Hospice neither tries to extend life nor speed up one's progress toward death.

When do we make the choice?

How do people let go of the hope in medicine to cure and take charge instead of how they hope they or their loved one might travel toward and approach death?

What lessons can we learn from ministering to hospice patients and families?

As Unitarian Universalists, what do we believe about illness, life, death and dying?

Special music will be provided by the California Golden Overtones, a lively student choir from the University of California Berkeley.

from Henry Kroll

An Open Forum to discuss with members and attendees plans for enhancing the Forum program with ideas from all participants.

Henry Kroll and Nancy Deustch will facilitate this discussion.

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

from Natalie Freeburg, Acting Director of Religious Education

Sunday at 10 am children and youth will gather in their age-grouped classrooms for religious education classes. Reflections will be shared about the peace ribbon signing, and plans will be made for the May 13th hanging of the ribbon around the church.

Sunday School runs until 12:15 pm. Visitors are always invited, and advance notice is requested but not required. For further information, please contact Natalie Freeburg at 776-4580 ext 162 or by email.

Last week, the children and youth infused the sanctuary with their energy and passion for peace as they joined in the Congregational Peace Ribbon signing.

The participants added lots of exclamation points, hearts, and peace symbols. These messages of hope were filled blank spaces and also surrounded words and phrases on the banner that had already been written by others.

The World Community Advocates offers its monthly Stone Soup lunch for $4. The program begins at 12:45 and is free to all.

Treat yourself, your family, and friends to sitting in the sun, hiking, swimming, games, and creative frolics at the all-church Retreat Memorial Day weekend. The event offers accessible accommodations for all ages in our community.

Pick up a registration form at the Retreat table after Sunday services. This is the last week for the early bird discount registration.

For additional information, please email Lee Most.

Holly Near will speak on "Demystifying Activism" after Saturday's evening banquet. Holly also will be leading a workshop on effective social action in our daily lives Saturday afternoon from 3:30 - 5:30 .

The event is packed with seminars, worship, and fellowship.

Did you miss the registration deadline? Walk-ins registrants are welcome to the programs! The meals are sold-out, but you can still come to the worships, workshops, and community events. Just brown-bag it or go to a near-by restaurant during the food breaks.

Schedule, workshop information, and directions are available online. Registration is $45 to $145 on a sliding scale. Come join fellow Unitarian Universalists in spiritual exploration.

Tuesday (May 1) is the deadline for early-bird registration for General Assembly (GA), the annual denomination-wide multi-day meeting of Unitarian Universalists from far-flung places you never imagined Unitarian Universalists could live.

This year the GA takes place June 20-24 in Portland. Rates increase on May 1, from $285 to $330 for adults, and from $160 to $185 for youth.

See the Unitarian Universalist Association website to learn more about this action- packed UU-o-rama!

The Congregation took at quick look at the publicity and outreach efforts planned by the Society, the Pacific Central District, and the Unitarian Universalist Association at last week's What's Growing On Around Here? luncheon.

Two infomercials, an update by Rev. Greg Stewart, and a smart smattering of facts were offered in the 30-minute program. Additional discussions are scheduled for later this spring and summer, and next month each Member will have a chance to contribute financial support to the outreach campaign.

This article's picture is one Sonnie took of an opening infomercial.