Have you ever asked the question, "How can I forgive you?" At the time of the year when many Jews observe Yom Kippur, we'll look for alternatives to the "forgive and forget" ideal posited by many religions.

While forgiveness often brings liberation, what about those instances when the offense is greater than our ability to see beyond it? Perhaps even forgiveness must be earned.

This Sunday we'll celebrate both the courage to forgive and the freedom not to.

Joining me on the Chancel will be Pastoral Care Minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Community Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Ministerial Intern Joel Gilbertson-White, and Youth Worship Associate Dionte Stewart.

Our choir, soprano Maria Solis, baritone Stefan Salinas, and instrumentalists Bill Klingelhoffer and Ben Girard will minister in music. As is our tradition, we'll sound the Shofar in honor of our Jewish heritage.

Please invite a friend to church with you this Sunday and share with them your community of liberal faith.

Sunday the youth choir will have its first practice for the year beginning at 10 am, and artists are invited to the debut of Art for Everyone in the Art Room, also at 10.

If you are interested in either activity, simply show up at 10 am and try it out. If you like the program, talk to the teacher afterward about how to stay connected!

Sunday school activities continue until 12:15. Your children and you have a variety of programs and activities to choose from: classes, worship, Coming Of Age, Rite of Passage, Our Whole Lives (OWL), and much more.

Additional information is online on the Society's updated Religion Education page, and in the 2009-2010 pamphlet.

Jamie Ray from San Francisco Rescued Orphaned Mammal Program (SFROMP) will talk to the Forum on humanity's historic and evolving relationship with nature. She will focus on how our relationship with nature can enhance our lives and help save the planet.

Jamie is the founder and director of San Francisco's first wildlife hospital and has dedicated her life to inspiring a more humane relationship with nature. She has sparked a non-lethal pest control revolution in the Bay Area, with 5 counties now providing effective alternatives to lethal traps.

The free program will start at 9:45. Come at 9:30 for conversation, coffee, and (for a slight charge) a light breakfast.

Three Religious Education classes that welcome adults begin Sunday.

• Art for Everyone begins at 10. It is led by Theda Burke and is held on the third Sunday of every month in the Art Room. No fee.
• UU and You: Writing Your Story begins at 12:30. Alison Rittger is the facilitator. The class is on the third Sunday of September, October and November. The fee is $10 or $5 per session.
• Unitarian Universalist Roots led by Amy Kelly starts at 1. This is a four-session course. Fee is $15 or $5 per session.

For more information about any of these courses or the many others still to come, check out the Adult Religious Education website, visit the Adult Religious Education table in the coffee area after the 11 am worship service, or contact the Religious Education office by phone (776-4580 x 162) or by email.

You can still sign-up for a Small Group Ministry by registering online or by coming to the Small Group Ministry table in the coffee hour Sunday. The deadline for applying to the currently forming groups is Monday (September 21).

Small Group Ministries, each with about ten people, meet twice monthly to share important parts of participants' lives. Each group practices deep listening, which enables members to form lasting friendships, a stronger community, and to minister to each other.

"I personally encourage people to join a Small Group Ministry," says Rev. Gregory Stewart. "It is important for us all to honor the connection between Small Group Ministries and the spiritual strength they provide us in tough times."

The company did the sewing for Weaver Design Group. The story and photos appear on page 152 in the printed edition ("Santa Ynez Horse Ranch").

"The Board believes that the Senior Minister is the face of our Society and his presence in the pulpit is essential to achieving our goals of having widely known worship services as well as achieving congregational growth," the resolution said.

"We appreciate the strong experience and skills that the Senior Minister brings to his oversight of Sunday services and particularly to his Sunday preaching... the Board strongly supports Sunday preaching by the Senior Minister and we request and encourage his presence in the pulpit at least three Sundays each month.

"While we understand that this request will necessarily limit the amount of time the senior minister allocates for other areas of Society life, we believe the congregation is best served when the senior minister is engaged in what he does best: preaching, teaching, pastoral counseling and public witness."

The priority on Sunday services will mean less time for other pastoral responsibilities, noted Assistant Moderator Claire Weber. Rev. Stewart wanted assurances from the Board that we understood the need for additional resources in other areas of church life, she explained. "We told him the Congregation and Board recognize that Beyond Sunday need."

At the 11 am service the choir was back in full, great voice, Music Director Dr. Mark Sumner beat the drum, and Reiko Lane created concert-quality music on the organ.

All members of the professional ministry were on the Chancel and participated in the service. The Congregation welcomed its newest members, and Rev. Greg Stewart's sermon on the good news from Unitarian Universalism sparked applause from the pews.

Then we gathered in the courtyard to fete the new members and to exchange "What I did this summer" stories. We celebrated with Laurie Southgate her 102nd birthday. (Laurie is the person with the fancy stole in the picture to the right.)

We welcomed each other home.