Pastor Fitch and I find ourselves engaged in a common mission: to create a redemptive community of radical inclusion that transforms our personal lives for greater service in the wider world.

You may know of this man's remarkable ministry from the eight years he served as the pastor of Glide Memorial United Methodist Church here in San Francisco. Or perhaps you have heard him speak out recently on the steps of City Hall in support of marriage equality. Maybe you have visited his current congregation, The Sunday Afternoon Fellowship, which meets bi-weekly in our sanctuary.

Writes Rev. Fitch about the Sunday service,

The 21st century is a century of light. Light comes from every person, every culture, and every religious tradition. The potential for love, compassion, and peace is greater than it has ever been, for all the right reasons.

Joining me on the Chancel with Rev. Fitch will be Pastoral Care Minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux and Worship Associate Christine Patch-Lindsay. Flutist Jef Caers and pianists David Lee and Mark Johnson will minister in music.

Come this Sunday at 11 and hear from a minister and civil rights activist who, in the course of his ministry, has debated Malcolm X and worked along side Martin Luther King, Jr. If Douglass Fitch is right, there is more light and love to share, especially in times like these. Be sure to bring a friend to church with you for this very special service of worship and celebration.

Are you ready to join us for Summer Arts this Sunday? The artists are going out into the community again, bringing the message of welcome to people who are not yet a part of our religious community. They'll put on a play, distribute art work, and give out candies to the people they meet.

The players will be going farther afield this week. Participants will gather at 10 and will head out about 10:15. Children are welcomed so long as they are accompanied by an adult (either their parent or someone with written permission from the parent).

The Arts Program's last trip into the community was well received by everyone met and was exhilarating for the participants. There are only two Arts Program Sundays left, so come now and give this adventure a try.

Children 5 and older who decide not to participate in the community presentation are invited to join their families for worship in the Sanctuary.

The photo above is one of several taken of working artists last week by photographer Sonnie Willis.

There you will have an opportunity to complete the steps for membership, share stories, and ask questions. Those who join will make a financial pledge of record and will sign the historic membership book.

Bring a cup of coffee and take the next step in your spiritual journey.

We have made it easy to pay your pledge or make a gift to the Society.

Every page of the Society's website now has a "Donate" link on the left-hand side. Click on the link and you'll be taken to a description of the donation system. That page also has a big Donate button like the one above -- click on the image and you'll go to a site which will accept your donation information.

This secure site is managed by the same company that handles the Society's credit card transactions. The service provides direct confirmation of each transaction to both the donor and the Society's bookkeeper, Grace Lam.

We will continue to improve the site, so please "test it" and let us have your feedback.

We send our condolences to Dorothy's friends and family. We will share plans for a memorial when they are made.

Bruce passed away August 7th after almost two months of being hospitalized. The Fools invite you to come Sunday to remember Bruce and to weave a firm circle of love around Marcie.

We are also saddened by the death of Kevin Drewery, a student at Starr King School for the Ministry, who died last week after living with HIV for many years. Members of our Caring Community had helped Kevin during the course of his illness.

The Board of Trustees
with Senior Minister Rev. Greg Stewart and Executive Director Nancy Evans

The Board of Trustees will hold its monthly meeting Tuesday (August 18th) at 7 pm in the Fireside Room. This third Thursday of the month is the regular day and time for the Board meetings which are open to the public. You're invited to drop in and watch the Society's lay leaders in action.

The Trustees went on retreat with Senior Minister Rev. Gregory Stewart and other key staff members last weekend. At the two-day session, the group discussed priorities and plans for the church year.

Moderator Matt Fuller will be sharing the agenda for upcoming Board meetings in The Flame. The newsletter before each Board meeting will include a copy of the meeting agenda at the bottom of the page under "Unitarian Universalist Links".

The President of the UUA, Rev. Peter Morales, yesterday called the hysteria and rancor used in the health care debate "profoundly disturbing". Rev. Morales went on the assert that, "Religious principles central to our shared Unitarian Universalist (UU) faith are involved."

Rev. Morales' pastoral letter continued on to cite "compassion" and "commitment to the democratic process" as the two UU principles central to the current debate.

"We must create a health care system that protects the most vulnerable, and we must insist on a democratic process that is open to all," concluded Rev. Morales.

Jeremy is asking that friends help him win the grant by registering on a website and rating his proposal highly.

The grant is offered by Nau, a company which says it's a small group of people committed to positive change.

The first step to support Jeremy involves internet voting. You have to register with an email address which takes less than a minute. After signing up, vote and rate Jeremy's grant request as high as you can (5 out of 5 stars, this is VERY important).

"Thanks so much for taking a minute to do this, and please share the link with others you know!" Jeremy says.

"I do not want my country to initiate aggressive and destructive foreign policies in my name, nor pay for it with my tax dollars," explains Dolores.