Our next 3rd Monday morning gig at the Second Harvest Food Bank warehouse will take place on May 21, 10:00 am to 12:00 noon.

Second Harvest always has an increased need for volunteers when BSU students go home. So this summer will be a special opportunity for our UU team to make a difference. And it's always a fine opportunity to work and chat with other members and friends. We have a good time when we bag, sort, sweep, or do whatever is needed.

Spread the word, invite your friends, and join in! For directions, see the Facebook Event section on our Facebook page. You can also select any of the other summer SHFB warehouse dates (June 18, July 16, August 20) and let us know you are coming.

Many people in our culture live with a pervasive sense of guilt and/or shame. We may not even be quite certain why, but we know it's there. Our sense of it may be so vague and amorphous that we cannot even articulate it; some of the time, it exists below the level of conscious awareness. But it is there, nonetheless, making us feel bad about ourselves and sapping our joy.

In any case, whatever it is that we're feeling guilty or ashamed about is in the past—it cannot be undone. Sometimes, we can do something to rectify or help resolve the situation. Other times, we can't and we just have to move on. Contrary to what you may have heard, forgiving ourselves doesn't mean letting ourselves off the hook or failing to take appropriate responsibility for what we've done or left undone. It is not a form of self-indulgence. It isn't an easy out. It also doesn't free us from the consequences of our actions. Even when there are consequences that clearly grow out of things we've done, however, we are not condemned to feelings of guilt, shame, diminished self-worth and depression.

The Congregation will consider amendments to the By Law at Annual Congregational Meeting in May. The proposed amendments and full current By Laws are available on the church web site.