Unigram November 2001

The UNIGRAM

Monthly Newsletter of the Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento

Vol. 32 No. 3 November 2001

Unitarian Universalist Society of Sacramento

2425 Sierra Blvd., Sacramento CA 95825 (916) 483-9283

Activities/Information 483-9283 ext 208 Fax 483-4934

Minister: The Reverend Douglas Kraft

Director of Religious Education: Kate Throop

Business Manager: Clay Nelson

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, Ian Craver

NOVEMBER SPECIAL EVENTS

PCD Leadership Development Day

Dr. John A. Buehrens, past-President of the Unitarian Universalist Association and currently professor at the Starr King School for the Ministry will deliver the keynote address, “Getting Real: Meeting the Challenge of Social Responsibility” right here at UUSS, at the annual Pacific Central District Leadership Development Day,

Saturday Nov. 3, 8:30 a.m.-4:15 pm. This is a rare and very convenient opportunity to meet other UUs and attend outstanding workshops. Among the topics: UUism and multiculturalism, working with youth, emerging UU myths, and creative fundraisers. Childcare must be pre-registered by Oct. 22. Details and registration forms are available on the back tables, kiosk, and in the office.

(Yes, it used to be called the Track Meet.)

and...

HarvestFest, Silent Auction & Potluck!

Sunday, November 4

This is your chance to bid on and win good things, good times, and wonderful services: dinners, music, weekend outings, kayaking, hiking, parties and more. Silent bids will be taken up until 11 a.m. on Sunday, November 4. Highest bids will be announced Nov. 4 after church. Don’t miss out! Bring your potluck offering and enjoy a delicious lunch. Then enjoy your winnings for many months

A MONTH OF SUNDAYS – NOVEMBER 2001

11/4

9:30 a.m Auditorium Forum: “Religion in the Schools.” Speakers Paul Geisert and Mynga Futrell are curriculum specialists who have guided religion-related projects that promote a level playing field for many diverse worldwide views. Ted Webb, coordinator.

11 a.m. Auditorium Service: “Compassion and Anger.” Rev. Doug Kraft. Anger and compassion have much in common. Compassion starts with the perception of pain or the anticipation of suffering. It wants to reach out and care for the sufferer. Anger starts with the perception of pain or the anticipation of suffering. It wants to reach out and destroy the source of suffering. Both caring and anger can be twisted in many different directions. Both can be helpful or hurtful. What determines whether they heal or damage does not have a lot to do with whether the urge feels caring or aggressive, soft or powerful. It has everything to do with whether the urge is heartful or distancing.

11/11

9:30 a.m. Auditorium Forum: “What Has California Gained from 5 Years of Prosperity?” Peter Schrag, speaker, is the retired editorial page editor of The Sacramento Bee. He is a senior correspondent for the American Prospect and continues to write a weekly column for the Bee. Schrag has written articles for a wide variety of publications, including nine books on American politics, education, and other social issues. Bud Lembke, coordinator.

11 a.m. Auditorium Service: “Compassion, ” Rev. Kraft. There is no such thing as a bad person. The series on compassion and anger will continue with a practical look at this simple statement. We will leave some time in the service for you to share your thoughts.

11/18

9:30 a.m. Auditorium Forum: “The Terrorism of Capital: the Greatest Threat is From Within.” Frank Scott, speaker, is a professor at Marin Community College. He asks why the terrible events of September 11 took place and how we can prevent such horrors in the future. Leon Lefson, coordinator.

11 a.m. Auditorium Service: Family Thanksgiving Service. Rev. Kraft. We will have a story about martial arts, compassion and finding the good in everyone, including very scary people. Bring something to share with those less fortunate than we: rain ponchos, personal items for adults and children (toothbrushes, shampoo, etc). folding umbrellas, combs/brushes, pens, pencils & markers, small notebooks, small stuffed animals, baseball caps, socks of all sizes. We will collect them and distribute them to agencies that are working with the homeless. – Doug

11/25

9:30 a.m. Auditorium Forum: Discussion led by Terry Cantrell on how our communities can react to hate crimes.

11 a.m. Auditorium Service: “The Seeds’ View from Under the Earth,” Rev. Zsuzsa Bartha. Rev. Bartha, the first woman minister in Meszko, Transylvania. Meszko has a 400-year tradition of Unitarianism. In the 1930s it had a special minister, Balazs Ferenc. Thanks to his American wife Christine Fredericksen’s book, we know this place as “Alabaster Village.” Today Rev. Bartha will talk about life in Meszko and how one can see and touch and taste the fruits of Balazs’ seeds.

2 p.m. Auditorium “Why do Sikhs wear Turbans? And other questions you were afraid to ask.” An informative talk on the Sikh religion and people by Dr. Amarpal Singh Khanna and Dr. Gurinder Pal Singh. This is the second in a series on learning to live together with our differences. Presented by the Women’s Alliance, Forum, and Social Responsibility Committee.

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AT THE MOMENT…

Rev. Doug Kraft

I sit beside my bicycle on a bluff overlooking a spit of land jutting into the river. A young man with a shaved head and white T-shirt casts his lure 100 feet into the rapids. He pulls sharply on the rod, reels hurriedly, pulls again. He takes the cigarette out of his mouth, spits on the ground in front of him, reels some more.

His world is probably different from mine. I don’t smoke, shave my head, fish or spit on the ground. He probably doesn’t ride a bicycle or write a column for a church newsletter.

I once read an ancient text that said, “With our minds we create the world.” I pictured a gray energy flowing out of my skull and coagulating into flowers, soda cans, dogs and computer monitors. “Ridiculous,” I thought.

But as I watch the young man pace down the river, scratch his tattoo and cast again, the text makes sense. We probably have different views of woman, work, war and the world. There is a real, physical world out there. But the maps we create of it in our minds can be very different.

With our minds we create our world.

Many of us felt the world shift on September 11. Suddenly it wasn’t as safe as it had been. In reality, we were safer in the weeks after the attack because we were more alert. But we were not as safe as we had once thought.

With our minds we create the world.

On September 10 I called AAMCO. I was upset that it was taking them so long to rebuild the transmission in my car. Didn’t they understand how important it was that I have my car back?

On September 12 they called to say it was ready for me to pick up. “Are they daft?” I thought. “With New York smoldering how could anyone be concerned about anything so trivial as a car transmission?”

My world had shifted. Not the real world, just the one in my mind.

Meanwhile, on the river bluff my musings are interrupted by a cat walking out of the bushes. It saunters by. I call to it. It turns to look at me, gives one “meow,” then disappears. I wonder what its world is like.

A man with a walkman, expansive waist, sweaty brows and determined eyes puffs by in short jogging steps. What’s his world?

A little girl with a pink crash helmet leans her bike on its training wheels as she peddles next to her dad. What’s her world like?

Those men flew planes straight into the World Trade Center. What was their world? They weren’t clinically crazy. They ate dinner with their families, played video games in bars and bought groceries like normal folks. But clearly their world was different from mine. In theirs, Americans were instruments of Satan or a cancerous growth that needed to be destroyed.

And what’s the world like for an Afghan peasant? The orphan of a New York firefighter? A Taliban leader? My next door neighbor mowing his lawn? A Central American drug producer? The squirrel leaping to the next tree with a nut in its teeth?

Our actions flow out of our world views. What is the effect of “declaring a war on terrorism?” What would be different if instead we “joined in a world wide police effort to catch mass murderers?”

As religious people we are called upon to love the world: not a naïve, sentimental love. Not a passive, romanticized love. But a fierce, grounded compassion for the real world.

We are called upon to meditate or pray so we can calm our thoughts and see past some of our mind stuff.

We are called upon to be humble, not righteous in our opinions. To be willing to step out of our views and into someone else’s long enough to get an outside perspective of ourselves and a deeper understanding of the real world.

We are called upon to be big enough to embrace it all: men with shaved heads, little girls with training wheels, car mechanics, suicide bombers, peasants, squirrels, next door neighbors, Taliban leaders, orphans, marines, and ministers writing newsletter columns.

Not an easy task. But the world needs love and understanding more than ever. And I see more and more people making a sincere effort.

Out of our minds we create the world. Out of our hearts, we create a better world.

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Finding Doug

I can usually be found at the church between 3 and 5 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays and between 1 and 3 p.m. on Wednesdays, and other times by chance or appointment. Feel free to come by or give me a call (483-9283x201).

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Time Capsule

Twenty-five years ago the church constructed a time capsule. It is scheduled to be opened at the end of December this year. Anyone interested in putting together a new time capsule? Let me know.

Doug

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RELIGIOUS EDUCATION NEWS

Dear friends,

It was a wonderful day, despite the overshadowing worry that has claimed some of our joy and lightheartedness.

The preschoolers made funny-looking noses out of orange play-doh, then looked at themselves in the mirror. The play-doh was lovingly concocted by a parent and daughter who were busy with the second and third graders making a hand-print banner and dancing to the “Love Train.”

The Chalice Children (kindergarteners and first graders) played The Memory Game (remember Lotto?) which revealed pictures of their class teachers and Doug and Kate and the patio at UUSS among the more expected pictures.

The sixth and seventh graders, with help from Taylor on the guitar and Kathryn on the clarinet, sang with growing confidence a song that is central to their racial justice and diversity curriculum. The song goes, “We may have come here on different ships, but we’re all in the same boat now.”

And the fourth and fifth graders made “circles of life” which connected them to one another through shared experiences. One girl wrote these important pieces of her life on her circle: “sports, animals, learning, talking, birthday parties, science, grass & sky, making things, people being nice to me, friends, math and earth”!

The toddlers and babies (16 of them on this particular morning) rode in toy cars around and around the playground, laughing and squealing. Some of them stayed inside where it was cooler, playing house, cooking plastic corn on the cob and waffles for one another, and puzzling over puzzles.

And when church was over, all this energy and all these opinions and all this good cheer spilled over onto the grass to laugh with the Swan Brothers and their Circus.

It was a wonderful day. May we be blessed with many more.

Love and peace,

Kate

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Religious Education Calendar

Thursday Nov. 8 - R.E. Committee (offsite).

Sunday Nov. 18 – Intergenerational Service 11:00 a.m.

Childcare for babies and toddlers in Room 11.

Sunday Nov. 25 - R.E. Holiday – no classes.

Activities for ages 5–12 in Fahs Room after beginning of service. Childcare in Room 11.

Exciting news for UUSS seven year-olds! Thanks to a generous grant from the UUA and Church of the Larger Fellowship, every second-grader at UUSS will receive a one-year subscription to the kid’s magazine UU & Me. Watch for it in the mail after January 1, 2002.

Unitarian Universalist Community Church and The Unitarian Universalist Society joyfully announce a Coming of Age Program for UUCC and UUSS youth in Grades 7-8-9. Coming of Age will begin in January, 2002, and will culminate in a rite of passage ceremony and church service in the spring. The program will rely heavily on adult mentors from both congregations; each mentor will be paired with a teen and will serve as a sounding board and guide through the program.

The curriculum will explore a variety of subjects relevant to young people on the threshold of adulthood: personal and community responsibility, ethics, spiritual and physical fitness, and church stewardship.

Please contact Kate Throop or Shirley True for further information. This is an exciting opportunity to partner with our sister church for the benefit of UU youth in Sacramento!

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Adult Religious Education

Long-time UUSS members and lifelong learners Eric Ross and John Abbott are happy to announce that they will co-lead an Adult Religious education discussion group on Wednesday evenings in February & March of 2002. Their topic? History and seminal ideas of Unitarianism and Universalism. The text for the discussion is a short book of original source material, excerpts of writings from Unitarians and Universalists, from 16^th century heretic and martyr Michael Servetus to current U’s and U’s and UUs.

The book will be available for purchase through the Beacon Bookshop. Please contact Eric or John at their email or home phones (listed in the UUSS directory) if you are interested in participating.

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PRESIDENT’S LETTER

It has now been over one month since the tragedy on September 11^th and we have all been through an incredibly emotional and tragic period. At UUSS we have had some wonderful services, starting with the Vigil on September 13^th and the very meaningful one this past Sunday on Anger. As we all try to resume our lives, a great team of volunteers have completed painting the R.E. buildings and we had a most successful “Financial Summit” (please see the Financial Summit Report on page 6).

The UUSS Board of Trustees is continuing with the business of the Society but is attempting to make some process improvements in the way Board meetings are conducted and the way the church operates. We have been talking about moving towards a different form of governance that is best described in the book Boards That Make a Difference by John Carver. The book presents a model of “Policy Governance” that empowers committees and requires the Board to be more concerned with policy matters and vision. To this end, we are going to streamline our Agenda and aim to limit the amount of time spent on issues and tasks that are best left to the committees or church staff.

To help us achieve this goal, we are going to ask all of you to help and participate in the process. When members of the congregation or committees wish to bring an issue to the Board, we request that you first determine if it is really necessary to bring it to the Board. Is it something the committee can decide? Is it an issue for the Business Manager?

If you do decide the Board needs to act or discuss the matter, we ask that items brought to the Board be fully developed and explored, then brought to the Executive Committee first so it can be placed on the Agenda. If it is to be heard at a Board meeting, please provide written documentation, with a recommendation for the Board, no later than the Sunday prior to the Board meeting. If all these steps are followed, we believe the Board will be able to act in a more timely and efficient manner and be more responsive to the congregation.

This change will take time and we are asking for your patience and support. We will all be exploring and learning about this model together, and I believe that by talking and sharing our experiences we can build a stronger community and accomplish our vision of an active, vibrant, healthy UUSS.

In the Faith,

Linda Clear, President

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CABBAGES AND KINGS

Miscellaneous Musings

of a UU Business Manager

The events of 9/11 have a way of superseding most musings, especially about the sometimes mundane matters that concern a business manager. However, in the aftermath of horrific events at home and in the present moment of war in Afghanistan, I have come to a greater appreciation of the mundane and the routine. In such times, it is settling and calming to have our routine responsibilities to fall back on at the Society. Most never notice that these routine activities, accomplished daily by our staff and volunteers, have even been done. Which in truth is the way it is supposed to be, as they would only get noticed if they hadn’t been done. Ideally, those of us responsible for the mundane and routine have an invisible ministry. We seek to be like the good hostess, whose hard work behind the scenes makes her special occasion seem an effortless event to her guests.

But in such dangerous and troubled times as these, when we are reminded of the importance of our relationships with and our need of one another, I want to lift up in appreciation all of our hosts and hostesses, that is all of our staff and volunteers for their ceaselessly cleaning rooms, watering flowers, painting buildings, planning services, preparing newsletters, making coffee, cooking lunch, teaching children, answering phones, welcoming visitors, planning agendas, scheduling facilities use, maintaining the web site, repairing toilets, leading meetings, providing music, weeding gardens, paying bills, recruiting volunteers, washing dishes, printing service leaflets, preparing mailings, mowing the grass and so much more, all while praying for peace and healing.

Clay Nelson, Business Manager

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Notes From the Treasurer

Did you know?

Did you know that Income from Building Use/Parking Lot /Duplex Rentals account for 19% of budgeted income?

Did you know that Custodial/Maintenance Staffing (excluding benefits paid) accounts for 12% of budgeted expenses?

Did you know that our Music Program costs $55 per member per year?

Watch for more “Notes from the Treasurer” in coming months. Thank you.

Yours Financially,

Dennis Riechmann, Treasurer

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OUTREACH

Social Action Marketplace

To see how you may serve our community and the world, please refer to www.uuss.org , or look in the UUSS Directory page 29, or Annual Report page 21. The complete list will appear quarterly in the Unigram. Below is a list of recent revisions.

Loaves & Fishes Jane Pivetti. Meals and support for homeless. The UUSS volunteers buy the food and prepare the meals. Donations are always welcome.

Maryhouse Homeless women and children receive support services including breakfast, lunch, shower and laundry facilities, and health care for children. Women’s Alliance members regularly donate to this program and donations are delivered by Kate Throop and Terry Throop.

St. John’s Shelter Nancy Candee. A shelter for abused women and children. UUSS is responsible for the meal on the fourth Wednesday of each month. The women who make meals and serve this group would really welcome new volunteers so they can better cover their assigned time.Action Group Against Charitable Choice Joan Osborn. This group, endorsed by the UUSS Board of Trustees and Social Responsibility Committee, has met regularly and collected extensive documentation on the faith-based initiative for charitable choice. They promote the UUA’s Action for Immediate Witness to oppose this initiative.

Sacramento-Yolo Peace Action Ruth Hultgren. Conducts activities to reduce military spending and promote international peace. Presently sponsoring peace vigils.

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Local Chapter of LUUNA Organizes

What is LUUNA anyway?

In Spanish “luna” means moon, but for our denomination, LUUNA is the name of the only Unitarian Universalist affiliate dedicated to Latino and Latina concerns. The letters forming the acronym stand for Latino/a Unitarian Universalist Networking Association.

LUUNA’s goals (condensed) are:

To attract more Latinos/as to our faith and enhance their participation in it;

To educate UUs about Latino history, culture, and

diversity;

To share aspects of Latino spiritual heritage with all

UUs; and

Through our fellowship and involvement bear witness

to UU principals and practices in Latino communities

and in the wider society.

Last year LUUNA president Patricia Jimenez called for the formation of local chapters. Will you be part of this

exciting challenge? You needn’t speak a word of Spanish, only desire to help. Come to the church library on Saturday, November 17, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., to participate in the formation of the Sacramento/San Joaquin Valley Chapter of LUUNA! Lunch, $4. For reservations please phone me.

Frank Winans

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The Face of Hatred and Fanaticism

I sent the following e-mail to friends on September 12th. Two days later I learned I had lost a family member and co-workers in the insurance industry. I was asked to edit and share these thoughts with UUSS members through the Unigram.

Yesterday I came to understand the meaning of true hatred and fanaticism. We are no longer looking at the script of a glorified action movie or TV show—we are seeing the face of reality. It is painful and ugly and will change our way of living forever.

As individuals, how do we combat terrorism? The task seem impossible. The news has described legislation and actions being taken by our government representatives, and I know there are many future issues we must address, including our foreign policy, dependency on oil, and naiveness about terrorism. Some of this we will address through tougher security, demonstrations, letter writing campaigns and debates. And we will go to war and more people will die.

What positive action can we take? One way I think we can have an impact as individuals is to continue to develop both national and international friendships at a grassroots level. This action seems even more important today with the influx of immigrants struggling to adapt to a new way of life. Knowing and respecting how another culture thinks and functions helps break down the walls of ignorance and intolerance. There is a reluctance to attach labels, make accusations, express biased ideas, and take extreme measures when those actions are attached to the face of a friend. We will never get away from terrorists, but the degree to which they are supported by their own countrymen as well as other countries can be influenced by the degree of caring we have for each as individuals.

I challenge each of us to take all of our contacts and travels to another level by placing some energy into learning as much about the people as they place, and sharing all the good things about each of us as individuals and of our countries. Each travel and contact we make, even just through e-mails, places us in the role of an ambassador. Don’t lose the opportunity to help make this a better world.

In love and peace, your friend always.

Stephanie Turner

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A Coalition for Peace Initiative has been formed by the Social Responsibility Committee. Anyone interested is invited to see Corin Choppin at the committee’s table any Sunday for information and to sign up.

We have buttons and posters calling for peace and a lot of literature on socially relevant topics.

Joyce Miller

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My World Community Buttons

The Social Responsibility Committee’s Coalition for Peace continues to sell “My World Community” buttons. The proceeds go to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee’s support of the relief effort on the East coast. If you’d like to get some for friends, co-workers, or whomever, it is a good way to spread our values as well as raise a little money for those in need. For buttons, call the office or see the Social Responsibility table after church.

Doug Kraft

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Special Sunday Collection

As we did last year, from Thanksgiving to Christmas we will be taking up a special collection of items which are new or in excellent condition to be giving to some folks in our community who are less well off financially. This is also a good time to talk to your children and help them think about giving to others.

Suggested items are: Personal are items for children and adults (disposable diapers, toothpaste and brushes, lotion, chapstick, shampoo, razors, shaving cream, etc.); rain ponchos, folding umbrellas, small packages of tissues, combs/brushes, pens, pencils, markers, small notebooks, small stuffed animals, baseball caps, socks (all sizes).

Doug Kraft

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Last Wednesday Film Club

A monthly documentary and discussion, socially relevant quality films and folks. 7 p.m. at UUSS

10/31 Halloween: “Santiago’s Story” & “Isla Hermanas,” two short enjoyable films, in Central America, a story of Fair Market Coffee and of a successful sister city project.

11/28 “Manufacturing Consent Part 1,” about Noam Chomsky, one of the most

important intellectuals of our time and expert on US/Third World policies. Put them on

your calendar now, bring a friend. Should we change the time from 7 p.m. to 6 p.m. for

the winter? Call me or email.

Nancy Gilbert

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FINANCIAL SUMMIT REPORT

Background: On a glorious Saturday morning (September 22), almost 50 members of UUSS gathered to discuss the financial health of the Society. Peter Henrickson, our guest speaker, spent the morning discussing what he calls the Five Important Rules for Healthy Church Finances. It was a very lively and informative session.

After lunch, the participants were divided into four groups and asked to identify six goals or priorities for UUSS. These goals would be shared with the Board (most of the Board members were in fact active participants in the exercise) and guide their work in the coming three years.

The group lists were combined to eliminate overlap or duplication and then the entire group was asked to vote on their top three choices. Results of the voting were:

· The top goal, with 20 votes, was Ministry. The group that developed this described it as outreach efforts that included nursing home, campus and interfaith activities, being a presence in the community.

There were three goals with 17 votes each:

· Lifelong Spiritual Education as a means to personal growth.

· Spreading or Sharing UU’ism (including legislative action).

· Finance (implementing Peter’s handouts).

The ideas from Peter’s seminar that are being considered by the Board are ideas such as:

· Monthly vs. Annual Pledging

· Separating the Canvass from the Budget Process

· Organizing the budget around a Vision vs. line expenditures. Vision based budgeting is, simply put, looking at what we want to do and be and basing our fund raising and pledging around those goals.

While the purpose of the afternoon activity was to identify three goals for the Board, since there were two other goals that received a high number of votes I think they should also be recognized. They are:

· Attractive salary and benefits for staff (16 votes); &

· Governance structure (15 votes).

Summary: Three of the top four goals involve the spiritual life of the Church, not the administrative side. The leaders of the congregation who participated in this summit clearly want UUSS to be more visible OUTSIDE of the campus and be involved in the local community. Religious education is a priority and so is sound financial health.

Dennis Clear

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DENOMINATIONAL AFFAIRS

Post-Thanksgiving Weekend

Intergenerational gathering 11/23-25

Come to Camp Campbell in the heart of the Santa Cruz mountains on the Friday after Thanksgiving for a weekend of relaxation and fun. All ages welcome. Choice of activities from hikes to thoughtful discussions.

The camp is accessible, cabins are heated, and meals are served family style. Contact dean Linda Seligman.

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PCD Leadership Development Day is at our church

Saturday 11/3 !

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COMMITTEES AT WORK

Membership Committee News

The September Newcomers’ Orientations were attended by 11 people, nine of whom then joined the church. Another new member, already a UU, was signed up by Doug Kraft recently. Our New Member Welcome Ceremony was attended by 11 new members, including two who signed the Membership Book in May but could not attend at that time.

The dates of our next orientation cycle are November 4 and 11. The next New Member Ceremony will be held November 18.

We have gained ten new members since July 1. As of Oct. 10, 2001, the congregation has close to 460 members.

Here's an update on the New Member Facilitators (NMF) program. By the way, at our Membership Committee retreat on October 6, the Committee decided to change the name from New Member Facilitators to New Member Friends. I've talked to all (I think) of the NMFs and their comments have been positive. A couple of them had some trouble getting in touch with their assigned new members, but those things will get worked out. One member thanked me for asking her to do this because she has become good friends with the person she was paired up with. She said she probably would not have otherwise met this person.

New Member Friends, if you've completed your six-month stint, please fill out your evaluation form and drop it off in the office. If you'd like to take on another partner, let me know.

We'll soon be contacting the new members who were involved in this first round to get their take on the program. We'll contact those people who volunteered to be New Member Friends but have not yet been paired up. We now have nearly a dozen new members we'd like to pair up with our Friends.

The first “Last Friday SSS” (Sandwich Supper Social) on September 28 was lots of fun. The food was happily devoured, and the enthusiastic multigenerational crowd group-danced for the last hour without a stop. Much credit to the Membership SSS subcommittee of Michele Ebler, Jack and Fran Kennedy, David Paul, Mike and Marilyn Reynolds, Pat Skeels, and Maryly Reinertson, chair. Our thanks to Jeremy and Al Ebler for their special help as well.

We hope all those who enjoyed the first Last Friday SSS and planned to come to the Halloween Party October 27 will be joined by many more for Last Friday SSS November 30.

Clair Urness

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Theater One Plans for Spring

Any directors out there?

If you are interested in any aspect of theater or would like to work onstage or backstage, please come to our meeting on Tuesday, November 6. We’ll read excerpts from plays we’re considering for our spring productions.

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Calling all Crafters

We will have a Members Market on the first weekend in December, so it’s time to think about bringing your crafts to sell. Proceeds go to UUSS. And yes, we will need all you other people to come and buy. You are welcome to attend our monthly craft work sessions—the next meeting is Monday November 12. Call Gayle Voeller for directions.

Barbara Amberson

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Religious Services Committee Provides Another Creative Outlet

Religious Services Committee is looking for people to do the Center of Interest for the first and third Sundays of each month. Please call Kathleen Mead.

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UUs GET TOGETHER

Gap Group Movies, Concert

Skiing, anyone?

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. Please call me or e-mail for more information. Let me know if you would be interested in getting together for a cross-country ski day this winter.

Nov. 9, Saturday Join us for the UC Davis Gospel Choir at 7 p.m., Freeborn Hall in Davis. Tickets are $10. We'll need to meet about 6 p.m. in Sacramento to carpool. Call me for more information.

Nov. 17, Sunday Join us for a movie and dessert. Please call Judy Bell for time and place.

Cathy George

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Servetus Club Potluck 11/4

Servetus Club, a social group for older singles, meets for a potluck and sociability on Sunday, November 4, at 6 p.m. in the Fahs Room. Please bring a potluck dish to share; beverages provided. $3 for guests, $2 for members of the club.

Dorothy Engelstad

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UU Young Adults

Phone for our November schedule

UU Young Adults are 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 the November schedule, call Carolyn Wiggin. To join our e-mail collective, send a message to Dean Baird.

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What’s Next: Women’s Ritual Group

Women’s Ritual Group invites all to the Winter Solstice Celebration Friday, December 21, 7 p.m. We ask you to think about what you’d like to cast off from the old year and bring to the new cycle.

Croning/saging was postponed from December 2 to February 3. Everyone is welcome to attend and anyone age 50 or over can participate. If you participate, you’ll be invited to give yourself a ceremonial name, present a life review (photo album/display), art work, sacred objects, etc.

Please call me if you have any questions.

Laurie Jones

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Women’s Alliance

Everyone is welcome to attend the Thursday November 8, 10:15 a.m. Women’s Alliance meeting featuring Pat Moore-Howard, Ph.D., author of “The Hmong, Yesterday and Today.” This is a study of those people who fled their mountain homes during the Vietnamese War because they had supported the American military. Most of them fled for their lives, struggling through dense forests and attempting to cross the Mekong River in rafts or even with plastic bottles to give them some buoyancy. Hmong friends of Pat’s will have their handiwork on display and for purchase. Marlene Parkinson will give the monthly “Moments of Inspiration.” Men are always welcome to come to our meetings. Please bring a sandwich and $2; beverages and dessert are provided.

On Sunday November 25 2 p.m. Women’s Alliance, along with the Forum, is sponsoring a talk, “Why do Sikhs wear turbans? And other questions you were afraid to ask.” This informative talk on the Sikh religion and people will be given by Dr. Amarpal Singh Khanna and Dr. Gurinder Pal Singh. It’s free; all are welcome.

UNICEF art work and jewelry will be on sale.

Pat Moore-Howard

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Thanksgiving is November 22

Join us for dinner at UUSS

We’ll have a Thanksgiving Day dinner for all who wish to join us on Thursday, November 21. A committee (want to be on it?) will prepare turkeys and baked potatoes and gravy in our kitchen. Everyone brings a potluck dish to share. Or you can pay $5 instead. Please call the church office (483-9283 ext. O) by Monday

November 19 so we’ll know how much to prepare. If you can help, please call me.

Barbara Amberson

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LAST FRIDAY SSS*

Mark your Calendars!

If you love a TGIF at the end of the month, be sure to come to the all-church

*Sandwich Supper Social

Friday, November 30 7-9 p.m.

UUSS Auditorium

Make your own sandwiches from our fixin’s

We provide dessert and beverage

A PROGRAM OF FUN FOLLOWS THE SUPPER

TAKE TIME TO RELAX—COME! ENJOY!

All ages welcome

Donation: Adults $3; Under 12 $1

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To our Members and Friends:

Thank you all for so promptly answering our recent

inquiries about your e-mail addresses. We’ve really

appreciated the way your responses came in so quickly. When we produce the next Directory your e-mail addresses will be included.

Cynthia Creter

THANKS TO OUR OFFICE VOLUNTEERS

We couldn’t do it without you!

We really appreciate all the Office Volunteers do to keep us going . Since summer, the following people have generously given us their time.

Before and after Sunday services each week, one of our four Sunday volunteers, coordinated by Prudi Kantz, staffs the church office. This is a time when the office is as busy as it ever gets, and these volunteers graciously handle each request and leave things in good order for Monday: Edie Isaacs, Prudi Kantz, Annette Kregel, and Helen Vanderford.

Every Monday Lila Gibson spends a couple of hours in the office answering the phone, sending letters, and doing whatever is needed. It’s a great start to our week. Both Roger Barr and Sally Campbell have started coming to the office weekly as well.

On the 20th of each month (or closest weekday) eight or ten of the following people prepare the

Unigram for mailing: Barbara Amberson, Ed Blanchette, Mary Davis, Richard Dewey, Earl Fraser, Lila Gibson, Ruth Hultgren, Delmar Janson, Joan Janson, Annette Kregel, Jacqui Lahr, Katherine Maddox, Shirley Mayfield, Be Patterson, Carl Seratt, Helen Vanderford, Fran Yankauer, and Jim Yankauer.

This summer the following people prepared the Annual Report and Directory so it could be distributed on Opening Sunday, September 9: Barbara Amberson, Ruth Davis Barr, Ed Blanchette, Helen Bradfield, Rick Caughey, Richard Dewey, Ruth Hultgren, Pete Larsen, Velma Larsen,

Rosemary Muller, and Jeff Voeller.

Thanks so much to all of you!

The deadline for the December Unigram is Sunday, November 10.