It is Black History Month, a good time to take a look at a little history of our own when it comes to racism.

Here's a provocative look at anti-racism efforts and other liberal religious failures. Should this church be all things to all people all the time?

With some kinds of inclusivity you can count me out, as Unitarian Universalists tend to embarrass me when it comes to matters of race. How can we live as if race really matters? Sunday I'll cross the color line and tell you what I think.

Joining me on the Chancel will be Pastoral Care Minister Fred Rabidoux, Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek, Worship Associate Millie Phillips and Youth Worship Associate Allen Stewart. The choir ministers in music.

I hope you'll bring a friend to church!

Please stay for a Hospitality Lunch following the service. Carlowe Connelly and friends will offer a family-friendly picnic-theme lunch, and their efforts will benefit the Memorial Weekend Retreat.

At Sunday's Forum Peter Maiden, photographer, will tell of his work as an activist in photographing demonstrations. Peter will also show and discuss his photography.

For the past seven years Peter has served as photo coordinator for the collective that runs the sfbay.indymedia.org website. The site, which is part of the worldwide Indymedia network, covers political events such as peace and anti-globalization demonstrations.

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 youth choir will provide the dinnertime entertainment tonight (Valentine's Day) at the Winter Shelter. They will also distribute the toiletry kits and Valentine cards created by Religious Education youth and children for the men in the shelter.

Sunday the Chapel story will be about Clara Barton, a Universalist who set an example of how Unitarian Universalists live out "loving their neighbors," the February religious education theme. All the children will be frosting cookies for the men in the shelter during class. The 3rd-5th class is working on two other projects - creating an i-movie with Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel and caring for a class pet.

Senior Youth are preparing for an overnight on March 8. Information is being sent to all high school age youth in the Congregation. If you do not get information and you or your child are considering getting involved in our group for high school age youth, please contact Betty Skwarek (information is below).

Richard Davis, who has been actively involved in theater for years as a professor and producer, has volunteered to help the Junior Youth as they work on making a film during the next few months.

Sunday is the deadline for signing up for the 3rd grade Rite of Passage program. If you have a third grader who would like to learn about our denomination and Society while building bonds with adult mentors and other third graders, this is a wonderful opportunity. Please contact Betty Skwarek 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.

The Society has received donations from many people - have you decided what to donate?

Fine wines make wonderful auction items. We can provide you with a letter with our tax ID number to document the donation.

Auction donation deadline is Sunday.

Donors will be invited to a very special Catalog Preview Party and to get a jump on bidding. So stop by Great Green Auction table in the Thomas Starr King Room Sunday after the service and let us record your donation.

Rev. Stewart invites people to join in community and help us make meaning together. It's a terrific snippet of our San Francisco Unitarian Universalist message.

Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel filmed the welcome and uploaded it to YouTube. Webmaster Guy Burns embedded the YouTube video on the Society's home page. Thank you, Rev. Stewart, Jeremy, and Guy!

Invite your friends to learn about your religious home in 1 minute 44 seconds by sending them this link:

Embed the video in your blog or Facebook page... and talk it up on YouTube and other sites!

Poets from Nancy Deutsch's arts program for low-income children and elders will kick off the monthly program of the Society of Community Work (SCW).

The poetry reading will lead into the presentation by the main speaker, Don Falk (pictured), the Executive Director of the Tenderloin Neighborhood Development Corporation. He will show a DVD and discuss the affordable housing projects of the TNDC.

Society Members and friends are invited to the luncheon and program. First timers are welcomed with a free lunch!

The business meeting will begin at 11 o'clock followed by social time. Lunch will at 12, and the program will start at 1. You're invited to any or all parts of the day.

Reservations are requested for the lunch. They may be made Sunday at the SCW table in the Starr King Room or by calling Barbara Bourns at 567-4750.

Society Member and architect Merle Easton noticed that the original leading was failing in a Sanctuary loft window, leaving the stained glass at risk to the elements. She facilitated a grant from the Victorian Alliance to pay for the renovations, and identified John Lenox to do the work. (Thank you, Merle!)

We have been waiting for the rains to stop, and now in this "window of opportunity" the repair is underway.

If you have a special skills (or not!!) and wish to participate in the ongoing maintenance of our church and center, Building and Grounds chair David Jones would love to hear from you. Please contact David via the church office.

Tuesday (February 19) is the deadline for registering for San Francisco Fire Department's two-day intensive Neighborhood Emergency Response Team training which will be held at St. Mary's Cathedral on February 27 and March 7 from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm.

This training could be invaluable to you personally and is a service to the church community as well. We will rely on the ability of members on site to assist with emergency response.

"Rental coordinator Jay Roller and I will be attending," says Nancy, "but that won't do folks much good if the emergency happens after 6 pm."

Register for the free training at sffdnert@sfgov.org or call 970-2024.

Guidelines for Society for Community Work (SCW) college scholarship applications are available today (February 14) at the church office, and they are due back Monday, April 7.

Grants will be awarded to students enrolling in undergraduate college studies. Please email Marbeth Munn if you have further questions.