The traditional Easter saga is one of triumph and celebration, and with some good reasons.

But the lesson I have learned from the death of Jesus is more mundane than miraculous, and has to do with the human response to betrayal. What should we do when someone we love and trust intentionally sets us up for a fall? Or how about when the government betrays us? Or even a church?

The responses to these questions are truly something that brings with them new life and a reason to celebrate.

Joining Rev. Stewart on the Chancel will be community ministers Rev. Alyson Jacks, Rev. Kay Jorgensen, and Rev. Denis Paul, and Worship Associates Claire Weber and Tobias Sunshine. Membership Committee Chair Liz Strand will introduce the Society's newest members as together we warmly welcome them to our family of liberal faith.

The choir and bell choir (the latter with drum) will minister in music, along with trumpeter Tom Dambly and vocalists David Jones, Jennine Lanouette, and Maria Solis.

Please plan to arrive early, and why not bring with you those friends for whom Easter is just another Sunday -- it won't be here!

Children will begin their morning in the Sanctuary with their families at 11, then leave to go to the Chapel to continue the work on caring for the earth that they began in March. At that time each participant received $1 to do something for the earth. This Sunday they will tell what they have been able to accomplish so far.

After the adult service is completed, the Religious Education program will have an egg hunt on the children's playground. A second egg hunt will be held on the early childhood playground for the little ones. Every child who will be hunting eggs is invited to bring one-dozen decorated hard-boiled eggs to contribute to the occasion.

Adult Religious Education:
Journeys of Healing, led by Rev. Denis Paul, begins Tuesday (April 14) from 7 to 9 pm. Many of us have been hurt by religious experiences. Working together, participants will begin unraveling the grief these experiences have caused for them and for those people they care about. The course fee is $25 and interested members and friends are invited to turn in their registration at the church office.

Please join fellow Unitarian Universalists friends in this amazing sharing of fellowship around a most holy dinner as the Society hosts its annual Seder.

All are welcome to attend, and it's not too late to help out.

Please email Peter Olandt or contact him at 776-4580 for more information or to volunteer.

Celebration Sunday was a joyful day: inspiring words, amazing music, a festive banquet - and the enthusiastic participation of many members and friends.

One-hundred eighty individuals and families pledged $342,000! That's an average of nearly $1,900 per household.

We are on the mark to meet our goal of $600,000.

However, HALF of our members and friends still have a yellow card under a magnet on their refrigerator door. Please complete it and mail it in now. In a week, we will start mailing out more paper to everyone who has not turned in a card.

Please, save a tree! Save us postage! Save us phone calls! The volunteers and church office thank you!!

We know it's hard to predict 12 months out, but be hopeful, be confident of the value of this zesty wonderful place, and be vigorous in your desire to "Share the Commitment". And to our many friends who are not members and may not have received a mailing, please know that your financial gifts make a big difference.

Please call Nancy Evans at the church office, 776-4580, for more information.

photos by Sonnie Willis
music by Combined Choirs under the Direction of Dr. Mark Sumner

Choristers from the Unitarian Universalist Congregations of Kensington, San Mateo, and San Francisco under the direction of Dr. Mark Sumner performed John Rutter's Gloria during last Sunday's service. They were accompanied by guest brass, timpani, and organist.

Their emotional concert has been remixed by Communications Manager Jonathan Silk and is available for download online.

Thank you to the musicians for their gift to the Congregation -- and to Jonathan for his extraordinary work in sharing the celebratory sounds.

We're grateful, too, to Sonnie Willis who captured the festivities in photographs. She shares her work in a slide show.

The Flame is only as interesting as the stories you contribute. We want to share information about events in the church community which are coming up in the next week so that we all can join in. We appreciate the continual flow of fun information we get to publicize.

We also feel bad about NOT publishing some of what is sent to us. But, the rules are strict!

Here are some of the guidelines that caused us to spike stories given to us for this edition:

• The Flame only publishes notices about what readers can do this week. This means notices about things happening after April 15th belong in another edition. We do not print "Save the Date"-type stories.
  
  
• We publicize only activities that are sponsored by the Society or one of its organizations. We also point out non-church events at which a Member is featured or being honored.
  
  We do not list events sponsored by other organizations even if our members are involved as individuals and even if the activities are sponsored by Unitarian Universalist organizations.
  
  There are too many truly good events and causes available to select among unless we have this standard.
  
  
• We do NOT repeat announcements.

Please keep telling the community about what your band of activists has planned for the upcoming week. Send in your information, and let us know how to join in.

Questions? Please ask the editor.