I am often fascinated by what makes a place special — a landscape, a city, a neighborhood, even a house of worship. Is it innately set apart or must it be deemed distinct by an outside source or through general consensus? Then there is the notion of sacred space, places that any good post-modern person would likely take a pass on.

We do so at considerable cost, in my opinion.

This Sunday we'll consider how the deconstruction and the demystification of the significance of place can leave us with no "there" there, to paraphrase the poet.

Worship Associate Sue Anthony will be sharing her views on the significance of place and reciting the Lesson.

Children and Youth Religious Education classes start their regular schedule this week following the opening breakfast celebration last Sunday. Families and children who have not yet registered are invited to contact Natalie Freeburg at 776-4580 x 312 to sign up!

Developing a child's spirituality creates a strong foundation for all their life. Thank you for partnering with us in this important work. We look forward to celebrating the spiritual growth of all of us involved in our program!

The Forum Committee is proud to kick off the Fall series Sunday with San Francisco Poet Laureate and life-long activist Jack Hirschman.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti, San Francisco’s first Poet Laureate, calls Hirschman "...an eloquent communicator whose warmth and intelligence energizes audiences of all ages."

Don’t miss a rare opportunity to hear this internationally acclaimed poet and translator speak about “Poetry, Politics and Social Change.”

The program will begin in the Martin Luther King Room at the new time start time 9:45. A light breakfast for a slight charge will be served at 9:30 by Larry Danos.

A new art show and opening reception will come to the Kings Gallery Sunday after the service. Meet the artists and enjoy refreshments until 2:30.

The gallery features two exhibitions. In the Martin Luther King Room will be A World of Odd, paintings by Lynn Shepard in various media: pencils, paints and even mud from her own yard.

The Starr King Room will show 2 Photographers. Meg Whitaker-Green will display "Another Door, Nicaragua" capturing special moments and images from her travels in Nicaragua. Lorrie Bunker-Boquist will offer "A Wandering Eye", seeking that sense of moment as she moves through life with a special attention to color and form relationships.

The shows will be up through Sunday October 22nd.

For information about the Art Committee or having a show in the Kings Gallery, contact Jan Bernard at 334-1484 or Jasper Schad at 677-9902 or by email.

from Nancy Evans, Interim Executive Director
photos by Sonnie Willis

Meet our two new sextons!

Kelvin Jones (at left) is a native San Franciscan. He has a joyous smile, a strong handshake, and the ability to put Ikea kits together in record time. In addition to his practical experience in maintenance, Kelvin is a dedicated peer counselor and currently works several shifts a week for the United Council of Human Services at their shelter in the Bay View.

Carlos Luna is the caring father of three sons, Axel, 5; Carlos Jr. 10; Mario, 15, and is the single parent for the two older boys. He has his own house cleaning business, but is very grateful for the security and benefits of this position with the church. Carlos has extra training in plumbing, which is likely to come in handy in his work here.

We are very happy to have hired two such capable sextons as the busy fall season is starting with a rush, and we have "lost" two of our former staff.

Long-time sexton Thomas Brown is in New Orleans, where he will spend several months helping his family restore their Katrina damaged homes. Thomas reports that they have received no FEMA money, but are doing what they can with personal resources and home insurance payments. His two big challenges have been the frequent rains and the total lack of skilled labor. "Anyone who can do anything is working," he reports. Thomas took to the streets and recruited and trained helpers.

Sandra Alcouter now has a full-time job with the Post Office, a position she had applied for several years ago. We appreciate her kindness and good work, and perhaps she will help at busy times later in the year.

The first Sunday of the 2006-7 church year last week started with membership recognition, continued with a service conducted by the Society's Senior Minister, and built to a crowded celebration in the hallways and courtyard following the service.

Our posted pictures start with Reverend Gregory L. Stewart and Stillman White signing the Society's Membership Book and show our other celebrations. Click and remember the day!

The event features a choice of four programs:

• Creating Earth Justice Thru the Green Sanctuary Program
• Change the Story, Change the Future
• The Sacramento Street Retreat: Walking Our Talk
• Inspired Faith, Inspired Action

Members Alex Darr, Melissa Fafarman, Denis Paul will be leading the Sacramento Street Retreat.

No Murder in a Mystery Book??? That's the assignment for October for Clues, the Society's mystery reading group. (The September assignment was mysteries with an Asian theme.)

Regular meetings are the first Wednesday of every month in the church library at 7:15 pm. Sign up Sunday at the Adult Religious Education table at coffee hour -- you're invited to join in!

Members and friends are invited to join in creating appropriate responses to the California Legislature's decision to replace a statue of Rev. Thomas Starr King in the United States Capitol Statuary Hall with one of Ronald Reagan. The next meeting will be in the Fireside Room Sunday at 12:30.

Renowned poet Adrienne Rich will receive the Poetry Center's Book Award for The School Among the Ruins Saturday (September 16) at a 7:30 ceremony here at the church. Mark McMorris will read his own work, and will introduce Ms. Rich at this community event. Admission is $10

The Poetry Center Book Award has been given annually since 1980 by The Poetry Center, San Francisco State University, to an outstanding book of poems by a single author published during the prior year.

"Adrienne Rich's The School Among the Ruins radiates tenderness," praises McMorris. "She writes of and for another, speaking intimately of physical contact, love, sleep, and talk, always with clear eyes and a thoughtful turn of phrase. To ponder long and steeply is not to shun the shapely line, and her poems have long been known for balanced rhythms, subtle changes in pace, and hesitations that veer, coupled with social and political critique."