THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
October 20, 2009
The Sloop’s Log
“Religion for Contemporary People” October 25, 2009 10:30 am Rev. Tom Goldsmith Guest Minister
What is the call of Unitarain Universalism in contemporary times? Must faith be blind and unthinking, or is there a religious message for rational people with a scientific mindset?
Food Pantry
November is First Parish’s month to volunteer at the Scituate Food Pantry located at the Masonic Hall on Country Way. Volunteers are asked to come from 11-1 on Tuesdays in November. Please speak with Yvonne Twomey if you would like to help.
Sunday Hospitality October 25
Flowers: Alma Morrison & Ray DesRoches
“Peacemaker: Leo Tolstoy” November 1, 2009 10:30 am Rev. Richard M. Stower
This sermon begins another series, this on peacemakers, men and women, who in their lives and their writings tried to make the world a more peaceful place. In this initial sermon, we look at the Russian writer and philosopher Leo Tolstoy’s views on peace; those who influenced him (Thoreau); and those he influenced (Gandhi and Martin Luther King, Jr.). 1
Coffee Hour: 375th Committee
November 1
Flowers: Peter & Connie Tolman in memory of Ruth Tolman
Coffee Hour: Ellen Isley
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
Ministerial MUUsings....
Last week I attended an event held in Vermont in memory of a college friend, Mary Haas. Mary and I reconnected a couple of years ago after forty years when I invited her to join a fraternity reunion at our school. She was one of the fraternity’s “sweethearts.” This summer I heard from Mary’s college boyfriend that Mary had died from ovarian cancer. I learned that as she was dying, Mary made some plans. She told her family to “Raise Hell. Raise Money. Raise Awareness.” in order to find a method of detecting ovarian cancer in its earliest stage. A highly regarded financial advisor and planner it made sense that Mary would put her own financial and family affairs in order along with the establishment of a fund to finance ovarian cancer research. As it happened, the day before I went to Vermont I met with the Committee on Ministry and we talked about “end of life” planning! This included making a will, bringing it up to date, giving someone “power of attorney” in case you are not capable of making vital decisions; and planning a memorial service. Such planning goes a long way to alleviate your stress and the stress of loved ones when a life threatening crisis occurs. No matter how young or old your are this kind of planning is the right thing to do. If you’ve never thought about it or have been thinking about it and you’d like to talk, please let me know so we can put aside some time to discuss this important issue in life. As always, any conversation like this is confidential unless you tell me otherwise. Peace, Rich
Minister’s Office Hours
Rev. Stower’s office hours are as follows: Tuesday 9:30-2:00 pm Wednesday 9:30-12:30 pm Thursday 9:30-12:30 pm Friday 9:30-1:30 pm Appointments may be made for times outside office hours.
Tea with the Minister
Newcomers to First Parish are invited to attend a “Tea with the Minister” on either November 1 or November 8 at 4 pm. If you are new to First Parish please come to learn more about it, Unitarian Universalism, and each other. If you, your spouse or partner cannot attend together, each of you try to make one of the teas. You’ll enjoy it.
Men’s Group
Rev. Stower’s call to the men of First Parish to revive a Men’s Group has met with a good response and some good ideas. An organizational meeting to begin the group will be held on November 1st, following coffee hour
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
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
Religious Education Program News
-- Jim FitzGerald, Director of Religious Education In the coming month when we offer Thanksgiving, it is appropriate that I use this month’s newsletter to express my gratitude. I’ve been a professional educator for over 15 years and never before have I worked with such a competent, gifted, and caring group of RE teachers and volunteers than here at First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Cohasset and First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Scituate. Every RE teacher and volunteer are a blessing to our children and our faith community. Thanks to these gifts of time and talent, November promises to be a fulfilling month for our RE program as families and youth from First Parish UU in Scituate and First Parish UU in Cohasset join together in several exciting programs. OUR WHOLE LIVES PROGRAM The OWL program is a critically acclaimed curriculum developed by the Unitarian Universalist Association and the United Church of Christ. This program offers middle school students a comprehensive approach to relationships and human sexuality in a safe, non-judgmental learning environment. Veronica Amelang and Michael Feeney from FPUU in Scituate will co-facilitate this year’s OWL program with the help of Mark Alves of FPUU in Cohasset. Youth from both of our congregations will gather from 10:00 am to 11:30 am at FPUU in Scituate for the beginning of the OWL program. Parents are asked to have their children at FPUU in Scituate at 9:45 am to make sure the OWL program begins on time. SENIOR HIGH YOUTH GROUP 9th through 12th graders are invited to enroll in our Senior High Youth Group that is co-sponsored by FPUU in Cohasset and FPUU in Scituate. This program will create a close-knit community of youth who will engage in regular gatherings, retreats, and social justice projects that will put their UU values into action. Four adult facilitators (two from FPUU in Scituate, two from FPUU in Cohasset) will guide our senior high youth group set to begin the first week of November. More details to come as program details are finalized. “TGIF” MULTI-GENERATIONAL RE PROGRAM Sharing a Director of Religious Education and combining the OWL and Youth Group programs encourage our two congregations to come together on a regular basis. Friday, November 13th at 6:00 pm at First Parish UU in Scituate, the RE program will begin its monthly “TGIF” multi-generational RE program. The evening will include a simple pasta dinner with multi-generational worship and RE programming. Since our first gathering falls on “Friday the 13th” – our multi-generational program theme this month is: Faith and Superstitions. Whether you are single or partnered, whether you have children or not – all are welcome to bring your busy week to a close and start off your weekend in an engaging way with your faith community. RE CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER Sunday, November 1st – RE classes Sunday, November 8th – RE classes Friday, November 13th – TGIF Multi-generational RE program, 6 pm at FPUU in Scituate Sunday, November 15th – RE classes Sunday, November 22nd – RE classes Sunday, November 29th – NO RE classes/Multi-generational worship (Thanksgiving weekend)
Jim
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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.” Did you know that several members of our Congregation who belong to Sustainable Scituate pitched in and organized the set-up, collection and clean-up of recycling of cardboard, plastic, composting (food waste and fryer oil) for the Marshfield Fair? Yes, we put on gloves and rolled up sleeves to do the dirty work that is good for our 7th Principle (Cherish the Living Earth) and the soul. Our fearless leader, Ann McGovern of the Department of Environmental Protection, was overwhelmed by the Scituate turn-out. As a result of our work, tons of waste (yes, we collected and witnessed the mountains of waste one week of festivities can produce!) was redirected from landfills, for recycling and reuse. If you are interesting in pitching in next year, please see Jean Shildneck or Lisa Bertola for more details. There are perks beyond the feelgoodedness - behind the scenes fun, new friends, and, of course, free passes to the Fair! Did you know that all around the world there will be stand outs and demonstrations to support the work toward 350 parts per million (the scientific safety cap for carbon particles per million in our atmosphere - We are currently at around 389 parts per million). Visit 350.org for more information about events and news near you. Did you know that there is a thriving community garden behind the red school house on Cudworth Avenue? Sustainable Scituate and Jon Belber of HollyHill Farm in Cohasset have been working the organic garden and supplying fresh produce for the Scituate Food Pantry. Look for more news about this local treasure in the spring! Remember you can spread your own gardens with nutrient-full seaweed from our local beaches, or spread some salt marsh hay over your dormant plants for the winter (some good collection spots are all along the North River, behind Driftway Dunkin Donuts, and even at the marsh side of the Peggotty Beach parking lot). The time on the beach or marsh off-season is worth it. We are so fortunate to live next to the source of these natural, organic garden treats.
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
Thank You!
Dear First Parish friends, I don't think there is any way I can thank you all enough for your help and warm wishes during my ordeal last summer. I appreciated the food so much and in fact I don't know what I would have done without it. But what really got me through was realizing that there was a caring community sustaining me. Special thanks to Cathie and Vicki for organizing all those wonderful food deliveries! Joanne Fraser
Prayer Shawl Meeting
Prayer Shawl meeting will be on Oct. 26th 7-8:30 pm at the church. All are welcome. Even if you don't knit, we have other jobs that we need done. So come all, we knit, crochet, sew, and relax and do a lot of talking and oh, yes, praying too!! Pam Molinari
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The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
Smile
Dr. Stephen Hoff, a Scituate dentist, is offering a wonderful opportunity for people who are in need of dental care and have no dental insurance. Dr. Hoff will make appointments for individuals who meet the following criteria: 1) is a Scituate resident 2) has no dental insurance 3) is experiencing financial hardship Dr. Hoff has set aside November 24th and 25th for these appointments. If you are in need of dental care and meet the criteria, please call Dr. Hoff ’s office at 781-545-3703 to make two appointments: The first for a free exam in October and the second appointment to perform the needed dental work on November 24th or 25th. Dr. Hoff suggests that if financially possible, in return of this dental care, the individual make a $25 donation to one of the following: The Scituate Food Pantry, The Scituate Animal Shelter or Scituate Community Christmas. Thank you Dr. Hoff for this generous offer.
In Concert In Conversation Calum Pasqua & Susie Petrov
with Mark Slawson, organist of Second Parish Sunday, Oct 25 3:00 pm At: Second Parish, 685 Main Street, Hingham, MA Price: $10 suggested donation The Scottish Violin and Piano duo of Calum Pasqua and Susie Petrov is a project exploring the vast possibilities of the Scottish fiddle repertoire. Both Calum and Susie are classically trained performers with decades of experience playing and sharing Scottish music with the world. From stirring reels to heart-wrenching laments, the duo delivers an emotional performance of Scotland's traditional music, plus history, composition and origin of tunes. The program celebrates the release of their new CD, In Conversation. This is a must-see for fans of Scottish music!
Did you know...
That Alan Donaldson is a descendent of the Rev. John Lothrop our first minister? Susie Petrov, pianist and Calum Pasqua, fiddler.
The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
A visit from Reverend Tom Goldsmith
The 375th Anniversary Committee is proud to welcome the
Reverend Tom Goldsmith, minister at First Parish Scituate
from 1975 to 1977. For those of you who might not have
known him, Rev. Goldsmith began his ministry in Salt Lake City in 1987,
after serving two churches in the Boston metropolitan area. He has
published widely in both cities, including a regular Op Ed column for the
Boston Herald, Modern Bride magazine, various articles in both the Salt
Lake Tribune, Desert Morning News, many alternative radical feminist and
peace periodicals, and he provided a chapter in God and Country: Politics in Utah, Signature Books, 2005. Rev. Goldsmith has brought his distinct love for jazz to Utah, launching the popular Jazz Vespers program in 1989 and a Folk Vespers series a few years later. He is greatly involved in the interfaith community and has become a regular fixture at peace demonstrations and other human rights events. In 2000, he married Mary Tull, executive director for The Leonardo. Together they have five adult children. Mary plays guitar and sings while Tom attempts to play the bass. They love to hike, travel, and are especially drawn to the beauty and serenity of both Torrey, Utah and Bolinas, California. Please join us in welcoming Reverend Goldsmith! We will be hosting a casual luncheon after the service. Please plan to stay and join us! UNITY CLUB
It's time to think about Gift Baskets for the Snowflake Fair! Last year's baskets were a huge success! From now until Thanksgiving we will be collecting items for the following themes, as well as any baskets or other interesting "containers" to put them in:
COMMITTEE ON MINSTRY wants to hear from you…
In her book, Churchworks: A Well-Body Book for Congregations, Rev. Anne Heller writes, “Committees on Ministry are designed to track the heartbeat of ministry within a congregation; how the members...take care of themselves and each other, how the lay ministerial leadership serves a congregation; and how the called minister serves the congregation. It seeks to understand, assess, support, and advocate for robust ministry throughout the context of congregational life.” With this in mind, our goals for this quarter are: • To prepare a questionnaire designed to “track the heartbeat of ministry” at First Parish. This wi% be presented to the Parish Committee in January.
GOURMET * DOGS * SPA* CATS * GARDENERS * • To establish a standard format to the committee meetings which TEA & COFFEE *KIDS ACTIVITY * wi% include time for setting and tracking goals. HOLIDAY HOSTESS GIFTS • To do our best to understand what does or does not make our Sanctuary feel like a “sanctuary”. Please look for a box marked "GIFT BASKETS" on the back To be an effective committee we need to hear from you. Please feel free to counter of the Old Sloop Room speak with any one of us in person or contact us by phone or email. Unless where you can leave your you say otherwise, we will consider your comments confidential. goodies! Any questions, please MaryAnn Linker; 781-545-3241 fal15@comcast.net ask Cathie McGowan or Mary Kim Ryan; 781-545-1714 kimryan47@comcast.com McRae. Thank you!! Ann Hale; 781-545-1428 annlattinville@yahoo.com
The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
Something to think about.......
I am awed by the universe, puzzled by it, and sometimes angry at a natural order that brings such pain and suffering. Yet any emotion or feeling I have toward the cosmos seems to be reciprocated by neither benevolence nor hostility but just by silence. The universe appears to be a perfectly neutral screen onto which I can project any passion or attitude, and it supports them all. ~ Heinz R. Pagels
Rev. Richard M. Stower, Minister Gathered in Scituate, 1634 Founded in London, 1616 E-mail:firstparishscituate@verizon.net www.firstparishscituate.org 781-545-3324 Scituate, MA 02066 330 First Parish Road First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church