2007 Mother's Day Proclamation for Peace
Sunday, 9:30 am on the Front Steps of the Church
The Congregation will gather on the steps of the
church at 9:30 Mother's Day morning (Sunday)
for a celebration of peace.
Rev. Greg Stewart, Gold Star Mother
Karen Meredith, Assemblyman Mark Leno and
other government officials, war veterans, war
resisters, and our Unitarian Universalist
Community will declare their
commitment to peace, honoring the
moral focus of Mother's Day begun by
Unitarian
Julia Ward Howe in 1870.
"We rekindle the original spirit of Mother's
Day by standing for peace before sitting in
pews," said Rev. Stewart. "Too many mothers
and their families have experienced the loss
and lies of the war in Iraq."
This public witnessing has been shared with
the media, and the Unitarian Universalist
Association will be recording the ceremonies
and worship service.
Come Sunday
morning
at 9:30!
The Demise of Democracy: Naming Names
Sunday, May 13 at 11 am in the Sanctuary
service conducted by The Reverend Gregory Stewart
What is the message of a religion that
promotes "the democratic process within our
congregations and in society at large" (the
fifth Unitarian Universalist Principle) in a
post-democratic world?
What spiritual tools do we offer to those who
wish to resuscitate and enliven democracy
before rigor mortis sets in?
Many wish to stop us.
Sunday Rev. Stewart will examine the evidence
and name names.
Joining Rev. Stewart on the Chancel will be Karen
Meredith of Gold Star Moms Speak Out whose
son Ken was killed in Iraq; Sean O'Neill, a
decorated Marine who served in Iraq twice;
and Pablo Paredes, a Naval Petty Officer
Third Class who refused to board a ship bound
for Iraq and was subsequently court-martialed.
Thomas Atwood will be serving as the
worship associate. The choir, along with
Nancy Cook Munn, soprano, and William
Garcia Ganz, pianist, will minister in music.
Forum Reception for Peace Makers
Sunday in the Martin Luther King Room following the 9:30 am Peace Ceremony
Participants in the Mother's Day Proclamation
for Peace will celebrate with each other in
the Martin Luther King Room following the
ceremonies on the church steps.
Refreshments will be available, and speakers,
guests, and audience members will continue
their observance of Mother's Day until the
start of the Worship Service.
Photographer Reese Erlich, one of two artists
featured in the Kings Gallery this month,
will be available to talk about his
photojournalist work.
Two Photography Shows Open
Opening and Artist Reception Sunday 1 - 3 pm in the Kings Gallery
from Liz Breger
Two photographic art shows open Sunday in the
Kings Gallery.
In the Thomas Starr King Room:
Sean Penn photo by Reese
Erlich
REESE ERLICH - 35 YEARS OF PHOTOJOURNALISM
Reese has traveled to over 90 countries on
assignment for major newspapers and
magazines. In this show he selects some of
his best photos from the past 15 years,
including his travels with Sean Penn to Iran.
The photos depict the
lives of everyday people from the Middle
East, Mali, Brazil and many other locales.
Unmounted photo prints will be available for
purchase.
In the Martin Luther King Room:
Tulip by Stephen
Gale
STEPHEN GALE - NATURE'S REVELATIONS
Photography is part of his spiritual
practice. Buddhism and Taoism are the strong
influences. The movement in his work is to
convey the essence of an object with its
underlying reality. His reference is that
"Nothing is as it seems. Underlying the
surface appearance of
natural phenomena is the ground of being -
everything is magical."
All of the work was done in digital
photography with little retouching or changes
to the image.
Lament for Jerusalem
Concert Saturday (May 12) 7 pm at the Church
from Dr. Mark Sumner, Music Director
Saturday (May 12) the combined choirs of the
First Unitarian Universalist Churches of
Berkeley, Oakland, and San Francisco present
the West Coast premiere of John Tavener's
Lament for Jerusalem.
Nancy Cooke-Munn and Ari Nieh and a
professional orchestra are featured as well
as favorite anthems by the three choirs.
The program is at 7 pm at the church, and
tickets are $10 for general admission and $5 for
seniors and children.
In last week's Flame, Part I of an
article on this new masterwork from John
Tavener was included as a link. Today,
included here are final thoughts on the work.
Good and Welfare
And Then There Were Seven...
On May 1st Stillman White (a.k.a.,
"Papa") had his day in court and legally
changed his last name to Stewart.
"I wanted to share the same name as my
children and emphasize to them the permanence
of our "forever family," explained Stillman.
Rev. Greg Stewart (a.k.a., "Daddy")
said the move on Stillman's part came to him
as a complete surprise and was met with
enthusiastic approval by sons Arthur,
Javonte, Dionte, Allen
, and David.
"Now we have another date to celebrate," says
Rev. Stewart, "and another way to proclaim
our family
values."
Both Papa and Daddy are grateful for the
blessings five precious boys have brought them.
Relax with Your Friends and Family
Memorial Day Church Retreat in Sebastopol
from Trudy Lionel
Summer has arrived in the Bay area: spend it
with your family and friends on Memorial Day
weekend at the All-Church Retreat.
Come north to Sebastopol, and then a short
drive west on the Bohemian Highway, past
cherry and apple orchards and into the
redwoods. You will find the McGucken Center
with modern accessible accommodations,
swimming pools, trails through the woods,
creative workshops, and children's activities.
Arrive on Saturday morning, May 26 and stay
until Monday afternoon, May 28. Best of all
is the opportunity to relax, spend time
playing games, conversing with fellow San
Francisco Unitarian Universalists, eating
delicious food, singing, and worshiping outdoors.
Sign-up at church or contact uuretreat2007@mindspring.com.
