from Karen Melander-Magoon

"Words ought to be a little wild, for they are the assaults of thoughts on the unthinking."
-- John Maynard Keynes

Norman Solomon has been an activist since he was 14 and picketed for the desegregation of a Maryland apartment complex. Barbara Ehrenreich called him "one of the sharpest media-watchers in the business."

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

As the topic for a credo, lust leaves a lot to be desired. I actually considered recusing myself from this topic altogether, the way judges do who plead a past experience that might limit full and fair consideration. In my case, the white-hot passion associated with lust has been suppressed by antidepressants. I just don't feel qualified to stir you up -- for or against the obsessive sexuality that earns films x-ratings and often defines for us the concept of lust.

But Zoloft isn't the sole excuse for my lackluster response to this particular L-word. Truth be told, the word Lust sounds too much like lost. And lost, as in being subsumed in the pursuit of an object, sounds like the beginning of the end of being present and authentic.

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The 2009 Rheiner Award for Community Service was presented last Sunday, April 26, to David Jones and Don Williams for their decades of effort on behalf of LGBT rights. The award honors members of the congregation who live their Unitarian Universalist values on a daily basis outside the church community.

Former Rheiner Award recipient Mary Jane Mikuriya made the presentation during the morning worship service.

Prior to the service, the Forum presented a panel of five former Rheiner Award recipients, who described some of their community activities and what the Rheiner Award means to them. Dick Castile, the first recipient of the award in 1989, also recalled in his remarks the work of the late Rev. Conard Rheiner, for whom the award is named.

The day's activities concluded with a festive reception honoring David and Don. Thanks to Kate Kuckro, the Thursday Small Group Ministry, and Miko Mosher for catering the reception.

See entire set of photos courtesy of Dolores Perez Priem.

Mark your calendars for the All-Church Retreat from June 12 through Sunday the 14th! When our old camp location dramatically increased their prices, the Retreat committee had to go looking for another spot. The result is the beautiful YMCA Camp Loma Mar. from June 12 through Sunday the 14th.

Located just one hour south of San Francisco (find the camp on Google Earth), this camp offers a whole new place to explore. There are hiking trails among majestic redwood trees and along the creek, a campfire spot, plenty of places to relax, and an outdoor chapel. For the kids (and kids at heart), there is a bigger pool, a climbing wall, archery, volleyball, basketball, and a zip line. In addition, some church members are already planning their trips to include a stop at Duarte's Tavern in nearby Pescadero for their famous artichoke soup and pies. Yum!

Do you have questions about the new location? Lee Most is collecting questions to ask the camp director. Stop by the registration table after service or contact him by email or by phone at 706-6318 to add your question to the list, to volunteer, to find out more about leading a workshop, or to take advantage of early bird registration prices. You can also register online.

Photos from last year's retreat (from Kate Kuckro)

The Board of Trustees invites all members to an informational meeting about the budget recommended by the Board as well two resolutions recommending temporary suspension of bylaws relating to the annual audit and allocation of undesignated bequests. The voting meeting on the budget and the two resolutions will be held on Sunday, May 17th at 12:30 PM. The budget is currently available in the church office and the bylaw amendments will be available no later than May 3rd. See you there!

Note: any proposed amendments to the church budgets must be placed in the Secretary's box in the church office no later than May 10th. Our bylaws do not allow amendments from the floor of the voting meeting.

Thanks, Thad

Faithful Fools are celebrating the release of their 3rd Poetry Anthology, "Living In the Land of the Dead". Come on Monday, May 4th at 5:30, at the monthly Fools of the Round Table gathering, at 234 Hyde Street, to hear poets from the East Bay and San Francisco read their poems that have been published in the new anthology. We will begin with a pot luck meal and then be graced with the works of magnificent poets. For more information or to get a copy of the anthology, call Faithful Fools at 415-474-0508.

Our Photo Directory service, Lifetouch, has delivered many 8 x 10 photos to the church office. If you did not order any extra prints, your complimentary photo is probably in this group. Please stop by this Sunday and pick it up! Also, if you did not get your photograph taken but can provide a nice headshot, we have learned that for $10 it can be included in the directory. Please bring a good copy to be scanned or e/mail a jpg to jsilk@uusf.org as soon as possible.

The auction item to help Linda celebrate the return to her re-built house after the fire in May, 2007 has been re-scheduled to May 16. If you missed the chance to sign up for this auction item, let Linda know at lenger@packard.org and you can join in the fun - come anytime between 2:00 and 4:00 on May 16. The cost of this auction item was $25 per person.

Hi, We are members of UU Salt Lake City. The General Assembly will be here in June 24-28. The same week my husband is taking an audition for the San Francisco Symphony so we cannot make it for the conference because the family is going with him (my daughter and me). We are wondering if we could trade houses for the week June 22 - June 28 with some fellow Unitarian(s) who are planning to attend the assembly. We live in the Sugar House area, three blocks from the bus stop, four blocks from a supermarket and a 15 minute drive from downtown. Anyone interested?

Thanks,
Maritza, Carl and Natalia

Maritza Sotomayor Ph.D
1882 South 2500 East
Salt Lake City, UT 84108-3200
(801) 484-5546

The Unitarian Universalist Association's (UUA) Consultation on Ministry to and with Youth has released its final "Recommendations for Youth Ministry" and the "Mosaic Project Report" on ministry to youths and young adults of color.

I have been having a lot of fun serving the society as substitute editor for the last two weeks. I had forgotten how much work this is. Please join me in thanking Galen for doing this during the other 50-odd weeks of the year!