It is well known that Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. believed the greatest impediment toward freedom for African Americans is the white liberal who "was more devoted to order than to justice."

Comfortable folk do not fair very well on messy front lines but are effective agents of change if they are willing to get a little dirt under their fingernails.

I believe that suffering is a necessary discipline that fosters both spiritual growth and societal renewal. And it is a prerequisite for authentic hope.

Joining me on the chancel will be Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel, Worship Associate Alison Rittger, and Youth Worship Associate Samuel Brandeis. The choir will sing Josquin's "Tu Pauperium Refugium".

This Sunday please bring a friend as we celebrate the good news of liberal religion.

Rita Henley Jensen (pictured), Founder and Editor in Chief of Women's eNews, will talk to the Forum about women's issues highlighted by the threat to women's reproductive health worldwide as reflected in the challenges to Roe vs. Wade.

Women's eNews is an independent daily news service covering issues of particular concern to women. It has won 26 journalism awards, and Ms. Jensen has been named by the New York Daily News as one of the 100 most influential women in New York.

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

The Forum Committee is offering Members and friends the opportunity to organize an up-coming Forum presentation. Do you have an idea for a program or know someone the Congregation should meet? To host a Forum, please put a note in the Forum mailbox, #66, in the church office, and a Forum leader will contact you soon.

from Betty Skwarek,
Acting Director of Religious Education

Children's chapel this week will feature the story of Noah. As part of the March focus on Faith and Hope, Sunday School children will hear how Noah stood up for what he believed and the covenant between him and God following the flood. The song for March is "All God's Children Have a Place in the Choir."

Children in the K-1st class will continue working on their chapel presentation of Beatrix Potter's, The Story of Peter Rabbit. Second graders will explore more the Story of Naamah, Noah's wife.

Junior youth are learning all about movie making. This week they'll finish selecting their topic and then move into storyboarding.

Senior youth and their parents will meet Saturday (March 8) for fun and pizza followed by a serious discussion and an overnight for the youth. If you have not registered yet and want to come, please contact one of the advisors, Alex Darr or Riley McLaughlin, or Acting Director of Religious Education, Betty Skwarek at 776-4580.

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.

Bid on over 110 fabulous donations by Members of our Congregation, before services at 10:30 and after services 12:00-1:00. Click to download the auction catalog.

Appetizers and a no-host wine bar will enliven the after-services bidding.

Arthur Hubbard and Stanley Hartzell will unveil their catered lunch at 1:00, and they'll be assisted by the Young Adult Group. Only 72 lunch tickets (for $10 each) are available so come early!

Ministerial Intern Jeremy Nickel picks up his auctioneer gavel during lunch for a live auction of selected fine items -- they're listed in the catalog, too!

The Great Green Auction Committee says they are overwhelmed by your generosity! Come enjoy a community lunch and bid on the finest services donated by members and friends in the Congregation.

The impact of pro-democracy struggles on U.S. foreign policy will be examined by Dr. Stephen Zunes, Professor of Politics and International Studies, University of San Francisco, at a free community discussion.

Professor Zunes has authored three books and scores of articles for scholarly and general readership on U.S. foreign policy, international terrorism, strategic nonviolent action, and human rights. His expertise in these areas will provide a unique opportunity to understand the reality of our nation's foreign policy adventures.

You are invited to come to the presentation and then to meet the speaker and socialize afterwards. This event is sponsored by the School of the Americas Watch West.

Illuminata, a group of four photographers, exhibits photographs that explore the concept of .

Forgotten objects, loss of childhood, the process of aging, and ephemeral encounters with passersby make up this dynamic photo exhibition that explores the transitory nature of being.

The show presents four bodies of work: In My Backyard by Adrienne Defendi; Across the Great Divide by Charlotte Kay; Cal Trans Graveyard by Kay Taneyhill; and Passing Through by Roxanne Worthington.

The exhibition runs through April 28th, and the artist reception will be Sunday, April 13. For more information on Illuminata, contact Roxanne Worthington by email or by phone at 661-3036.

The Faithful Fools invite you to their monthly free poetry reading and movie screening at Fools Court, 234 Hyde Street.

The open mike poetry reading will begin at 4 pm. Then at 7 pm, The Fisher King will screen. The Foolish film tells about a radio DJ, suicidally despondent because of a horrible mistake he made. He finds redemption in helping a deranged homeless man who was a victim of his misdeed.

For more information on the afternoon and evening, contact The Faithful Fools at 474-0508... or just drop in on Saturday!

Rev. Gregory Stewart debunks 3 common myths about Unitarian Universalism in the inaugural posting on the Society's own Friction.tv channel.

Friction.tv is a website that encourages debate on hot topics. Participants post their own videos and can also comment by text or video on what others have published.

Friction.tv reporter Melody McCloskey filmed Rev. Stewart and several other Members of the community in January. Melody will be adding more clips over the next several weeks.

All performances of this family-friendly musical are open to the public, and children over 3 are welcome. Beauty and the Beast is an enchanting retelling of "A Tale as Old as Time," as one of its classic musical numbers goes.

Performance time and ticket information are available at www.sfsota-ptsa.org or 695-5720.

The Congregation's groups and activities have received a fresh coat of online paint thanks to Rob Packenham who revised, reorganized, and revitalized the online stories about our community.

Are you looking to do more in Celebration and Worship? or, Building Community? or, Serving the Larger Community? or more?

Rob's layout lets you click on what you're interested in and find out how to join in.

Great job, and thanks, Rob!

Plan to join me, friends in your spiritual community, and peace advocates from the wider San Francisco community in commemorating the 5th anniversary of the start of the Iraq War.

We'll gather in Sanctuary at 5 pm to mark the 5th year of our country's invasion. We'll talk together about the lives, money, and honor expended in this war of choice.

Sean Penn, Actor; Cindy Sheehan, whose soldier son died in Iraq; Matt Gonzalez, candidate for Vice President; Justin Raimondo, Editorial Director of Antiwar.com; and Rev. Greg Stewart will be featured speakers.

Following the ceremonies at the church, participants will be invited to walk to the War Memorial auditorium on Van Ness.

Additional information is available from Dolores Priem, and more details will be published next week.

Donald Johnson reported Tuesday that our elevator passed the Electrical, Fire, and Building Inspections and is in operation!!

The elevator was entirely funded by a generous bequest to the Society from former Moderator Lois Gorham. Community members who worked to make the elevator a reality include Thad and Donald, Bernice Biggs, Wally Cleland, Raj Desai, Merle Easton, Nancy Evans, and John Rutherford. Charlie Duncan of Carey and Co., the architects, and Kevin Chapot and Bruce Smith of Hathaway Dinwiddie, the general contractor, also provided critical support.

The committee was started nearly THREE YEARS ago at the urging of Rev. John H. Robinson, Jr.

This is wonderful news! Thank you to all the Members, staff, and professionals for your hard work and patience... and ride that elevator!

At last week's voting meeting of the Membership, the Congregation elected nine delegates and two alternate delegates to the Unitarian Universalist Association General Assembly.

Elected to serve as delegates were: Leslie Bader, Liz Cormier, Amy Kelly, Brendan O'Brine, Millie Phillips, Alison Rittger, Michaela Romano Meade, Joan Rost, and Carrie Steere-Salazar. Alternate delegates elected were Michelle Garside and Maria Solis.

Thank you to all these Members for offering to serve the Society and for standing for election. Congratulations!

Registration for the June 25-29 General Assembly has opened. The annual meeting will be held in Fort Lauderdale, Florida.

It's a large RED banner, approximately 36" x 24", with white lettering. Margaret Pearce, posing with the holder for the missing sign, regularly sits under the poster in the Gallery the first Sunday of each month, collecting money for the San Francisco Food Bank.

If you have seen the missing banner -- or know anything about its whereabouts -- please let Executive Director Nancy Evans know by calling her in the church office at 776-4580.

Don't make Margaret beg.