This Sunday our music ministry presents Franz Joseph Haydn's Missa in Angustiis (Mass for Troubled Times) followed by our annual Thanksgiving Bread Communion led by the ministers.

The Haydn scholar H.C. Robbins Landon cites this Mass, one of fourteen written by the composer, as "arguably Haydn's greatest single composition." Originally scored for strings, trumpets, and timpani, the Mass will be performed by our choir and guest musicians: Val Tisdel (violin), Sergi Goldman-Hull (violin), Eleanor Angel (viola), Ellen Sanders (cello), Richard Worn (bass), Tom Danby, John Freeman, and Adam Luftman (trumpet), and Don Baker (tympani). Dr. Mark Sumner, Director of Music, calls Haydn "one of the most important, prolific, and prominent composers of the classic period."

Joining me on the Chancel will be Community Minister Rev. Alyson Jacks, Pastoral Care Minister Rev. Fred Rabidoux, Ministerial Intern Joel Gilbertson-White, and Acolyte Dionte Stewart.

We'll distribute Guest At Your Table collection boxes, which supports the work of our own Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC), and they will be collected beginning Christmas Eve.

The Church has always employed music to express what words alone cannot. I am grateful to Mark for bringing us yet another outstanding musical composition and performance as we begin the winter holidays. Please arrive at church early and be sure to bring with you the music lovers in your life for this very special service of bread and music.

The smell of fresh-baked bread is what you'll likely encounter this Sunday as we celebrate Thanksgiving with Bread and Music.

We need your help to make sure we have enough bread for Sunday's bread communion.

Why not bake a loaf or two and bring them to the church kitchen no later than 10:30 am Sunday.

Our annual tradition of breaking bread together in worship is another example of the shared ministry that marks this church as a "welcoming community for the liberal spirit."

And nothing says "welcome" like fresh-baked bread. We are grateful for your help.

Jill Nussinow, The Veggie Queen, will share the secrets of surviving the holidays as a vegetarian at Sunday's Forum.

Jill will speak on tips and techniques to carry vegetarians through the holiday season with a focus on sustainable eating for personal and planetary health!

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

You're invited to celebrate the holiday Tuesday (November 24) at 7 pm with an Interfaith Service of Thanksgiving at Congregation Sha'ar Zahav at 290 Dolores (@16th Street).

Participants include Rev. Fred Rabidoux and Joel Gilbertson-White, from the First Unitarian Universalist Society of San Francisco, and clergy from Sha'ar Zahav, Episcopal Church of St. John, the Zen Center, California Institute of Integral Studies, Metropolitan Community Church, Bay Area Jewish Healing Center, and First Mennonite of San Francisco.

Senior Minister Rev. Greg Stewart, his family, and other members and friends of this Society plan on attending the service.

Come join in community! You're also welcome to bring a non-perishable, non-glass gift for the San Francisco Food Bank if you are able to contribute in this difficult economic time.

A Thanksgiving service sponsored by the Interfaith Council will be held at Calvary Presbyterian Church, 2515 Fillmore Street 10 am Thanksgiving Day. This service rotates among many faith communities, and was hosted by our Society last year.

from Betty Skwarek
Director of Lifespan Faith Exploration

Sunday at 10 am religious education learners will focus on social justice. The topic is gratitude, and special focus will be given to the Guest at Your Table program which starts this week.

Children will join their parents in the Sanctuary for the 11 am concert and bread communion. Children will also help distribute the Guest at Your Table boxes during the service.

Newcomers are welcome throughout the year. Please call Betty at 776-4580 so you may be welcomed as an expected guest on Sunday.

Plans are taking shape for another 'trip of a lifetime!' to Transylvania! Check out the brochure for a feel of what you would see and do on a trip being planned for the last two weeks in July, 2010.

The tour itself will begin and end in a major airport city and the travelers make their own way there in time to catch the 'tour'. This allows for flexibility in how much time you want to spend, where else you might want to travel, and taking advantage of your own resourcefulness with air flight arrangements (and cutting the middlemen and surcharges out of the picture!).

From within the traveling group we are hoping to put together a small singing choir to augment concerts that will feature our wonderful organist, Reiko Lane. These concerts and resulting gatherings and receptions add a wonderful element to the touring experience -- always a celebratory atmosphere surrounding the excitement of being in a new place and having the opportunity to meet and spend some relaxed and fun time with a score of wonderful people.

Exciting news just came in: The Transylvanian Church in Budapest has decided to celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Partner Church movement in Kolozsvar on July 23-25th. They are looking to this Bay Area traveling ensemble to be featured in their celebrations!

Please look at your calendar and bank balance now to see if this is a possibility for you. The cost is as low as you could ever figure (the estimated cost of the basic tour is $2000).

The exact itinerary is being formed now. Efforts are heating up and a string of information will start flowing to those of you who communicate interest and of course ultimately to those who sign up to join us!

Please email Mark your questions and a confirmation of your interest and/or intent to travel or phone him at 920-9105.

Photographer Sonnie Willis shares some of the hugs from the day in an on-line slide show.

Then on Tuesday, Stillman Stewart was featured at the Society for Community Work (SCW) luncheon where he warned, "Don't Try This At Home" and introduced clips from the documentary feature The Preacher's Sons.

Sonnie snapped memories from the SCW program, and she shares them in two shows.

Thanks, Sonnie!