What makes a sin "deadly?"

This sermon series on the so-called deadly sins has posited that The Seven are distinguished not by their gravity but by their power to generate other sins that, when acted on, serve to drain life rather than give life. For example, anger can lead to murder or arson; sloth paves the way to despair and suicide.

What is so sinful about greed, and where can it take us when left unchecked? One only need to look to Wall Street to determine why greed has theological implications in the secular arena. That is what we'll explore Sunday as we also look at everyday antidotes to the power of greed in our own lives.

Joining me on the pulpit will be Community Minister Rev. Denis Paul, Ministerial Intern Peter Olandt, Acting Director of Religious Education Betty Skwarek, and Worship Associates Susan Anthony and Tobias Sunshine.

Very special music will be provided by the St. Petersburg Men's Ensemble, who will offer us a mini-concert beginning at 10:30 am and then minister in music during the worship hour.

Please come early and bring a music lover or two with you to church this Sunday.

Some Sunday School classes are having their last session this week; others have a few more sessions to go. Please watch for messages from your children's teachers and keep an eye on the messages from the Religious Education Google group for information about what's going on.

Registration forms for the summer arts program will be available Sunday.

Religious Education is not just for children any more! The program has offered a number of great classes this year including two multi-generational classes (classes for children and adults).

You're invited to attend the Religious Education retreat on Saturday, May 30 to help shape the child and adult religious education programs for the coming year. Lunch and childcare are provided but you need to register this next week so we know how many people to plan for.

Registration forms (they're inside the brochure about the retreat) are available online and are in the church office and around the building.

Duane Elgin, author of The Living Universe, argues that the universe is indeed a living entity.

Hear Duane address fundamental issues: Where Are We? Who Are We? Where Are We Going?

Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author.

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

The California Supreme Court will rule on the constitutionality of Proposition 8, the discriminatory amendment that was approved by voters last November, before the Court recesses in June.

UUs4ME and other activists invite you to join in the public witnessing for equality.

• Interfaith prayer service at Grace Cathedral at 7 pm the day before the decision
• March from the church to the Supreme Court at 9:30 am the day of the decision
• Celebrations or demonstrations after the ruling is announced
• "Meet in the Middle for Equality" march sponsored by the Unitarian Universalist Legislative Ministry in Fresno the Saturday after the decision

The Supreme Court releases its decisions on Mondays and Thursdays between 10 and 10:30, and will let us know one working day before the announcement that a decision will be released.

When the Supreme Court says its ruling will be handed down an extra edition of The Flame will be published with additional details on how to join in the witnessing.

Senior Minister Rev. Gregory Stewart is prepared to be arrested for acts of non-violent civil disobedience if the Court rulings do not restore marriage equality. Rev. Stewart is participating with One Struggle, One Fight.

If you are considering civil disobedience and arrest as part of your personal public witnessing, Rev. Stewart invites you to contact him or email One Struggle, One Fight directly.

Rev. Marsh served this Society for nine years as our co-Senior Minister from 1995 - 2004.

He provided leadership to the Edmonton church as its parish minister prior to coming to San Francisco. Recently he has served as interim minister in Utica, Syracuse, and Arlington, MA. Overall, Rev. Marsh has shared his professional skills with Unitarian Universalist congregations going back to 1976.

Congratulations to the Ottawa congregation on their wise decision. Our best wishes to them and to Rev. Marsh, Alison Patrick, and to the entire Marsh-Patrick family!

Please come, enjoy good food and a rare chance to hear Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake at this annual event which supports the Castile Intern Fund, an endowed fund of the Society which will sustain the teaching program for future ministers at this church for generations to come.

The Society's current intern, Peter Olandt and former interns will be honored guests.

The featured speaker will be The Rev. Dr. Dorsey Blake, Senior Minister of the Church for the Fellowship of all Peoples and Dean of the Faculty at the Starr King School for the Ministry. Fellowship Church was founded in 1944 as the first multiracial, multi-denominational church in the nation by Dr. Howard Thurman and Dr. Alfred Fisk. The inaugural gathering of this fellowship was held in our church!

This is a wonderful opportunity to hear from one of the most eloquent spokespeople for multiracial, multicultural, multi-denominational understanding and cooperation.

The superb chef team, Donald Johnson and Thomas Brown, will be doing the meal.

Organizers are asking for donations on a sliding scale of $25 to $100, but no one will be turned away. Gifts can be made at the door. Please come and give what you can to support the Castile Intern Fund.

Every year community members have the chance to try a wide range of workshops and activities at the All-Church Retreat. What could you bring to this year's celebration?

Do you have a skill or favorite topic that you'd like to share with other Society members? If you're on a committee, think about how you could share your interest with others: explore a social justice topic in depth, lead a small group, share your musical talents, participate in planning the worship service, etc. As an added bonus, workshop leaders will get a 10% discount off the registration price!

If you have a workshop idea or want to register in person, please stop by the All-Church Retreat table after service or contact Lee Most by email or by phone at 706-6138. This year's retreat will be at YMCA Camp Loma Mar between June 12 and 14th. The regular registration deadline is Sunday, May 28.

California Pacific Medical Center (CPMC) is moving ahead with plans to build a huge hospital across the intersection from our Sanctuary. Their Institutional Master Plan, along with public comments, will be presented to the San Francisco Health Commission on Tuesday (May 19) at 4 pm at 101 Grove Street. A pre-meeting, including a press photographer, will gather there at 3. Your presence and participation would strengthen our ability to win mitigations and cooperation and could impact San Francisco's health care development.

This, the first of at least four anticipated City hearings, will focus on health care issues such as whether or not residents of Bernal Heights, Glen Park and other areas near St. Luke's Hospital should have a sustainable full-service hospital or just a "gateway" to other CPMC hospitals.

For additional background information and additional talking points download information from the Cathedral Hill Neighbors Association. A copy of the CPMC's Institutional Master Plan is also available online.

Please remember, this is not an effective or proper forum for discussing environmental issues like parking, noise, congestion, or building height, bulk, density, etc. Those issues will be aired at a Pre-Environmental Impact "Scoping Meeting" to be scheduled this summer by the San Francisco Planning Department.

SCW's Tuesday speaker, Dr. Ronald E. Weber, an expert at drawing the lines of redistricting, will demonstrate that "One Person One Vote" is neither true in California counties nor in Unitarian Universalist Association elections. Although it can be used to empower the vote and ensure fairness and equality for all, it also can guarantee privilege and influence for the powerful few.

Ron has served as an expert in over 60 redistricting and voting rights cases and taught at Indiana University, Louisiana State University and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.

The SCW will hold its monthly business meeting at 11 and the social time begins at 11:30. Lunch ($7-$12) will be available at noon, and the program presentation starts at 1.

All members and friends are invited to the SCW Tuesday events, and sign-ups for the catered lunch will be accepted through Sunday.

The Pagan Interest Circle celebrated Baltane/ May Day on Sunday, May 3 in the courtyard.

They were in the Chapel until 2 pm making garlands waiting for the skies to part and rain to stop. When the rains stopped, the circle members went outdoors and celebrated.

Do you have a neighbor who's been curious about our church? Know a lad or lass who's planning a wedding? Have friends visiting from out of the area? Perfect! Invite them to our OPEN HOUSE on June 6.

We're opening our doors on a Saturday to let potential members and friends, space renters, and church connoisseurs check out our buildings, grounds, and atmosphere in a casual, unstructured way.

Postcard invites will be available this Sunday, and Nancy Evans will be in the Thomas Starr King Room at 10 am to hear your ideas for decorating, hostessing, and marketing this fun new event.

The Flame is the work of volunteers. It needs your stories and pictures! Please continue to share your passion and invite others to participate by sending information to Flame@uusf.org. The deadline is Tuesday at 12 noon sharp!