First Parish Oct. 6

THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE October 6, 2009 The Sloop’s Log “Cue the Sun!” The Truman Show October 11, 2009 10:30 am Rev. Richard M. Stower Continuing our sermon series on religion and the arts, the 1998 film The Truman Show offers a rich tapestry of themes on God, the nature of reality, free will, and human relationships. In this sermon we will discuss these themes within the context of the movie. Another 375th Anniversary Event Sunday Hospitality October 11 Greeters: Alma Morrison & Ray DesRoches Flowers: Kay Shaw, in memory of her son, Clyde Christie Russ Coffee Hour: Warner Family “Perfection: Self Cuture ” October 18, 2009 10:30 am Rev. Richard M. Stower One of the foremost proponents of early American Unitarianism was the Rev. William Ellery Channing. He believed the purpose of Unitarianism was to improve one’s life by living a good, ethical and spiritual life. In modern terms he believed in “self-improvement.” Doing so could lead to a “near perfect” individual and society. But there are drawbacks in seeking perfection. 1 The Rev. Thomas Goldsmith, minister of First Parish (1975-1977) and minister of First Unitarian Church in Salt Lake City since 1987, returns to Scituate to help us celebrate our 375th anniversary. A special coffee hour will follow the service. October 18 Greeters: Leigh Todd Flowers: Leigh Todd Coffee Hour: Capodanno Family PAGE 1 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE Ministerial MUUsings.... For what its worth... In connection with the sermon series on religion and the arts you might be interested in some of my favorite paintings and novels. Paintings •Almost every landscape by Vincent Van Gogh plus his self-portrait. •Salisbury Cathedral by John Constable •Raft of the Medusa by Theodore Geincault •Melencholia (woodcut)by Albrecht Durer •Water Lillies by Claude Monet Novels •The Discovery of Heaven by Harry Mulisch •American Pastoral by Philip Roth •Winter’s Tale by Mark Helprin •Atoneent by Ian McEwan •An America Tragedy by Theodore Dreiser •The Leopard by Giuseppe diLampedusa. September Parish Committee Meeting Highlights from the September Parish Committee Meeting. *Ministers Report •Rich reported on events at General Assembly. •Meetings with Rev. Jan Carlsson-Bull of First Parish Cohasset and Jim Fitzgerald, DRE, have gone well. *Treasurer’s Report •Treasury is in good shape. •Will likely be receiving less in our monthly disbursement from endowment income. •First Parish Scituate’s share of DRE’s salary is $17,000. •Rich and Nancy Stower have voluntarily changed health plan deductible saving $4,000. *Parish Co-Chair Report •Claire Sherman has agreed to be Co-Chair. •Want people and committees to use newsletter more for better and complete communication. •Issues discussed at retreat •Parish discussion on change of governance with Task Force leading conversation. • Development of new mission statement. *Finance Committee •Looking into ways to improve our annual canvass effort. Thank You! Dear Richard, Thank you so much for your friendship and support. Please convey to the entire congregation how much Kathleen and I enjoyed our visit. Most Sincerely, Darrell Berger Minister Rev. Richard M. Stower Church 781-545-3324 Home 781-544-3574 Director of Religious Education Jim FitzGerald 617-983-0619 Parish Committee Co-Chair Mary McRae 781-545-2504 Claire Sherman 617-543-1681 Church Office Administrator Christine Conway 781-834-2040 Treasurer Chris Berkeley 781-545-6901 Parish Committee Secretary Janice Evans 781-545-5001 Collector Vicki Davis 781-545-2369 Buildings and Grounds Erica Boyle 781-545-3452 Frank Kilduff 781-545-9365 Endowment Joanne Fraser 781-545-4571 Finance Sarah Murdock 781-545-8274 Leigh Todd 781-544-7767 Membership & Hospitality Brit Davis 617-275-5700 Denominational Affairs/Social Justice Carol Sullivan-Hanley 781-545-9341 Public Relations Katie Jacobsen 781-545-2504 Religious Education Laura Carson- Laciner 781-544-0220 Jean Shildneck 781-275-5700 Religious Services Barbara Gifford 781-378-1617 Jane McGuinness 781-545-6394 Social Programs Sue Duff 781-545-5604 Head Usher Jack Shaw 781-545-0547 2 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE Religious Education Program News -- Jim FitzGerald, Director of Religious Education Religious Education is off to a great start, with 18 families (32 children) registered so far, including children from four families new to First Parish. Over 20 children have been participating in classes during services.   On September 27, the first Sunday of our Religious Education program, after the commissioning of teachers and volunteers, children went upstairs where they conducted their opening circle ceremony as a large group. They then divided into three groups:  Pre-Kindergarten through Second Grade, Third and Fourth Grade, and Fourth and Fifth Grade.  All groups will be learning from curricula teaching about UU Identity. The youngest group will use the Spirit Play program, where the teacher tells a story and children participate by adding props to a quilt or felt blanket as the story unfolds.  Children explore their reactions to the story by answering “wondering questions” posed by the teacher. The class ends with a craft or game. The older children will use the Spirit of Adventure curriculum to explore UU identity, history, and principles. For the first part of the year, this program uses sports to explore these themes, and the children will participate in interactive activities including team-building games and challenges.   Our older youth, Middle and High School ages, will have the opportunity to participate in Our Whole Lives and Senior High Youth Group this year.  Both of these groups will be held jointly with the youth and volunteers from First Parish Church in Cohasset.  These groups will start up later this month, so keep posted for details! All children (infants to 90+!) are invited to a Haunted House at First Parish Cohasset on Halloween.  See Jim if you would like to contribute food or help out setting up or cleaning up. We are always looking for additional volunteers for all of these programs, whether as regular teachers or group advisors, to fill in occasionally, or to help out with special activities.  We will also be forming a Religious Education Committee.  Please see Jean or Laura if you would like to participate/volunteer.   We are so grateful to Jim for getting this program up and running this year, and to the teachers and other volunteers who will keep it going.  It’s going to be a great year for our youth!   Jean Shildneck and Laura Carson-Laciner, Co-Chairs, Religious Education Committee RE CALENDAR FOR OCTOBER Sunday, October 11th – One Room Schoolhouse Sunday, October 18th – RE classes Sunday, October 25th – RE classes -- FPUU Cohasset/Scituate combined RE committee meeting in Cohasset @ 12:00noon Saturday, October 31st – HAUNTED HOUSE at First Parish UU in Cohasset 3 The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate Green Corner “Respect for the interdependent web of all existence, of which we are a part.” Hearings are taking place tomorrow (Wednesday, October 7, 2009) at the State House in Boston regarding a proposal to update Massachusetts' Bottle Bill. The current version of the bill, originally passed into law in 1983, requires a container deposit on all bottles and cans containing carbonated beverages.  The updated version would expand the law to include non-carbonated beverages: water, iced tea, juice, sports drinks, etc. For more information, see the following websites: www.massbottlebill.org www.mass.gov/legis www.mass.gov/dep www.ssrc.info www.massrecycle.org www.masspirg.org www.environmentalleague.org www.sierraclubmass.org Welcome Back Unity Club Dinner Meeting October 14, 2009 Pumpkin Swap Bring a pumpkin related item to swap or come without one and still enjoy dinner and friendship. Hostesses for the evening will be: Say shaw, Mary McRae, Barbara Koelsch, Barbara Leavitt and Yvonne Twomey. Gather at 6:30 for friendship and appetizers. Dinner will be served at 7:00. Dinner cost is $5.00. Look forward to seeing you on the 14th. Call Barbara Koelsch with our dinner reservation 781-545-2379 GIVE * TAKE * SHARE (Free items to recycle among our community and "iends) LEXMARK Z53 printer w/ one color and three black unopened ink cartridges. It was working fine when I replaced it recently with a new printer which came "free" with my new computer. Call Nancy Richards-Stower 781-544-3574 October Birthdays Wendy Ballinger Lisa Bertola Gil Wilder Mackenzi Boyle Oct 2 Oct 4 Oct 5 Oct 6 Makayla Boyle Burak Laciner Isabel Wilder Robbie Murdock Oct 6 Oct 8 Oct 8 Oct 23 4 The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate 5 THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE Something to think about....... We may not always see eye to eye, but we can try to see heart to heart. ~ Sam Levenson First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church 330 First Parish Road Scituate, MA 02066 781-545-3324 www.firstparishscituate.org E-mail:firstparishscituate@verizon.net Founded in London, 1616 Gathered in Scituate, 1634 Rev. Richard M. Stower, Minister