Weekly Ministerial Message: The “Big Weekend” Edition!
Headlines:
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Meg Barnhouse: Concert Saturday 7 PM: Music, Stories & Laughter
Hunger Banquet dinner hosted by our Youth Group, Sunday, April 29
Shape Note Sing Sunday afternoon
Maypole/Beltane Ritual Sunday afternoon
Auction Item—seats still available at a member’s lunch table
Summer Camp early-bird registration ending—Chalice Camp!
Artist Reception Friday evening, May 4
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study—Sunday, May 6
Meet UUSS candidates for elected leadership Sunday, May 6
Operating Budget Proposal for 2012-13 to be explained May 6
Congregational Conversation workshop #3 Sunday, May 6
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Dear Members, Families, Friends, and Visitors,
Greetings! The rest of the staff and I are really excited about Meg Barnhouse’s concert this Saturday night at 7:00 at UUSS. Four of us are coming back early for it (from the UU Pacific Central District’s annual assembly in Oakland). Meg is a humorist, therapist, southern lesbian pastor (pretty humorous in itself!), spiritual writer and songwriter, and UU icon.
More about Saturday’s Concert
You may ask: Why come to Meg’s concert if you are coming to church the next morning? Sunday you’ll hear a great sermon. Saturday night you will hear many more songs and stories, and get to know Meg more intimately. Also, her partner and collaborator, Kiya, will be singing with her. If you are over 21, you’ll get a free glass of wine. (Other refreshments too.) Tickets are $10, available at the door at 6:30 PM. If you are under 21 and would like a free ticket, there are a few left. Write me ASAP!
Thanks to the committee that is making such good use of the restricted bequest of a late member, Prof. Betty Ch’maj, for this year’s Ch’maj Event (pronounced sh-MAY). That’s why tickets for this event are only $10!
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Sunday Services – April 29
Services at 9:30 and 10:15 AM. Religious Education at 9:30 AM
“Tales of the Tribe” is the sermon. Religious Education program: Sunday is a community garden day for Spirit Play (grades 1-5); Junior High Youth Group will help to make scare crows for our UUrthsong Garden. Dress for the garden! We ask for your newspaper donations by Friday at 2 for stuffing scarecrows!
Senior High Youth Group will plan for the April 29 Hunger Banquet. They will sell tickets after the first service, on the patio. Every Sunday our childcare staff is on duty from 9:00 to 1:00 PM, so folks with babies can attend either service. If you need sign language interpretation for a service, the Office needs 10 days’ notice for the later service (14 days for the 9:30 service) in order to let our interpreters know.
This is the last Sunday for April’s Shared Offering, which supports the UU Legislative Ministry (CA). Spring Connections Fair—stay after service to meet people from activity groups, committees and ministries who will be at tables on the meadow and patio. Find out what’s happening at UUSS.
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Hunger Banquet—Let’s support our UU teenagers as they host this important event: raising awareness of global inequities in food distribution. Bring a canned food donation and buy a $2 ticket. Thanks to the Senior High Youth Group, parents, volunteer advisors and staff for making this happen. This Sunday, April 29, 5:30-7:00 PM (The program may go till 7:30 but if you need to leave early for the Beltane ritual, that’s okay.)
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May Day/Beltane Ritual–CUUPS holds a Labyrinth Walk, potluck supper and May Pole Ceremony for Beltane this Sunday, April 29. Labyrinth 4 pm-5:30 pm, pot luck 6-pm-7pm, and May Pole ritual: 7 pm-9pm. In case of rain, ritual is inside. Free, but donations for defray UUSS overhead costs appreciated. Open to the public, including children. RSVP helpful. Laurie Jones or Diane Kelly-Abrams,
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Cost Updates on Summer Camp –We have several kids signed up for Chalice Camp! Don’t forget to register your incoming 1st – 6th graders for the all-day camp– at UUSS, August 6-10. We’ll have a fantastic time getting to know each other, playing games, preparing a play, creating art and playing with water. Attendees will also deepen their identities as UUs and be able to better articulate their faith. The cost for an additional child from same family is now only $100! Early bird $200 deadline extended to Sunday, May 6. Scholarships are available for financial need; check with Miranda or Rev. Roger to apply. Limit of 20 kids. Chalice Camp is open to Pledging Friend or Member families. Contact Rev. Roger to inquire. Register for the June 5 & 12 Orientation to Membership class at the Sunday Welcome Table. Child care is provided during the Orientation (by advance request when you register). To learn more or sign up, visit the Religious Education page on our website or contact camp director Mary Howard or registrar Carrie Cornwell, whose son looks forward to going. Others involved: Ginny Johnson, Miranda Massa, Roger Jones, and selected Senior High Youth as counselors! Don’t miss out!
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Exciting and Important UUSS Issues and our Future
Spring Connections Fair—this Sunday—after services, stay to meet some of the several activity groups, committees and ministries who will will be at tables on the meadow and patio. Stay after church to find out what’s happening. This is a great way to learn how to get connected here, find out ways you can put your gifts to use in service of UUSS or the local community. Hosted by Program Council and several committees and activity groups. Sunday, April 29, after the 9:30 and 11:15 AM services.
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Congregational Conversations—Sunday, May 6–
Lance Ryen and Judy Bell invite you to the last of 3 experiential workshops designed to expand and deepen the UUSS Conversation. The workshops have reflected our mission, vision, and covenant – who we are, how we deepen our lives, and how we can be a force for healing in the world. This third experiential workshop is entitled “Being a Force for Healing in the World.” You do not need to be a church member or to have attended the other workshops in order to benefit from this one. Please join us for this installment of an exciting adventure.
During June, July and August we will not be holding Congregational Conversations. But we plan an exciting program of Conversations starting in September – held the first Sunday of each month. We hope you will mark your calendars and join us. (Editor’s note: I heard great reviews from folks leaving an earlier Conversation!) Sunday, May 6, classroom 7/8 from 12:45 pm to 2:45 PM.
Capital Campaign Feasibility Study starts–and ends–next weekend!–The Capital Fund Campaign feasibility study will assess how much of the architectural Master Plan we can realistically fund complete in a first phase over the next couple of years. The first weekend in May we will survey everyone who comes to Sunday services.
Capital Fund Campaign consultant Bud Swank will lead a focus group with the board and program council. In addition, anyone who wants to speak with him about your feelings, thoughts and hopes for UUSS can sign up for a 30 minute individual or couple interview Saturday, Sunday, or Monday (May 5,6, & 7) Contact Carrie Cornwell, Mary Howard, or Ginger Enrico. [contact info left out of this blog for security. contact them through the Office if you do not have a UUSS Directory]
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Meet our Nominees for Leadership next Sunday—Our Nominating Committee is pleased to invite you to meet the volunteers who have accepted nomination to elected positions of leadership in the church. Come to a brief reception on the patio after the 9:30 service, Sunday May 6.
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Yet Another Pledge Campaign Update—many of you have mailed in a 2012-13 pledge form or brought it to a Sunday service. As of Sunday: 274 pledges totaling $418,310. Thank you so much!
Sorry to say, UUSS still has about 80 pledge forms outstanding, with about $89,000 of pledge commitments to fund all the goals and commitments to support our denomination, keep improving the security, look and cleanliness of our building and grounds, and be a UUA Fair Compensation employer.
Budget Forum–Our Treasurer will present and explain the proposed 2012-13 operating budget to you in a brief session after the first service next Sunday, May 6, in a classroom to be announced. The budget proposal is based on pledge commitments made now for the coming budget year. Read Cathy’s report on page 2 of the May Unigram.
Every pledge is valued and appreciated, and we thank you.
You may contact Michele to ask her to fill out a form for you or to mail one, or you may download one at this link. Or we can mail one to you.
If you can make a pledge, please do it today.
Every pledge makes a difference!
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Artist Reception–The next art reception will be Friday, May 4 from 5:30 to 7 pm in the Main Hall.
Photographers Donald Satterlee and Dianne Poinski share their beautiful work with us in this exhibit that focuses on subtle tonality and the luminosity found in nature. Don’s work evokes mystery and mood, Dianne hand colors her black and white images. All welcome!
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Chanteuses Concert—Our own Mary Howard, Barbara Lazar and guest artist Eric Stetson invite you to hear “Radio Hour,” the spring concert of this great women’s choral group. $15. Free up to age 16. Sunday, May 6, 4:00 PM at UUSS. Also: Friday, May 4, 7:30 PM, United Methodist Church, 9849 Fair Oaks Blvd., Fair Oaks. See www.chaneeuses.org.
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Luncheon Opportunity–There are a few places left at the table for lunch on May 15 at the home or garden of Vivian and Larry. This auction item sold at the Harvest Fest for $18, and Vivian will welcome you for a similar donation to UUSS. [Pastor Cranky is unhappy that he cannot attend!]
The menu:
…Butternut squash soup
…sourdough French bread
…mixed green salad with walnuts & feta cheese
…Four-cheese baked shell pasta casserole [OMG!]
…Apple Pie a la mode and coffee or tea. [You’re killin’ me, Vivian!]
Send an e-mail to Vivian to book your place at the table.
Adult Enrichment Courses and Related Programs
UU Readers Book Discussion– May 29: Angle of Repose by Wallace Stegner. (1971 Pulitzer Prize; one of the best novels about California.) The last Tuesday of every month, 6:30 PM. Jim Glidden facilitates.
Beginning Tai Chi - for All Ages and All Abilities – Wear comfortable clothes, flexible shoes and your sense of humor. No pressure, just fun, movement and a chance to explore something new. You can practice standing or seated as needed. Donations help with UUSS overhead.
Yoga Classes — Paige invites you to try a first class for free. Sign up at Sunday Connection Central.
Complete contact information is not included on this blog. Please contact the Office by phone with questions or email me. Register on Sunday at church.
Chair Yoga — a gentle form of yoga, practiced sitting in a chair, or standing using a chair for support. Classes include eye exercises, breath exercises and meditation.
Easy Yoga – Pranayama (breath work) as well as Asana (posturing). Aside from benefits such as increased range of motion, strength, balance, and flexibility, Yoga also assists in stress release, developing attention skill, and cultivating an awareness for the moment. Both moving and still meditation are part of the process.
Women’s Group – Open to women of all ages, members, non-members, and visitors. You are invited to bring a poem, reading or just yourself to meet new friends and share in a discussion. Please contact Lynn [via the Office] to get a weekly notification of the meeting.
The Power of Now—Eckart Tolle discussion group starting soon. Introduction to the Mormon Religion—guest scholar June 3. Sign up for both at the Adult Enrichment bar at Sunday Connection Central.
“UU Living Legacy” Civil Rights Pilgrimage—discount registration ends May 15– The next UU Living Legacy Civil Rights Pilgrimage will be October 6-13, 2012. This unique bus trip is much more than a Civil Rights history tour through Alabama and Mississippi. We will be visiting historic sites and meeting veterans of the Civil Rights Movement, and but will also be spending time together and with guests exploring what racism, white privilege, and barriers to equality look like today in Southern towns we visit—and in our own hometowns. Beyond experiencing first-hand the civil rights legacy, our goal is to develop commitment, vision and mechanisms within our group to work on issues of race, injustice and inequality that still bedevil our congregations and our society. The Living Legacy Pilgrimage is hosted and organized by the Reverend Gordon Gibson and Judy Gibson; the Reverend Hope Johnson; the Reverend James Hobart; Janice Marie Johnson; Annette Marquis; and Donna Sequeira, and co-sponsored by the UUA’s Southeast District. For more information or to register, visit www.uulivinglegacy.org. Register early – costs are discounted for those who register before May 15. (Editor’s note: I took the first of these trips in 2000, and it was moving and inspiring. Good food, good lodging, new friends!)
In case you forgot…
Two days till we have Meg Barnhouse in concert! Wine, women and song! Saturday, April 28 at UUSS. Read more on page one of the April Unigram.
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Volunteer Opportunities—Easy Ways to Make a Difference
Coffee & Tea Making on Sunday—My first hug of the morning at church every Sunday goes to the coffee maker. (Not the Bunn-O-Matic, the person who is hosting for the day.) Fun and fulfilling! Contact Tom Lopes for info.
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Sound Board/Audio Monitoring at services—It’s easy once you know. Contact Eric if you have questions.
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Welcome Team Welcomes You to Welcome Others!—
Do you enjoy meeting new people?
Do you attend the 11:15 service? (Even just one of them a month?)
Consider joining the 2nd Service Welcome Team as a greeter one Sunday a month! Our mission is not difficult: you give a warm greeting to visitors and make them feel welcome here. If this sounds like a fun way to volunteer, please contact Sally Campbell, coordinator,for for more information.
(This is a really important ministry at UUSS. Everybody is new once!)
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All-Ages UUSS Church Camp– June 15-17 at Camp Norge in Alta, CA.
This is for families, singles, toddlers, elders and all the rest. At the Game Night I met with Fran and Anne to start planning. We and Ruth invite additional, new team members (adults or youth) to help plan and promote this great event. Let me know.
Thanks to each and every one of you for the ways that your presence makes this congregation a wonderful place to serve. See you Saturday at the concert or Sunday at church, the Hunger Banquet, Shape Note Singing, or May Pole celebrating.
To see my Pastor Cranky weblog, click: http://www.ironicschmoozer.wordpress.com.
In addition to more about Doug’s retirement announcement, our May 20 Congregational Meeting and our nominees for elected volunteer positions, you can find important information, much food for thought, and great color photographs in the brand new Unigram for May.
Yours in service,
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Special Events | Tags: a capella choral music, concert, UU church
The women’s choral group, Chanteuses, will be at UUSS on Sunday, May 6th at 4pm for their spring concert,” Radio Hour”. UUSS members Mary Howard and Barbara Lazar are members of the group, which will sing contemporary and traditional selections during the fun-filled, musically pleasing concert. Our own Eric Stetson is the guest artist, complete with ukelele! Local performer Martin Beal will be the MC. Tickets are $15 for everyone over 15 and can be purchased from Mary or Eric, as well as at the door. If May 4th doesn’t work for you, the concert is repeated Friday night, May 6th at the Fair Oaks United Methodist Church in Fair Oaks. Don’t miss this unique experience! Hope to see you there.
Filed under: Special Events, Theater (Plays | Tags: book discussion, Jim Scott musician, open mic night, Vagina Monologues
Alliance Program—the Alliance is longest continuously running discussion and fellowship activity in our church (since 1898!). Meets Thursday, April 12, 10:45 AM in the Fahs Classroom. Come for coffee. Guest speaker is introduced at 11:00. Bring your lunch and visit with new and old friends after the discussion.
THAT’S ENTERTAINMENT!—3 events to remember
1–Open Mic Night–SHINDIG at the HEX. UU headliner Jim Scott!
Friday, April 13—7:00 PM for an open-mic portion. Sign up Sunday!
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Then, at 8:30 PM, acclaimed acoustical guitarist Jim Scott performs an evening of his songs of peace and the environment. A composer, guitarist, singer and ecological and peace activist, Jim was a member of the Paul Winter Consort for years. He wrote many pieces the Consort recorded, including choral works in their celebrated Missa Gaia/Earth Mass. In his world travels, Jim has performed concerts or led services at more than 300 UU churches. His latest project is The Earth and Spirit Songbook, an anthology of songs of ecology and peace. For more about Jim Scott, click his name above.
To sign up as an open-mic act for the first half of the show, please contact Music Director Eric Stetson at eric@uuss.org.
Tickets are $10 general, $5 for performers; children 12 and under are free.
2– The Vagina Monologues—in Sacramento now!
Do you love good theater?
Passionate about ending violence against women and girls?
Have we got an event for you!
The V-Day Sacramento 2012 Community Production of Eve Ensler’s
The Vagina Monologues takes place next week.
This year’s production features a number of CHURCH members in key roles. Janet Lopes and Julie Heston are cast members. Kristen Vedell is
Production Assistant, and JoLane Blaylock is the Producer. Come show your
fellow UUs your support and enjoy this amazing show. It will make you
laugh, gasp, cry, and then laugh some more!
(It will make your family minister blush.)
Monday April 9, 6:00 PM—SOLD OUT! Sneak Peek with Panel Discussion following, at The Guild Theater.
TICKETS AVAILABLE! Saturday, April 14—Premier Performance, with Silent Auction before, 7:00 PM The Crest Theatre. For ickets and more information, visit
http://vdaysacramento.org/. April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month, and we are proud of our UU women for bringing this production back to the community.
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3—Save the date and buy a ticket: Meg Barnhouse in concert! Saturday, April 28 at UUSS. Read more on page one of the April Unigram.
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UU Readers Book Discussion–Our book for next month is The Tiger’s Wife by Tea Obreht. It is a novel by a young writer about her memories of a grandfather living in the Balkans. Tuesday, April 24, 6:30 PM in Classroom 12 (way back there). Get reading!
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Church Finances and Stewardship, Family Ministry, Special Events, UU Denomination and Pacific Central District News and Views | Tags: associate minister, called minister, church vote, congregational democracy, Congregational Meeting, ministry team, pledges, settled ministry
Unigram newsletter April 2012
The big vote approaches!
A few days after you read this, UUSS members will cast their votes on the Board’s motion for the congregation to call me as a settled associate minister. As I write this article two weeks earlier, half of our UUSS households have not filled out a pledge form for the coming budget year. This makes me a bit nervous.
The two most precious things about churches with congregational governance is the right to choose their own clergy and the right to sustain and fund their own programs, with no outside interference or dependence on a hierarchy. Of course, with rights come responsibilities.
Without financial support from all of our pledging friends as well as our members, UUSS would not be such a strong community, giving safe harbor, sharing our beacon of love and justice. It matters!
If you are a member, I hope you show up and vote. If somehow you missed the Membership Orientation courses and forgot to sign the book as an official member, consider joining UUSS after the vote. Meanwhile, you can still give your feedback and ideas to the Board, ministers, and members regarding this vote and the other business of significance.
I look forward to the vote. I find pleasure in the date of the occasion: April Fool’s Day!
We’re not looking for a simple majority vote by a bare quorum. We’re hoping for a 90% or more “Yes” vote by a large turnout of members. However this may turn out—a strong affirmation of our ministry together or a surprise message that maybe we’re not so well matched for a longer commitment—I have faith in this congregation and your future.
As a reflection of your vitality, size, needs and vision, you have had a full-time second minister on staff continuously for nine years.
I have been honored to serve for four of those years. I’ve grown personally and learned much from our lay leaders, adults, youth and children–not to mention our gifted, caring and compassionate lead minister.
Yes, I’m nervous about the pledge results and excited about Sunday’s vote. But I have faith in this congregation’s ability to rally, step up, and move forward into the future.
With a firm foundation of our heritage, openness, creative lay leadership, mission, values and covenant, I know that the congregation will shape the future as it lives into it with joy and love.
Yours in service,
PS—If you haven’t turned in a 2012-13 pledge form yet, please contact the office. Your commitment right now can be pivotal to the future of this thriving congregation. Thank you!
Filed under: Church Finances and Stewardship, Rituals, Prayers, Elements of Worship Services, Special Events, Stewardship & Finances | Tags: commitment, funding the vision, generosity, inspiration, pledge drive, stewardship event
This is what to expect on Celebration Sunday, when we have one service at 10 AM.
Our Stewardship Campaign Team will all be dressed in their Sunday best! (Maybe other volunteers will do so as well.) The team will be here early to be ready for the light lunch and cake that will follow the 10:00 service.
As you arrive and head for the sanctuary, Jorge Jimenez and friends will greet you at the Pledge Table to give you an envelope with your personal 2012-13 Pledge Form and a letter informing you of the pledge you made last time.
Please come a bit early to the service to pick up your envelope (in alpha order by last name). Hang onto it until the ritual! Enjoy coffee before service.
Our Coffee Hospitality Team will have two coffee, tea and juice stations and will have the coffee hot and ready well before the service.
Members of the Sarah Bush Dance Project from San Francisco
will offer two liturgical dances (one before the kids leave). Doug Kraft will offer a homily. I’ll do something myself!
Later in the service, ushers and greeters will invite us to come forward during the ritual, row by row, to place our Pledge Forms in the large basket. (Those too new to be ready to pledge will be invited to participate by writing their answer to a question of spiritual depth on a form that will be inserted in the order of service. We seek to be as inclusive as possible.)
The Ministers, Trustees, and Stewardship Team will kick off this pledging ritual. During the ritual, we’ll be singing spirited and familiar songs.
Our youth groups are invited to stay for the whole service. I hope you can make it. If you are not part of UUSS and are just a loyal reader of Pastor Cranky’s blog, I hope you have your own safe harbor, and hope you have a community which together shares a beacon of love and justice to the larger world. Namaste!
PS–Check out the Sarah Bush Dance Project if you have not seem them at UUSS before: http://sarahbushdance.com/
or see some videos: http://sarahbushdance.com/videos/
Filed under: Becoming and Being Part of a UU Congregation, Church Finances and Stewardship, Comparative Religion, Rituals, Prayers, Elements of Worship Services, Special Events, Stewardship & Finances | Tags: church community, generosity, liberal religion, science and religion, stewardship, welcoming congregation
Next Sunday morning is Celebration Sunday, when members and pledging friends will make their pledges of support for the upcoming budget year at our congregation. Each Sunday a member or friend has delivered a testimonial about their feelings about the congregation and their financial commitment to its ministries and programs, staff, upkeep and outreach. I have posted all of them on the blog. Here is the latest.
Hello and good morning,
My name is Jorge. About 8 years ago I started to attend this congregation ever since my partner, Ron, introduced me to the idea of Unitarian Universalism. I was born in a small town in western Panama and raised in strong catholic family environment. If my Father could see me now in a pulpit, he would fall on his knees shouting …. “ES UN MILAGRO….it’s a miracle.”
Growing up, I was the perfect catholic boy attending mass every Sunday, going to the confessionary and along with it, its corresponding hale Maries and Our Heavenly Fathers as penance for my previous week of mischievous acts. However, as I got older I started to get more curious about the natural world and wanted to learn more about Science. Something within me started to question some of the beliefs that I was taught in Catechism. My parents could not understand why I was being so stubborn asking such questions and now I can only imagine what went thru their minds…a heretic son! So surely, I started to drift away from the Church and ultimately walked away from all the mumbo-jumbo of incoherent ranting, homophobia among many others….the list is long!
Science ignited my mind and beliefs, and taught me to truly seek the truth and not just be a mindless automaton. I have followed that career truly applying the Scientific Method into my life.
And yet, here I am as a “friend of UUSS” as friend of this congregation speaking out why I support this institution.
I enjoy the camaraderie of peers who charm, challenge and comfort me — I am not alone. This congregation is indeed a SAFE HARBOR.
I am comfortable with the ongoing ceaseless ferment of ideas here. I align with the important work of social justice and the path that this UU has carved into our noble history.
I want to help sustain this community, a community for the stranger who may come thru that door next week, who may be seeking what UUs can give. And I hope, beyond my years on this planet, that such strangers will become like me, supporting this ongoing community. This place is truly a BEACON OF LOVE and JUSTICE.
