While wishful thinking often drains power, authentic hope ignites it. In this installment of the sermon series on the nature of hope, we will explore the ways in which hope empowers those who live and work in its worldview.

Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Alison Rittger , and Mikio Tajima will participate in the service.

Come and warm yourself with the fire of true hope.

One hundred Members of 20 to 50+ years will be honored at a reception following Sunday's service. You will recognize them by their new gold name tags. A special visitor, Harry Meserve, son of our former minister, is also expected. Whether you have been a member for a day or a decade, please come to the celebration!

Dr. Mikio Tajima (pictured) addresses conflict issues of Nepal, which has been politically unstable since its first experiments with democracy in 1990.

Since retirement from the United Nations as its Global Compact Advisor, Dr. Tajima has helped coordinate outside efforts to bring stability to the country through tolerance, reconciliation, and forgiveness. He is Professor Emeritus of Kawansei Gakuin University, Japan.

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

from Betty Skwarek
Acting Director of Religious Education

Religious Education classes will meet at 11 am Sunday as the Faithful Fools demonstrate their wonderful hospitality during Chapel. After the Fools presentation, learners will divide into separate classes to make toiletry kits for the homeless as part of February's religious education theme of "Love Your Neighbor".

Some exciting times are ahead for Senior youth. They have an opportunity to work with Marc Theobald on a dinner for the shelter, and there is the possibility of an overnight in March. Stay tuned!

The Children's Art Show will be hung in the Kings Gallery for the month of February. Be sure to check out their work Sunday. Meanwhile, the youth choir will be busy practicing for their 2008 performance for the shelter on the Valentine's Day.

New students are welcome throughout the year, and parents are invited to phone Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek at 776-4580 for more information.

Statements authorizing the Society to publish photos of your children are still being accepted. The forms are available on the table outside the Chapel and on the Religious Education Google Group site document section. Please give completed slips to Betty Skwarek or turn them in at the church office.

For 20 years, our Society, St. Mary's Cathedral, Trinity Episcopal, St. Marks, and other churches have cooperated to offer temporary shelter and meals to 80 homeless men during the worst winter months. Many members say this is one of the most meaningful ways they participate in the caring community.

Thanks to all those who have already volunteered to prepare breakfasts — we are still taking sign-ups for early risers for many dates. Additionally, we are now accepting sign-ups for the dinners our volunteers provide from February 17 through March 1. Please visit the shelter sign-up table in the Thomas Starr King Room on Sunday, and bring your date book.

At its recently completed meeting, the UUA Board of Trustees reaffirmed its 2004 decision to hold the 2008 General Assembly (GA) in Fort Lauderdale, FL.

The Fort Lauderdale/Broward County Convention Center, the principal venue for the GA, lies within the perimeter of the Port of Fort Lauderdale and is subject to federal security regulations that mandate that all people eighteen years of age and older show a government-issued ID at the entrance to the facility.

The UUA concluded that "that there were no alternative venues in the area large enough to accommodate major events such as the Service of the Living Tradition or our Sunday worship service."

The Faithful Fools invite you to join them for their monthly Fools of the Roundtable Monday (February 4) which will begin with a potluck at 5:30. The celebration will be at Fools' Court, 234 Hyde Street.

The 31 embroidered panels of the Universe Story, done by Sr. Sheila and the women of Kopanang will be exhibited. (Photo at left is of one of the panels.)

Come sit in the presence of the profoundness of all our history as we share food, conversation, and drumming with one another.

The Great Green Auction is looking for donations of services: dinners at your home, gardening, organizing help. Here's a wonderful donation we have received: Do you have a personal story you want to preserve? A friend or family member whose early memories or living history you want to capture on video? We have an auction donation to do just that!

Please stop by the Great Green Auction table in the Thomas Starr King Room after this Sunday services. Tell us about your terrific service you'll donate.

We invite everyone to donate and participate – cooking demonstrations, hikes, lessons, host a dinner party – use your imagination!

The deadline for donations is Sunday, February 17. For more information contact Liz Strand via the church office .

Applications for The William and Alice Hinckley Fund scholarships are available in the church office and online.

If you know a graduate student with financial need, whose career plans reflect humanitarian concern, and who is academically talented, please invite them to fill out an application.

Last year Hinckley awarded $33,500 in scholarships to eight students. Winners included Brent Anderson, Deborah Grande, Amy Moses, Katrina Nardini, Brendan O'Brine, Denis Paul, Michael Walker, and Randall Wright.