The Days of Awe are upon us and the Shofar will be sounded in synagogues everywhere.

It is a call to awaken from our slumber, to raise the alarm, and to proclaim the glory of G-d. With the Day of Atonement (Yon Kippur) soon to follow, it is a time to reflect upon our year and our relationship with the divine.

As Unitarian Universalists our blowing of the Shofar also asks to whom are we responsible to in our search for truth and meaning. Sunday we'll explore our relationship to the Shofar, Judaism, and our own Fourth Principle of a free and responsible search for truth and meaning.

I am looking forward to this first opportunity to address the Church as this year's Ministerial Intern.

Joining me will be Minister of Pastoral Care Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Worship Associate Alison Rittger, and Lay Reader Samuel Brandeis. We will have special music performed by Bill Klingelhoffer, Benjamin Gerard, and Maria Solis. Bill and Benjamin will also grace us with the blowing of the Shofar.

Come share the awe.

from Betty Skwarek
Acting Director of Religious Education

Religious Education classes for children and youth will meet in the Presidio for the first Social Justice Sunday of the church year.

The program led by Theda Burke will focus on the flora and fauna that are part of the restoration taking place in the area. Participants will have an opportunity to draw and paint objects of interest and to observe the ecological diversity of this end of the park.

The All-Church Picnic will follow at 12:45. The community is invited to join the children who have been holding class in the park. You may participate in the group lunch by ordering sandwiches and sides by this afternoon (Thursday, September 25). Or, you can bring your own picnic or buy something at the Warming Hut.

Afternoon activities will include croquet, Frisbee, and other games that people bring. Park Ranger Fredrick Penn will give the group some food for thought with his talk about the parallels between our country's dependence on fossil fuels and the British Empire's dependence on slavery, and a hike to nearby Fort Point museum is planned.

Bring bicycles, cameras, blankets, or chairs. And come prepared to have a wonderful time.

By signing a permission form parents may bring their children and leave them at the Presidio while they go to church. Childcare for the under 6 crowd will be available at church.

Rev. Meg Whittaker-Greene will speak to the forum on Veterans Against the War and the newly published book Winter Soldier: Iraq and Afghanistan: Eyewitness Accounts of the Occupations.

In the 2008 paperback soldiers stationed in Iraq and Afghanistan bear witness against invasion, occupation, and violations of human rights based on their own experiences.

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

Members and friends are invited to the Stone Soup luncheon featuring soup, salad, breads or crackers, desert, and beverage after the Sunday service.

At the program following the lunch, Peter Olandt, the Society's Ministerial Intern for this year, will talk about about his earlier career choice and of his decision to become a Unitarian Universalist minister.

A short business meeting will be held to determine if Sunday will be the final Stone Soup. After nearly four decades of offering simple meals and outstanding forums on environmental, international and United Nation concerns, world humanitarian and peace issues, and programs of faiths and cultures of many countries, this event may end!

The group will assess whether there's energy to continue to offer forums and to prepare the meals. People looking for a spot to volunteer in the community are invited to come and sign up!

The luncheon is only $4 and the program and meeting are free.

John was a tireless collaborator in the activities of our community. Many of our building and grounds improvements over the past 25 years owe their quality to John's careful and dedicated work.

We send our sympathy to Marjory, their children, extended family, and many friends.

The memorial for John is scheduled for Sunday at 2 pm in the Sanctuary followed by a reception in the courtyard. Rev. Joan Hull and Rev. Fred Rabidoux will be sharing the officiating at the service. Rev. Rabidoux reports that Marjorie is doing quite well and is looking forward to seeing friends of John.

Society Member Julia Thoron and husband Sam are featured on a television commercial released Monday by Equality California as part of the No on 8 campaign.

In the 30-second spot, the Thorons offer a heartfelt message about their daughter, Liz, whose right to marry the person she loves will be eliminated if Prop 8 passes.

Last year the Congregation voted to support equal rights for all loving couples and authorized actions to support its stand. Proposition 8 would take away the equal rights for same-sex couples, and the Society is opposed to its passage.

In addition to the Thorons, the community is planning Beyond Sunday actions to oppose Prop 8. On November 2nd the Congregation will witness the marriage of Senior Minister Rev. Gregory Stewart to Stillman Stewart and the Society will start a 48-hour Marriage Vigil.

Next week Friday (October 3), the Faithful Fools are producing a performance of Terry Joan Baum's Immediate Family to benefit the No on 8 campaign. More information on the play is online and will appear in next week's Flame.

This week the Society began offering the entire Sunday worship service via podcast. In the past only the sermon was available by subscription, while both the sermon and entire service were available on the sermon page of the website.

To subscribe to one of the podcasts, paste one of these addresses into your RSS reader:
Sermon only
http://www.uusf.org/AboutUUSF/SermonArchive/RSS/UUSF_Sermons.xml
Complete Service
http://www.uusf.org/AboutUUSF/SermonArchive/RSS/UUSF_Complete.xml

If you want to share our worship with friends and family, CDs and written text for most Sundays are also available. Stop by the book wagon on Sunday or call the church office weekdays.

photo by Sonnie Willis

Last Sunday the minister's study was full of people ready to commit themselves to membership in the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco. The picture above shows many -- but not all -- of the participants. Photographer Sonnie Willis would have needed a wide-angle lens to show everyone!

Fifteen people signed up to became the newest members of our 158-year-old community.

Congratulations and welcome to Justine Dalio, Andrea Lindemann, Emily Drennen, Liz Macera, David Strachan, Peter Tannen, Karen Susag, Sharon Jones, Will Beatty, Mary Ann McCarthy, Linda Susan Ulrichk, Carla M. Conaway, Laura Engel, Ralph Fenn, and Rachel Johnson.

Thank you for sharing yourselves with us.

The Unitarian Universalists for the Ethical Treatment of Animals invite you to a special presentation Thursday (October 2) starting at 5:45 in the Chapel with author Dr. Will Tuttle.

The evening will kick off at 5:45 with Vegan Snacks. Dr. Tuttle will talk to the group beginning at 6:15 and will be available for book, DVD, and CD signing at 7 pm.

The whole community is invited to this free presentation. Choir members are especially encouraged to drop in before rehearsal!

Our thoughts are with Gerda's family and friends.

A memorial service will be held in November, and we will share the time and place when they have been determined.