How do we respond when fear threatens to overcome us? The religious response is always faith. But what does it mean to be both faithful and faith-filled?

The Reverend Maj-Britt Johnson, our preacher this Sunday, believes that when faced with fear, love may be the best protection of all.

Come and explore how we can embody a faith that often seems ambiguous to religious liberals.

Joining Rev. Johnson on our Chancel will be Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel, Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek, Worship Associate Ben Bear, and Youth Worship Associate Antonia Porter. The Choir and Bell Choir will minister in music.

This Sunday will provide a great opportunity to bring a friend to church!

The Reverend Johnson comes to us from the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Palisades (New Jersey), where she serves as parish minister. A graduate of Harvard Divinity School (1992), she has served Unitarian Universalist congregations in Norfolk, Virginia and Ridgewood, New Jersey. While in Virginia she was an outspoken advocate for Lesbian Gay Bisexual Transgender rights and her ministry maintains a social justice focus.

The Reverend Dr. Kay Jorgensen will share with the Forum stories of the needs she sees every day in the Tenderloin. She will also give her insights on the annual Interfaith Winter Shelter which the Congregation supports by providing food and shelter in February.

Rev. Jorgensen has blended drama and spirituality as minister, professor, and director since she brought theater to the streets of Minnesota as a young college graduate. She co-founded The Faithful Fools, a ministry of presence for the homeless of San Francisco's Tenderloin.

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

The older elementary learners will work on their very own i-movie this month with Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel. Sunday the Junior and Senior youth will make more toiletry kits for the guests of the homeless shelter. These gifts will be added to those made by younger students last week.

The week's story in Chapel will be about "The Good Samaritan" from the New Testament.

New adult volunteers are being recruited for the Religious Education program. There are openings for good teachers: one for Junior Youth (we'd like someone with acting experience), and two for the 3rd-4th-5th grade class. You do not need to be a parent to teach. Please Contact Betty Skwarek at 776-4580 for more information.

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.

Lunch chez Auguste Renoir ?

San Francisco is full of great restaurants and we all have own favorite... so why not ask your favorite restaurant to donate a gift certificate or maybe donate a "buy one/get one free" certificate?

Your favorite florist, your favorite deli, all businesses you regularly patronize are all great sources for donations.

The Great Green Auction team can provide you with a letter with the Society's tax ID number to document the donation.

Gathering gift certificates is a great way to support the auction and turn your Unitarian Universalist friends on to great food and businesses.

Please stop by the Great Green Auction table in the Thomas Starr King Room after Sunday services. EVERYONE can donate and participate! The donation deadline is Sunday, February 17.

You're invited to join others in the Congregation in exploring a newer restaurant, Cafe Castro, Saturday (February 9).

Nancy Rayburn will be hosting appetizers and beverages at her home at 6 pm with everyone moving to the restaurant for a no-host dinner at 7. Diners will be invited to return to Nancy's home for coffee.

The cafe opened in November and is moderately priced. Pasta, burgers, and sandwiches are about $12; entrees are $15- $20+. This is a great place to be able to come and hear a conversation, according to Nancy.

Please contact Joan Rost by email or at 563-0623 to let her know you're coming and for more information.

The Congregation will celebrate the artwork of the community's children in the Martin Luther King Room after the service on Sunday.

The art display is one way the Congregation's children participate in welcoming the Winter Shelter guests,. We thank the teachers who have helped with the art and the framing, including Theda Burke, Nancy Buffam, Joe Dellert and Kristen Stephens.

Please come and congratulate our young artists, and enjoy the refreshments.

The Faithful Fools invite you to a free grand poetry reading followed by a free screening of a classic movie.

The poetry reading will begin at 4 pm Saturday (February 9) at Fools Court, 234 Hyde Street. At 7 pm Frederico Fellini's The White Sheik will flash on the screen.

The premise of the Italian visionary's film is that newlyweds from a small village take their honeymoon in Rome. He has a very regimented trip planned for the two of them. She, on the other hand, is hoping there will be time to catch a glimpse of the handsome actor who stars as "the White Sheik" in her favorite series of photographic comic books. Inevitably the couple get separated in the chaos of the big city.

Though not quite as phantasmagorical as his later films, The White Sheik showcases Fellini's Roma in his trademark whimsical light. Some, including Orson Welles, have considered it his very best film. It's almost certainly his funniest.

Come Saturday and find out for yourself. Just show up at 4 or 7, or call the Fools at 474-0508 for more information.

photos by Sonnie Willis

During last week's worship service, the Congregation honored the Members who joined the Society 20 or more years ago. These veterans were celebrated with gold name tags and ovations during the worship service.

The Congregation bade Kaye Carlson farewell at a reception last Sunday. Thank you, Kaye, for your active, effective, and friendly participation in so many parts of our community. We will miss you, and we give you our best wishes in your move.