Rites of passage are those very important celebrations when we recognize that the celebrants are moving to a new era in their lives.

This week we have the opportunity to be a part of two celebrations, one for our third graders and the other for our graduating high school seniors. As part of their studies this past year, the third graders posed religious questions to be answered by our ministers and program staff.

Reverends Greg Stewart, Kay Jorgensen, and Denis Paul along with Peter Olandt and Betty Skwarek will take turns answering the children's questions. They will be followed by the graduating seniors who will speak about their experiences and plans for the future. They will also be participating in the bridging ceremony conducted by our young adult group.

The music will include the choir and bell choir in their final performances for this church year and a performance by the children's choir.

This is a Sunday of endings. Religious Education participants will have the last Sunday Sing-Along for this year at 10 in the Chapel. The third graders and their families will have breakfast together to celebrate the end of the Rite of Passage program. Also at 10 the K-2 Our Whole Lives (OWL) class will have their last meeting.

One ending this week is possibly the most emotional: this Sunday is Marie Roark's last as the lead teacher in the Early Childhood program. She and her partner, Tara Hernandez, purchased a house in Fairfax and are going to begin attending a church nearer their home. The good news is that Kristen Tool who has been working in the program for the past two years, will be taking over for Marie.

Religious Education is sponsoring a small party for Marie after the service to let her know how much we have appreciated her service to the Congregation. You're invited to join in and thank her in person.

Last Sunday the volunteers who support the Religious Education program were honored at a breakfast ceremony. Photographer Sonnie Willis snapped some memories of the morning (including the photograph at the top of this article).

Come celebrate another year in our beloved community! The Annual Meeting of the Membership will begin after the worship service.

The Congregation will break bread together, recognize new members, honor a special volunteer with the Anne Dillon Award, and remember those who have passed away.

Members will also have important business: electing Trustees and Nominating Committee members, and considering a resolution to declare ourselves a teaching church.

All are welcome to the meeting and free lunch.

from George Mayer

Your participation is urgently needed at a Public Scoping Meeting to be held by the San Francisco Planning Department on Tuesday (June 9), starting at 6 pm to receive oral comments concerning the scope of the Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for California Pacific Medical Center's (CPMP) hospital construction plans. CPMP's proposal includes building a huge hospital across the intersection from our Sanctuary (see skyline photo above with drawn-in outline of the building).

The public meeting will be in the Cathedral Hill Hotel's Grand Ballroom at 1101 Van Ness.

If you are concerned about traffic, parking, noise, bulk, size, or other environmental impacts upon Cathedral Hill and our congregational life, your concerns must be expressed to be addressed in the EIR. Your concerns about emergency care distribution throughout the City can also be voiced.

Written comments should be sent to Bill Wycko, Environmental Review Officer, San Francisco Planning Department, 1650 Mission Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103, by June 26, 2009.

This Saturday, you can be a guest in your own home!

If you have a friend who is interested in Unitarian-Universalism, but shy about attending worship services, this is a great way to introduce them. Likewise, any one who might want to have a wedding or recital or other special event can have a look at the facilities.

Come by the Church & Center between noon to three. Enjoy a mini organ concert at one o'clock, the nature photography exhibit in the King's gallery, and coffee and cookies in the Fireside room

Bring a picnic and kick back in the Courtyard.

Want to do more to show off to the community? We still have positions for a few more volunteer docents! (Email Nancy to sign up to help or if you have questions or want more information.)

What is that 20-foot wooden tower in the Sanctuary? Was Captain Macondray really a vigilante? We'll share the answers. See you Saturday!

Minister Emerita Rev. Margot Campbell-Gross will conduct the service which will be followed by a reception in the Martin Luther King Room.

Congratulations to Hilary Ware who will receive the National Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender (LGBT ) Bar Association's Out and Proud In-House Counsel award today (June 4). Hilary is Managing Litigation Counsel at Google, Inc. The award is given in recognition of outstanding attorneys' efforts to expand LGBT equality in their workplace and, through their connections, in the wider world.

"Sun Dogs" by Liz Breger

Liz Breger is showing her recent work, "Bernal Hill - Green", a collection of photos and mixed media canvases done from her "Meditation" walks on Bernal Hill during the winter and spring when it is gloriously green.

The exhibition is at Progressive Grounds Coffee Shop at 400 Cortland Avenue. in Bernal Heights. The "gallery" is open 6:30 am - 8 pm, and Liz's artwork will be up through July 15.

Everyone is also welcome at Liz and Leonard's regular Monthly 1st Saturday open studio. Stop by Saturday (June 6) from 10 - 2. Just look for the Gaudi-style tiled house at 80 Bronte Street for a house tour, artwork, art talk, and snacks.

photos by Brendan O'Brine

Last Saturday members of the Congregation joined other Unitarian Universalists and Civil Rights advocates from around the state in Fresno. Together the activists stood up for the rights of all loving couples to be treated equally under the law.

Rev. Gregory Stewart continued his public witnessing for marriage equality with an interview with UU World magazine. See his photo (by Claire Bohman) and statement in the right sidebar.

Yesterday (June 3) the statue of Rev. Thomas Starr King, former minister of this Society, was removed from the U.S. Capitol and shipped to Sacramento for display.

This action is a result of a midnight vote of state legislature to replace Rev. King's likeness with one of Ronald Reagan.

"It's never pleasant watching politicians try to manipulate history," begins the essay on the switch in the Los Angeles Times.

Last Sunday during the worship service Alison Rittger talked to us about choices. In making her decisions she's learned to calculate the value of experience not by how long it lasts, but how deep its impact.