meetings, to medical
appointments and to do routine major grocery shopping. As a start, we need to
get some idea of who needs the rides and who is willing to give rides to the rideless,
so we ask that those people please fill out a form available in the office,
then return it to the office or drop it off at the Caring Table on a Sunday
morning.
Barbara Amberson
_________________________________________________________
Evening Dream Group Resumes
Wednesday is now Dream
Group Day
Mark
your March calendar. By request and as promised, the evening dream group will
start up again on Wednesday, March 14. This means that Wednesday is now Dream
Group Day, with the morning group (Daydreamers) meeting as usual from 10-12
noon in the Library and the evening group meeting from 7-9 p.m. in Room 10.
Everyone is welcome.
Also, mark your April calendar for
Saturday, April 28. Our favorite friend, dream worker, author, and talk show
radio host, Kathleen Sullivan, will be back for the second part of her
Wholeness Workshop. (Attendance at the first workshop is not a
prerequisite for attendance.) All you need is an open mind and a willing and
playful spirit. Flyers and applications will be available at the end of this
month.
Or
you can call the church office any time to hold a reservation for this very
popular event.
Fran Oyafuso
__________________________________________
Workday Help Needed
Equal Opportunity
project each month
On
the second Saturday of each month the Sacramento County Sheriff provides us
with a work crew of 30-40 people who do a great deal of work to keep our campus
neat and clean. We serve them coffee, tea, juice, and doughnuts at about 10
a.m. Joyce Chadd has been taking care of the serving by herself for a long
time, and she would appreciate help. It takes about two hours. You’d be welcome
to eat some doughnuts and you’d be making the workers happy. If you can spare a
few hours from time to time to help with this, please call Joyce Chadd. This is
an equal opportunity project--both men and women may apply.
Pete Larsen
_________________________________________
Bicycle Racks
Jeff
Voeller and the Sacramento Air Quality Management District are covering the
cost for new bicycle racks, so all you bike riders will have an added
inducement to pedaling to UUSS. Help cut down on the crowding in the parking
lot! Enjoy the benefits of exercise! Help keep the air clean! Remember that
Regional Transit will carry bikes along with their riders.
Barbara Amberson
Chanteuses Concert
Wrap-Up
A sell-out audience of 120 people enjoyed
the Chanteuses Valentine's concert at UUSS on February 11.
In addition to being an artistic success,
the concert was also a financial success for UUSS. We significantly exceeded
our income goal for the concert.
None of this would have been possible
without the help of many. Special thanks to Maryly and Rich Reinertson for
managing arrangements the night of the concert, selling tickets and helping
with the publicity. Thanks to Dave Thomas for recruiting the Reinertsons.
Thanks, too, to Ginny Johnson and Carol
Jacobs, who not only came early and stayed late the night of the concert, but
also recruited and helped with
refreshments.
Dean Baird put up with my rookie mistakes and got the concert announcement
posted on the UUSS web page - it's a first for our web page. Pam Martin
provided a great list of people to send publicity information to. Thanks to
those who donated cookies and confections: Meg Hess, Shirley Hewitt, Linda
Klein, Molly Jackson, Carol Jacobs, Pat Howard, Marge Francisco, Fran Oyafuso,
and Rosemary Muller.
Thanks also to Bess Hall for providing some
decorative materials, and to Elinor Anklin for the theme-perfect arrangement.
And, finally, thanks to those of you who bought
tickets. I hope you enjoyed Chanteuses, featuring our accompanist Barbara Lazar
as singer and arranger, as much as I did. It wouldn't have been a success
without everyone's contributions. Terry Throop
__________________________________________
Whither
We Goest??
Be on the lookout for a notice announcing a
March meeting of the newly reactivated Long Range Planning Task Force, as it
hadn't been scheduled yet when the Unigram went to print.
This group will have the exciting job of
fleshing out several alternate visions for the future of our congregation and
our physical environment. They will have the challenge of figuring out how best
to involve us all in the process and what method we eventually use to decide on
a course of action.
Much honor and glory will be showered on
all those who survive-- er, serve--on this noble Task Force. Visionaries now
being sought.
Contact Stephanie Turner or me. Tiffany Urness
____________________________________________________________________________
New Canvass Needs Big Boost
Celebration Dinner is
March 3
Our
annual every-member canvass, a particularly big challenge this year—but bright
with promise as well—is at the starting line.
The Canvass slogan is “Rollicking Abundance,”
derived from Catherine Drinker Bowen, who wrote, “One of the marks of true
genius is a quality of abundance, a rich, rollicking abundance, enough to give
indigestion to ordinary people.” We have Rollicking Abundance in our warmth of
spirit and the really amazing attendance under our new minister, the Rev.
Douglas Kraft. Now we’re confident that the canvass will also produce abundant
giving without the slightest evidence of indigestion!
Many people have already pitched in to help
the Canvass Committee in the nitty-gritty of planning. The committee has been
meeting since December. Tasks are falling into place. Fifty canvassers and
captains to match have been recruited by Anna Andrews. They recently
participated in two days of training
under
the direction of Ginny Johnson.
The fun part of the drive, a free
celebration dinner and program at the church, is scheduled for Saturday, March
3, at 6 p.m. The menu will feature Chicken Marbella with nutted wild rice,
spinach salad, dessert and beverage. Helen Graham’s lively playlet about the
glory days of radio will be presented following the dinner. (Its premier
performance last year before the Women’s Alliance was well received). The
program will also include our own Karl Scheff’s acoustic bluegrass band,
“Playing Hooky.” In a separate funfest, the Rev. Douglas Kraft will lead us on
guitar in a community sing. Those who wish may make their pledges following he
program.
Child care will be provided for the
celebration dinner. Call the office for reservations by February 28 (483-9283
ext. 0.)
Of necessity, we are shooting high. The
church’s payments into the retirement fund for employees have not been made.
Besides, the salaries of those employees, including the minister’s, fall far
short of the standards set by the Unitarian Universalist Association for
churches of our size. Deferred expenditures for maintenance of our wonderful
buildings and grounds are also a problem.
Increased investment in meeting these
urgent demands will bring Rollicking Abundance to meet our financial obligation
to match our surging attendance and traditional sense of community. Thus the
UUSS goal for this year’s canvass is a 50-percent increase in total pledges. To
meet this, we need an increase in the number of pledges and a dramatic hike in
the amount of each pledge over last year. This will pay for bare-bones
expenses. Not for frills!
See you at the dinner. Pete Martineau and Bud Lembke, Co-chairs
__________________________________________
Ministry Circles Begin in April
What?
Ministry
Circles are groups of six to twelve people who will join together to explore
and share their spiritual growth or religious journeys.
Who?
The
groups will be made up of UUSS members, friends, and others in the community
who share a desire for a spiritual and ethical search in a small-group setting
characterized by trust and intimacy.
When?
Where? Sign-ups
begin April 8. Meeting times will vary from two, three, or four times per
month. (More detailed information will be available this month.)
The Covenant. Members of the Ministry
Circles agree to adhere to the following covenant when they join a Circle:
I will attend to my own spiritual life.
I will attend to the spiritual life of the group by helping it
be as loving and truthful as I can.
I will play some part in nurturing the spiritual life of the
church or larger community through
service.
I will hold in strictest confidence any personal information
other members share with me.
I will make attendance at group meetings a
priority.
I will welcome new members into the group at appropriate
times and will support the formation of new groups.
When I feel it is time for me to leave the group, I will attend
three meetings after I have informed the group that I am leaving.
Fran
Oyafuso
_________________________________________________________________
OUTREACH
Another Outdoors Experience
Come
out on March 10 to the “UU Mile” on the American River Parkway (Mile 3-4). Meet
at church at 10 a.m. or at Mile 4 at 10:30. For more details call me.
Jeff
Voeller
_____________________________________________
Feeding the Homeless
A typical fourth
Wednesday at St. John’s
It’s
the fourth Wednesday. Bearing a hot tuna casserole in an insulated bag, I pick
up my husband at work at 4:30 p.m. and
head for St. John’s Shelter for Women and Children. Despite the heavy rain,
women are standing outside waiting for word about getting a bed for tonight. We
go into the kitchen. Helen is already here, with fresh fruit. Louise has
dropped off the bread. Nancy arrives with pans full of hot mixed vegetables and
fortune cookies (it’s Chinese New Year’s). Barbara comes soon after with two
more casseroles. We’ve all gotten to know each other as we meet here each
month, and we pick up the thread of our conversation now as we assemble our
serving line. The food presented looks fresh and attractive. Tonight we are
well supplied (sometimes a volunteer forgets to bring bread or fruit).
The friendly staff members help us find plastic
gloves and serving utensils. UUSS is officially responsible for the meal on the
fourth Wednesdays of each month (other churches and groups volunteer for other
days), but Helen is the only UUSS member among us tonight.
It’s 5:30 p.m. The women and children come
into the clean and cheerful dining room decorated with framed prints and
stenciling on the walls. The children are served first. There are 12 of them
tonight--a few babies, the rest school age. They seem surprisingly receptive to
our menu and express preferences with lots of pleases and thank yous. Yellow
cheese on the casserole, a red apple, lots of vegetables. Many of the women
return for seconds and comment on how good the tuna is. A few say “thank you
for bringing us dinner.” They do the cleaning up. We leave at 6 p.m. after
signing up with Nancy for next month.
We need more volunteers, regular or
occasional, so we can keep our program going. The menu is the same each month.
Please call Nancy Candee if you can help. Sally
Watkins
_____________________________________________
Last Wednesday Club Meets 3/28
Don’t forget the Last Wednesday Club, March
28, 6:30 p.m. in the Fahs Room. We will meet for a documentary/social action
film, discussion, and simple eats.
Nancy Gilbert
_______________________________________________________
DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS
PCD Assembly is April 20-22
Have
you wished for a mini-General Assembly in your backyard? This year you need go
no further than San Ramon, California, for a weekend gathering of 400 Pacific
Central District UUs of all ages from Northern California, Nevada, and Hawaii.
More information and an application blank are on the kiosk.
____________________________________________
“Awakenings” Spring Retreat
Women & Religion Retreat is April 6-8
Awakenings
is the theme of this year’s PCD-UUA Women & Religion Spring Retreat. Come
help us co-create this event, with sisterhood, sharing our stories, singing,
mask making, and more. See the notice on the Kiosk for more information or call
registrar Marnie Collier.
_____________________________________________
FORUM NEWS
The Jesus Seminar has
some answers
Some
75 Biblical scholars make up the Jesus Seminar, which attempts to
separate fact from fiction regarding Jesus. Back by popular demand to speak on
this subject at two UUSS Forum programs is the Rev. Robert W. Moon, a retired
Methodist minister and associate member of the Santa Rosa-based seminar. He
will speak March 11 on “The First Coming” and March 18 on “Is There Any News
About God?” at 9:30 a.m. His topic is obviously intriguing to many--attendance
at Rev. Moon’s talks in the fall of 1999 was record-setting for recent Forum
programs.
The Jesus Seminar began research on the
life of Jesus in 1986 and has published two significant books, “The Five
Gospels” and “The Acts of Jesus.” Some of the Jesus Seminar conclusions are:
while many of the parables are probably authentic, many are not; it is unlikely
that Jesus called the bread and wine his body and blood at the Last Supper;
Jesus probably never claimed that he would come again.
Said Moon about separating the historical
Jesus from the mythical Christ, “New manuscript discoveries and a refreshing
honesty about the first 300 years have dramatically changed the image most
people have about Jesus. This new image has hopeful consequences for
inter-faith cooperation.”
Rev. Moon was in the forefront of protests
against a law during the Joe McCarthy era that required non-profit groups such
as churches to sign a loyalty oath. His church in San Leandro, a Quaker meeting,
and a Unitarian Universalist church in Southern California took the issue to
the U.S. Supreme Court, which threw out the loyalty oath requirement.
Anna Mae Andrews
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BUSINESS MANAGER’S REPORT
When
UUSS members attend evening meetings they often express amazement when they
observe the large number of people who use our facilities on weeknights and
Saturdays. Classrooms are oozing people, buses are pulling in and out of the
parking lot to gather and deposit participants, and earnest students in search
of their class locations are scanning the signboard. Finding a place to park
that’s remotely near the room in which one’s meeting is held can be a
challenge, but unlike Sunday mornings, there is usually enough space to
accommodate our needs. Who are all these people, and why are they here? A
glance at the office calendar near Bobby’s desk tells quite a story. Let’s
sneak a look at the February bookings.
Outside groups meeting here on February
evenings included The Learning Exchange - Intentional Living; Apartment
Building; PC Cloning; Greeting Cards; three Spanish classes; four French
classes; Dealing with Clutter; Ireland; Becoming a Notary Public; Foot, Hand
and Ear Reflexology; How to be a People Manager; Valentines; Starting a Pet
Sitting Business; Talking with Spirit; and two large classes in the
Auditorium. The Rainbow Tribe met here twelve times. Future Stars were here
four times, and The Quilters held their well attended monthly meeting in the
Auditorium. Axion Group held five evening meetings here, and the California
Nurses Association was here twice. Future Stars were here four times, and a
local Hindu cultural organization held another of its meetings here. Even
though February is not a big month for weddings, we had one wedding and
reception in the Auditorium, and a rehearsal the previous evening.
In addition to
the Country Day School cars parked here
on weekdays, members of the Renaissance Group parked several of their vehicles
here in February and were bussed to the CSUS campus. The twice-monthly Tuesday
Club Lunches are always well attended, adding a large number of cars to the
lot, and making the kitchen busy with food preparation. They bring their own
chef and waiters, who generally arrive when the office opens, and leave
mid-afternoon after cleanup is complete. If Country Day School has planned a field
trip on a Tuesday, we sometimes have to inform the school that their tour bus
will not have enough room in which to turn in a full parking lot.
As usual
Members of the Women’s Alliance stopped by the office on their way to their
regular meetings and luncheons, and brightened our day with their smiles. We
always have to make sure we don’t schedule the piano tuner, or an outside company to do oven cleaning
on a luncheon day. The Daydreamers group needed q quiet place in which to
reflect, so we made sure no one was drumming in the next room. Rooms were
needed for the monthly Staff Meeting; for discussions about the Sound System,
the Dishwasher, and the Fahs Room bathrooms. The R.E. teachers needed a meeting
place, and space was required for the Canvas Committee training, for Auction
events, for youth overnighters who were painting Room 12, for Latino/Latina
Outreach, for the Book Group, and for regular UUSS administrative committee
meetings like the Board of Trustees, the Finance Committee, Personnel, Property
Management Committee, the Executive Committee, the Financial Accountability
Task Force, and so on.
Theater
One needed somewhere to rehearse on the same night as numerous UUSS
committees were meeting, and they were willing to be moved from their pre-arranged
location to make room for an outside group. A Spanish Conversation class, UUSS
choir rehearsals, two Chanteuses Rehearsals and a Chanteuse Valentines concert
needed to be accommodated. One Chanteuses rehearsal followed closely on the
heels of a wedding rehearsal on a Friday evening. A Sheriff’s work party had to
be cancelled because there were just too many events happening that Saturday,
and they are scheduled to come again in March to work with the Property
Management Committee. Phew! We haven’t even mentioned room use on Sundays, the
Forum, and all those wonderful R.E. classes that Kate facilitates. Our Auditorium
is filled to capacity most Sunday mornings, necessitating more chairs being
placed in the back to accommodate those who would otherwise have to stand.
As you might have guessed, any one of these events is
subject to change at the last minute. Members of UUSS telephone us on the day of a meeting and
confess that they forgot to let the office know they needed a room in which to
meet in three hours’time. If there’s hesitation in any of our voices, you can
see why! The Learning Exchange frequently calls and requests two or three rooms
for this week, and oh, by the way, we think we left an overhead projector
in Room 11 and some flip charts in the Fahs Room last night. Did anyone come
across them? And there was a blue sweater…People who rent our Auditorium
sometimes arrive three hours earlier than arranged and wonder why the doors are
locked or the room is not set up for their event. Some are reluctant to leave
by midnight, and have to be encouraged to vacate the property. A few
renters abuse our grounds and our children’s play areas, or leave things in the
kitchen, and it’s at such times that I am grateful for our policy of requiring
a deposit that is not refunded until after the event. I deduct money for extra
custodial time and for necessary repairs, and my action is rarely accepted
without a challenge, and occasionally a disagreement ensues and it takes a long
time to reach consensus.
All this has to be contracted, calendared
and paid for. Imagine how much time it takes! Change is constant.
Kudos to Office Coordinator Bobby Stewart for answering the phone and
accommodating such a diverse body of people with such grace. And to Facilities
Maintenance Manager Robert Hosley, and his assistants Elaine Cooper and
Greg Evans. It’s hard to imagine how they can keep track of all those
events, clean up, put up, and take down, over and over again, and still have
smiles on their faces.
And we mustn’t forget that we owe a debt
of gratitude to those members of the wider Sacramento community who
choose to have their classes and events here. Without them, we’d have nothing
to do!
___________________________________________
Green Thumb Sale April 7
All
you gardeners: we need perennials seeds, cuttings, herbs flowers, bulbs, trees,
shrubs!
The annual plant sale is April 7 (in
connection with the Rummage Sale) and before and after church on April 8. We
can recycle your used plastic pots too.
Please
call me if you’re willing to help at the sale.
Barbara Amberson
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Mumbo Gumbo Concert 3/24
On
March 24 Mumbo Gumbo brings its eclectic mix of music to UUSS.
We're going to celebrate the Vernal equinox
with a night of song and dance. Dance to Cajun rhythms, straight from the
streets of Northern California.
We've already gotten inquiries from as far
away as Reno. If it's worth a trip from Reno, it must be worth a trip from
midtown, Roseville, Folsom or wherever you live.
Music starts at 8 p.m. doors open at 7.
Admission is $15. Beverages and snacks will be available.
There are still plenty of opportunities to
help as well. If you're interested, contact me or email mumbogumbo@uuss.org.
For more information check out the Mumbo
Gumbo page at www.uuss.org. Terry
Throop
___________________________________________
Vernal Equinox Celebration
A celebration of Life
and Rebirth
Come
to UUSS on Sunday, March 18, 7:30-8:30 p.m. (drumming 8:30-9:30) for a lively
celebration of Life and Rebirth; Balance and Renewal. Open to all. We will have
a short skit, guided meditation, drumming and chanting, dancing, refreshments.
You may bring an item for the altar if you
wish, representing something you would like to incorporate into your life this
spring. Or bring finger food, and drums or other percussion instruments. And
bring your dancing feet and spirit. Call me for more information.
Laurie Jones
___________________________________________
Servetus
Potluck is March 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—last
month we had a whale-watching trip.
Come to our potluck Sunday, March 4, 6 p.m.
in the Fahs Room. Bring a dish to share. Cost is $2 for members, $3 for
non-members. Dorothy Engelstad
_______________________________________________________________
Women’s
Alliance
Sacramento Children’s Home featured 3/8
Thursday
March 1, 10 a.m.
Women’s Alliance Board meets in the Library.
Thursday
March 8, 10:15 a.m.
Meeting in the Auditorium with lunch and program: “A Home Away From Home—They
Are Our Children, Too.” The speaker, Toni McIntosh, is Principal of Curtis Park
School, the school on the grounds of the Sacramento Children’s Home. The
Children’s Home has been in Sacramento for many years and has a very
interesting history and a most promising future.
Bring a sandwich and $2 for dessert, fruit,
and coffee or tea. Guests are always welcome.
Remember Maryhouse, which continues to need
cash, ponchos, toiletries, and baby supplies.
Join us on March 8! Joyce
Chadd
__________________________________________
Gap
Group Meets Three Times
Movies, Music, and Ballet
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.
3/18 Judy Bell will be hosting her movie and
dessert. Call her for more information.
3/24 Let's all attend the Mumbo Gumbo Concert
at the church. Cathy George is hosting. Call her or email her.
3/31 Don't forget the ballet performance hosted
by Dick Taylor at 8 p.m. Call him if you're interested in going. For only $15
you can enjoy a performance of Stravinsky's Rite of Spring. Coffee and dessert
afterward?
Shirley
Hines
__________________________________________
AMONGST OURSELVES
Our
love and congratulations to Jill and Phillip Montbriand and welcome to their
newborn son Elliot James, who arrived on February 15. Three year-old Mitchell and
the parents are all doing well.
We
were sad to learn that a long-time member of our Society, Patricia Flynn, died
on December 24. Pat joined UUSS in 1961. Our sympathies are extended to her
husband George and her family.
A reminder: At Sunday services the Caring Table has a list of those in our
congregation with concerns, illnesses, and celebrations so we can send them
greeting cards. Visits and calls may not be appropriate, so please check with
family or friends before phoning or visiting the people on the list.
____________________________________________________________________________
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 or email Dean Baird.
Sunday 3/4 7
p.m. Join us as Rev. Doug Kraft leads a discussion on Buddhism. UUSS Library.
Sunday
3/11 Meet in the parking lot at 7 p.m. and we’ll all pick a spot to go
bowling.
Sunday
3/18 7 p.m. Greg Redmond will lead a discussion on spring festivals and
celebrations. Rm.7/8.
Saturday
3/24 Stone Lakes
National Wildlife Refuge. Meet in the church parking lot at 9:30 a.m. for a
half-day trip to Stone Lakes to see migrating birds and other natural wonder of
Northern California. Wear your boots and bring binoculars if you have
them. Carolyn
Wiggin
__________________________________________
Thanks
From the Staff
The
church staff wants to thank the Services Auction and our guests for the
fun we had giving the 1920s Paris Salon party. We also thank Rev. Doug Kraft
and Business Manager Val Hutton for taking part with such grace—neither of
them knew when they came to UUSS that cooking, serving dinner and performing
were in their job descriptions.
All the guests were wonderful, appearing in
splendid 1920s attire. Besides performing and writing the skit, Kate Throop was
in charge in the kitchen and she produced a great meal; Carole Petracek
transformed the Fahs Room into a 1920s Paris Salon complete with original
“Picassos” and “Cezannes” on the walls. Robert Hosley worked hard on set-up/
clean-up, and sang and appeared in the skit in surprising disguise. Barbara
Lazar cooked and then provided music throughout the evening. Cindy Creter and
Elaine Cooper helped with cooking, serving, and set-up, and Cindy and Carole
danced the Charleston as well. The famous French singer Edith Piaf was too
young for parties in the 1920s, but her mother was there.
__________________________________________
♫♫ Where oh Where
Have Our Little Sheep Gone
We’re
working on an inventory of all UUSS property. But hey! It’s difficult to know
what we have when it’s not all here. Hymnals, for example. Please return our
hymnals, along with all other borrowed items--chairs, pots and pans, you name
it—so we can count all the lost sheep. Barbara Amberson
___________________________________________________________________________________________
WANT AD
BACKSTAGE
HELPERS WELCOME to join the excellent cast
and crew for the April 20-21 & 22 production of Arthur Miller’s The
Crucible. Please call the church office at 483-9283 ext. 204. If you have
backstage expertise or just want to help out, we welcome your participation. .
b