This Sunday's sermon will give focus to "being poor" in these struggling times with all the financial uncertainty that is occurring around us.

On the chancel with Rev. Rabidoux will be Worship Associate Claire Bohman and Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek.

A portion of this week's offering will go to the Middle East Children's Alliance which is working specifically with children who live in the Gaza Strip.

Adults and children are invited to join Kristen Stephens at 10 am in the Art Room for a class on clay sculpturing. Also at 10, Carolyn Jayne will direct the Youth Choir in the Chapel and the Parents Group will meet in the Religious Education Library.

At 11 children and youth will attend the beginning of the service in the Sanctuary then go to their age-appropriate classes. After the worship service the community will gather in the Kings Gallery for an art reception. The current show is the Community Art Show featuring works created in Lifespan Religious Education classes during the year.

Newcomers are always welcome to Children's Religious Education Program. Parents are also invited to accompany their children and assist. For more information email Acting Director Betty Skwarek or phone her at 776-4580.

The adult religious education program What New Ministers Read starts this week, beginning Sunday at 12:30. Other classes described in the winter brochure and mentioned in last week's Flame close registration this week.

Register for these programs and obtain more information by contacting Betty or by stopping by the church office.

David Iris Cameron Strachan will discuss the reality of intersex lives and will show the 13-minute video XXXY. David is Marriage Equality USA's Intersex Outreach Director.

Peter Trinkl will join the discussion and answer questions as well. Both David and Peter gave personal testimony at City Hall.

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

United States Senator Bernie Sanders (Independent - VT) will address "Why We Need to Unite Around a Progressive Agenda" in a conversation at church Tuesday (February 17). Senator Sanders will talk with moderator Norman Solomon and will respond to the audience's questions.

Elected to the House from Vermont for 15 years and a Senator for the past two years, Senator Sanders supports universal health care; opposes foreign trade agreements which, he says, deprive American workers of their jobs while exploiting foreign workers in sweat-shop factories; voted against the authorization of military force in Iraq in Oct 2002; and, voted against the Constitutional amendment prohibiting same-sex marriage in 2003.

The forum is co-sponsored by the Society's Unitarian Universalists for Peace, and seat reservations are available by email or by calling 785-3650. A donation of $10-$20 is requested, and no one will be turned away for lack of funds.

This week we focus on "getting to know you" through your donation! Sharing a meal is a great way! The animals do it -- why can't we?

Q. How do you get to know people?
A. By spending good times together.

Q. How do you arrange that?
A. The Great Green Auction has a perfect solution for you:

• Donate a tour of your neighborhood with lunch at your favorite local spot
• Donate a home-cooked meal at your place for 3/6/9
• Donate a visit to an Art Museum with café lunch
• Donate a walk in Muir Woods with brunch after
• Donate a hike on Angel Island with a trip on the ferry boat and picnic lunch
• Donate a beach walk with a beach picnic lunch

The Great Green Auction encourages you to donate an event, tickets, tours, computer consulting, hikes, home-cooked meals, fine wines, vacation home stays.. .the list is endless! Please stop by our table after the service and pick up a donation form. Bidding is after services on Sundays, March 8 and March 15.

Dr. Don Heyneman, a 42-year member of the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, tropical disease research scientist at the University of California School of Medicine, and life-long member of the California Academy of Sciences, tells the Society for Community Work (SCW) of his passion for the mission of the Academy at Tuesday's (February 17's) SCW meeting.

Members and friends are invited to drop in for the free program in the Thomas Starr King Room at 1 pm. You are also invited to attend the SCW social at 11:30 and lunch at 12 noon ($7 - $12).

Don says he practically grew up at the Academy. He completed docent training shortly before the Academy's re-opening in Golden Gate Park and is eager to spread his excitement about the Academy with us.

The California Academy of Sciences is the only major museum in the United States combining an aquarium, museum, planetarium, coral reef, and tropical rain forest in an active research museum. It features the largest open area of native plants in San Francisco on the roof. The building's design is based on a platinum-level energy and water conservation program, applied at every level (including an energy-capture action in the bathroom wash sinks!).

The SCW will also conduct its monthly business meeting at 11 am.

"But what I really take issue with is the assigning of definitions that go to the essential core of personhood where spiritual belief resides."

Last week she avoided the topic and the negative self-talk that goes along with envy.