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USH E-News: October 16, 2024
"Nourishing Spirit, Building Community,
Working for Justice"
50 Bloomfield Avenue, Hartford, CT 06105
Tel: (860) 233-9897
Email: office@hartforduu.org
www.hartforduu.org
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Minister
Thursday 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Friday 9 a.m. - noon
or by appointment.
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Office Hours:
Monday – Thursday
10 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Sunday 9 a.m.– 2 p.m.
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Sunday Morning Service
October 20, 10:30
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“Storytelling to Heal You and Yours” | | |
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Matt Dicks, Pulpit Guest
Peter Meny, Worship Associate
Sam Moffett, Music Director
USH Choir
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Matt Dicks, Pulpit Guest
Matt Dicks is an award-winning elementary school teacher, columnist, and internationally bestselling author. He's published several novels, including Memoirs of an Imaginary Friend and Twenty-one Truths About Love, as well as numerous nonfiction titles.
Matt is a record 61-time Moth StorySLAM and 9-time GrandSLAM champion and has performed for audiences worldwide. He’s the founder and artistic director of Speak Up, a Hartford-based storytelling organization, and the CEO of Storyworthy, a company producing online storytelling instruction and workshops. He teaches public speaking, storytelling, and marketing and branding strategies to corporations, universities, advertising agencies, and clergy, among others.
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Can't be here in person for worship?
Join us on ZOOM 10:30 a.m.
Meeting ID: 931 0388 7934
Passcode: 128493
Virtual Coffee Hour to follow
* Note: Zoom Coffee Hour ends at noon
Worship is also streamed on Facebook —
follow our page and receive notifications every time we go live.
Couldn't get to USH, and missed the livestream?
Watch any service, anytime, here on Vimeo
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Upcoming Worship Services, 10:30 a.m.
Sunday, October 27 – “The Monster Mash”, Remembrance Table and Ceremony
Reverend Bob/Miriam Byroade, Worship Associate/Choir
Sunday, November 3 – “One More Song, I will Sing One More Song”, Reverend Bob/
Laurie Kelliher and Ben Harvey, Worship Associates.
Turn clocks back one hour!
Thursday, November 7, 6 p.m. – First Thursday Chapel Service with Reverend Bob.
Sunday, November 10 – “Living Community”,
Dana Donovan, Pulpit Guest/Margaret Leicach, Worship Associate/Choir
Sunday, November 17 – “Prophetic Possibilities and the Politics of Heresy”,
Reverend Aaron Payson/Sue Smolski and Ann Laporte Bryan, Worship Associates/Andrew Wilcox, Guest Pianist with Sam Moffett, Music Director
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This Sunday is Soup Sunday!
Help our youth support the Church Street Eats soup kitchen! Following worship this Sunday, head downstairs to Fellowship Hall and order a cup of soup (and maybe a brownie, too—we won't tell!).
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Donate for Mother Rose’s Boutique
This Sunday, John and the Youth Group will again cook up gallons of soup, for USH and for the hungry folks down at Church Street Eats. After we enjoy our soup, John will transport the surplus to downtown Hartford so the folks there can have a good, nutritious lunch. Let's also go the extra mile, to help our neighbors and friends who can use a little extra boost... donations can be dropped off in the bright pink (rose) bin in Fellowship Hall.
Mother Rose's Boutique is a sister project to Church Street Eats, collecting donations of (mostly) used clothing.
Is there something you could donate? Perhaps a pack of new socks, undergarments, or toiletries? Donations of men's clothing are most needed. All sizes are helpful, but generally Large and Extra Large are most requested. Our contributions, so far, to this legacy of Mother Rose at Church Street Eats have been so appreciated.
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Message from Rev. Bob...
We’ve regularly drawn about 10-25 people to Thursday night services, held at 6 p.m. on the First Thursday of every month, and attendees have reported it has been an uplifting time to relax, enjoy some music, hear some poetry, and contemplate life.
I mention it today because I’m aware that the next Thursday night service, on November 7, will be (gulp) after the U.S. election the Tuesday before.
If you need to be with others, or simply to sit still and breathe in and breathe out, that Thursday evening may be a good time to come in. I’ll be available before and after the chapel service to anyone who needs to chat – whatever your perspective, or however life is treating you.
In the meantime, here’s to today – these days always tend to come one day at a time. And that’s probably for the best. Enjoy!
Kind regards,
Rev. Bob
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Security Committee Meeting:
October 16, 7 p.m. Library and Zoom
Join Zoom Meeting
Meeting ID: 860 233 9897
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Meeting House Presents: The Seat of Our Pants
October 18 @ 7 p.m.
Doors open at 6:30 for the 7:00 show.
Affectionately known as SOOP, Seat of Our Pants has propelled to the forefront of the Connecticut roots music scene with award-winning heartfelt and clever songs that get you thinking about the world around you. From sellout shows at The Buttonwood Tree, to the grand stage at Mohegan Sun’s Wolf Den, to Podunk Bluegrass Festival, SOOP is reaching across the state with their unique mix of instruments. The distinct all-American tone of the Appalachian mountain dulcimer, the visual intrigue of the electric upright bass, the energetic beat of the cajon, the impeccable intricate harmonies, and the melodic play of the fiddle and guitar distinguish Connecticut’s one-of-a-kind SOOP. Their cornucopia of folk instruments and rock-infused songwriting are a contagiously fun experience. https://seatofourpantsmusic.com/
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This Sunday, —
October 20, 12:30 p.m.
Join us for an afternoon showing of this timely, thorough, provocative documentary: Bad Faith. The 90-minute film is promoted by Americans United for the Separation of Church and State (AU), a national non-profit dedicated to protecting religious freedom as the right of everyone in the U.S.
The film details, with a great deal of historic background, the threat posed by Project 2025, the playbook created by the Heritage Foundation (with substantial input from what may be termed “right-wing “Christian” nationalist evangelicals), which promises to reform our government through (among other things) eliminating protections of liberty while severely crippling core administrative offices by replacing expertise with party loyalists. It sounds an alarm, and details graphically how the ‘plan’ will be implemented. Even to those who follow current events, this is eye-opening.
Brad Huskinson, a local Americans United member and fellow UU, plans to join us for this screening, and he can provide information about Americans United.
Show up early @ 11:30 a.m. before the movie for soup in Fellowship Hall... support our USH Youth Group with their year-long service project of feeding the hungry in and around Hartford.
All proceeds will go to support the Youth program.
The film starts upstairs in the Sanctuary at 12:30 p.m.
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Learn about the radical Jewish history of Hartford with Steve Thornton —
Steve is a historian, community activist, and retired union organizer who has led strikes and organizing campaigns in Connecticut for the past 35 years. He’s the author of many books about the history of social and labor movements in Connecticut, most recently Radical Connecticut: People’s History in the Constitution State (2024).
The discussion will be held on Thursday, Oct. 24 at 6:30 p.m. at the Unitarian Society of Hartford. We’ll have snacks and pizza.
Sponsored by the Hartford Branch of Connecticut DSA and Hartford Jewish Organizing Collective.
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'Living into Possibility' through
Meaningful Connections:
Come explore the many ways to deepen connections here at USH as a volunteer or a program participant. On October 27 the Community Within Council offers a Possibilities Fair following worship in Fellowship Hall. Learn about the roles of committees, subcouncils, and councils and where they need help. Explore the results of the Adult Programs survey and help determine programs for the coming year. Snacks will be provided.
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THE BIBLE
You’ve heard about it. Maybe you’ve read about it – or bits of it. You’ve seen people use passages from it to justify all kinds of terrible things: controlling women’s bodies, Christian hegemony, war and violence, the slave trade. You know it’s been an influence on so many people who have been an influence on you.
BIG BOB’S BLOWOUT BIBLE BONANZA is your chance to learn more about this critical set of books. We’ll go over the “when, where, what, why, and who wrote it” of the various books of the Bible. We’ll discuss different approaches to Bible study. We’ll reflect on the emotional impact of certain passages. We’ll look at it structurally, post-structurally, historically, critically, as literature, you name it.
You don’t have to agree with the Bible. You don’t have to like it. But if you’re interested to learn a bit more with others here at USH, you are most welcome to join us.
FOR A LIMITED TIME ONLY, ALL THIS CAN BE YOURS FOR $1,299 $999 $699 $19.99
Free. OK, we’ll stick with free. (Thanks to your pledges and donations – thanks!!) All are welcome. Bear in mind this is a Bible Study that will include a certain amount of skepticism as well as the acknowledgement that there is much inspiration contained within the pages. We will honor different viewpoints, prioritizing those that allow for the possibility of one’s being wrong.
THE INFO: Come on down to any and all of these dates on THURSDAYS 6:30 – 8:00 p.m.
Session One: Thursday OCTOBER 24
Session Two:. Thursday NOVEMBER 14
Session Three: Thursday DECEMBER 12
Sessin Four: Thursday JANUARY 30, 2025
Session Five: Thursday FEBRUARY 13, 2025
Registration is encouraged (but not required) which will add you to the mailing list for this group.
Register to minister@hartforduu.org.
Let’s get Biblin’!
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GHIAA 2024 POWER SUMMIT
Thursday, November 21: 6:30 – 8:30 p.m.
Weaver High School
415 Granby Street, Hartford
Let's have a USH show of strength at this summit!
Register online here
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October Good Neighbor Offering (GNO) —
For 25 years, Hawkwing has served the People of the Cheyenne River Sioux/Lakota Tribe (CRST) in South Dakota by providing resources to enhance health and education, to end hunger, reinforce clean water infrastructure, and empower individuals to overcome generational oppression through programs focused on personal and community development. The organization was founded by Rochelle Ripley to fulfill a promise made to her Cheyenne River Sioux/Lakota grandmother.
Hawkwing' vision is that the tribe's members get the chance to live healthy, fulfilling lives free from generational trauma and hardship.
For more infomration, visit: https://www.hawkwing.org
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Horace Bushnell Food Pantry
The number of CT families who are unable to pay for basic needs continues to rise," according to CT Public Radio. That means Food Insecurity!
Please fill our bins in the lobby so that Horace Bushnell Children's Food Pantry has plenty of healthy food in their pantries!
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EXPLORERS IN R.E. SOUP SUNDAY (10/20): On Sunday Explorers and youth will be participating in Soup Sunday.
R.E. CALENDAR: *UPDATE* Take a look at the R.E. calendar. Every Sunday, we like to have parents/kids/youth know beforehand whether they will be with the parents in the service, or in the classroom, or start in the service and then go downstairs to the classrooms. Do reach out with any questions.
BOSTON TRIP WITH UU NORTHAMPTON:The RE young people of the UU Society of Northampton (MA) have invited our RE young people to travel to Boston on a day trip on Monday, November 11. The trip will feature a walking tour of significant locations and memorials relevant to our Unitarian and Universalist history.
BEND IT LIKE BECKHAM SHOWING ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 3, AT 12:30PM: Bend it Like Beckham will be show downstairs on Sunday, November 3, at 12:30 pm. Please register and invite friends and family
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November Board Meeting:
Tuesday, 11/12, 6:30 p.m.
Zoom Link
2024 – 2025 USH Board of Directors —
Nancy Kemmerer: President
Nina Elgo: President-Elect
Jon Covault: Treasurer
Gloria Mengual: Secretary
Paul Cipriano: Administration Council Chair
Judy Sullivan: Social Justice Council Chair
Laura Cipriano: Community Within Council Chair
Laurie Kelliher: Membership Council Chair
Jim Venneman: Finance Council Chair
Rick Tsukada: Spiritual Life Council Chair
Have a question or comment for the board? Send an email to: ushboardofdirectors@gmail.com.
The latest financial reports for FY 2024-2025 have been posted;
click HERE to view.
See the 2023/24 Annual Report HERE
The Board Meeting Minutes for May 2024 have been posted.
Click HERE to view the USH Directory, Reports, and other church business information online. Contact Karolina Wojtysko for the username and password.
Link for Welcome Team Sign-Up Genius
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The deadline for USH E-news submissions is
noon Tuesday!
Please write in the 'Subject' field "USH Enews", and include the dates that your submission should be featured. Announcements about upcoming events appear for two consecutive weeks maximum, unless other arrangements have been made with the editorial team.
When forwarding information concerning an "outside" event or organization, please pre-edit your copy in order to keep the piece to 200 words or less. Note that all material is subject to editing prior to publication. Also, please submit editable material (text and images separately, rather than "poster" format).
Articles should be sent as email file attachments, (MS Word preferred) and images need to be sent separately as jpeg, jpg, png, tiff, bmp, or gif files.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Editor-in-Chief: Tina Davies
Production and Technical Expertise: Karolina Wojtysko
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USH Calendar of Events
The calendar for October 2024 can be viewed HERE.
Please consult our Online Calendar regularly for all upcoming events coordinated by the
Unitarian Society of Hartford
To submit a Calendar Request or Zoom Meeting click HERE.
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