service conducted by Rev. Gregory Stewart

Welcome home!

We begin a new church year by examining the core of our liberal religious faith and the Unitarian Universalist movement that arises from it. I believe that what distinguishes our congregation from others makes us a destination for those who desire a fresh move of the spirit, unencumbered by dogma and encouraged by debate.

But how will they find us if we don't articulate the tenets of our faith? And how are we to face our own challenges in light of what we believe? This is a good day to begin again.

Our choir returns from summer break under the direction of Dr. Mark Sumner and accompanied by organist Reiko Oda Lane.

All of our community ministers are joining me on the chancel: the Reverend Alyson Jacks, who ministers at Home Away From Homelessness, and the Reverends Kay Jorgensen and Denis Paul, who minister at the Faithful Fools Street Ministry.

Also leading worship are pastoral Care Minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux and the Reverend Dr. Douglass Fitch, pastor of the Sunday Afternoon Fellowship.

You'll also meet our new ministerial intern, Joel Gilbertson-White and welcome our newest members. All in all, this will be quite a homecoming!

I look forward to seeing you this Sunday and ask that you invite a friend to join you for this special service of worship and celebration.

The Children's Religious Education Breakfast Sunday morning will begin at 9. It is the perfect place to meet and greet other parents and families. It's also the right place for you to find out about this year's Children's Religious Education programs.

The "cost" of breakfast is completed registration and volunteer information for your family. The Religious Education staff is looking for a way to share and care, something they can't do if they don't know who you are!

Religious Education is not selling anything! And, if you're new or overwhelmed with your current commitments, you can say that on your forms! So, come to the breakfast, and enjoy the food and community.

The complete Sunday schedule will be:

• 9:00 breakfast - waffles, sausage, strawberries and all the fixings. During part of the breakfast, teachers will be available to answer your questions about their classes.
• 10:00 sing-along - Carolyn Jayne, youth choir director, and Eric Shackleford will get the group singing, a fun experience for the whole family.
• 10:45 - everyone will go to the Sanctuary for the beginning of the worship service.
• 11:15 - children and youth will leave the service (parents may come, too, if they wish) and go to the chapel where they will divide into classes.
• 12:15 or whenever the service is over - participants will go to the Religious Education area and sign-out their children (5th grade and younger). Look for the adults with the clipboards. Youth (6th grade and older) can leave after class without being signed out.

The Early Childhood room opens at 9:45. You may bring your little ones to breakfast, and you are welcome to take them to Early Childhood whenever they are ready.

San Francisco Fine Arts Museum docent Clara Morrissey brings Tutankhamun and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs alive for the Society for Community Work (SCW) Tuesday (September 15).

The enhanced Tut exhibit returned to the de Young Museum in Golden Gate Park after an absence of more than two decades. The 136-year-old SCW is again meeting monthly on the third Tuesday following a three-month hiatus.

SCW's monthly business meeting begins at 11, Social time starts a 11:30, Lunch ($7-12) at noon, and Tut and the Golden Age of the Pharaohs will take the stage at 1pm.

Sign-up for Tuesday's SCW's catered lunch at the SCW table during coffee hour on Sunday or call Christine Patch-Lindsay at 564-3108 to reserve.

No more meetings? Really!

The Council of Committee Chairs is holding its last meeting Saturday (September 12) morning. Bring a committee buddy or two to join the Board's Leadership team in considering new ways of conducting the training and business which has been part of the the Council of Committee Chairs meetings.

Participants will also determine the next steps from the May 9 "Creating our Future" workshop and hear updates from the Board and committees.

Come at 9 for light breakfast goodies, coffee and fellowship. The business session starts promptly at 9:30 and will end by noon.

from Stanley Hartzell

"We want to help everyone who hasn't had the Small Group experience to learn how it can make their involvement with the Society more intimate," explains Small Group Ministry (SGM) Steering Committee member Kate Kuckro who set up a SGM bulletin board earlier this week.

The wall-mounted display is across from the Visitors' Table in the church lobby.

"We want to let everyone know about our service projects as well as the kinds of ideas we share when we meet," Kate said. Current plans for SGM meetings include participating in greening the church as well as exploring the meaning and purposes of being a Unitarian Universalist, both as an individual and as part of a community.

Small Group Ministry will be accepting applications for this year's Small Groups through September 21st.

You can sign up online or pick up a membership application on the bulletin board, in the church office, at the Welcome Table, or during coffee hour following the Sunday services on Sept. 13th and 20th.

Rev. Denis Paul will facilitate "Journeys of Healing," a five-session course beginning Thursday (September 17) at 7 pm that addresses the questions of wounding religion.

Maybe the religion you grew up with does not fit who you are now. Maybe you are angry or confused about the teaching and practices of religions. Maybe you are looking for a religious home but are not sure what you want.

Come and explore your personal religious journey in a safe and supportive place.

You don't have to be a member of this Society to participate in our Adult Religious Education classes. For more information about Rev. Paul or the course, or for more information about other courses, please check the Adult Religious Education website. You may register on line or after Sunday's service at the Adult Religious Education table in the Thomas Starr King room.

Noam Chomsky (pictured at right), noted linguist, author, and political analyst on US economic and foreign policy, will speak in the Sanctuary, Sunday, October 4 at 1 pm.

Called by the New York Times, "Arguably the most important intellectual alive," Chomsky will engage in an on-stage dialog with Unitarian Universalists and other activists who focus on thinking globally and acting locally.

Members and friends are invited to attend a noon catered lunch and the presentation for a discounted cost of $20. Tickets for seniors and students are $15.

Organizers expect that this event will sell out, so a limited number of seats have been reserved for the San Francisco Unitarian Universalist community. Tickets will be available Sundays at coffee hour while they last. You may also request reservations by email.

Members of the Society joined with other San Francisco activists last week and demonstrated for Health Care reform .

Thanks to Eric Langhirt for sharing photos from the September 2nd rally at City Hall.