THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
November 3, 2009
The Sloop’s Log
“The Good Things that Belong to Adversity” November 8, 2009 10:30 am Rev. Richard M. Stower
The Roman philosopher, Seneca, wrote, “The good things which belong to prosperity are to be wished, but the good things that belong to adversity are to be admired.” No one likes to think adversity or suffering is a good thing but important life lessons are learned as we move through and beyond tough times.
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. The pantry shelves are getting bare, so please bring your donations to church on Sunday mornings this month.
Sunday Hospitality November 8
Greeter: Katie Jacobsen Coffee Hour: Roxanne Greim
“The Means of Grace” November 15, 2009 10:30 am Rev. David Parke Guest Minister
The Rev. David Parke was the interim minister at First Parish Church in Scituate from 1974-1975. Ordained a Unitarian minister in 1956, he served congregations in Peterborough, New Hampshire, Germantown, Pennsylvania and Reading and Brewster, Massachusetts . He is the author of several books about Unitarian Universalism. 1
November 15
Greeter: Janie Versoy Flowers: Beth Dubuisson
Coffee Hour: 375th Committee
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THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
Minister’s Office Hours
Among Ourselves
Bob Brindley, a
Prayer Shawl Meeting
Prayer Shawl meeting will be on November 16th 7-8:30 pm at Gail Anderson’s home, 28 Mordecai Lincoln Road. All are welcome.
for 30 years, died on October 26th. A Tuesday 9:30-2:00 pm memorial service will Wednesday 9:30-12:30 pm be held at First Parish Thursday 9:30-12:30 pm on Saturday, November Friday 9:30-1:30 pm 7th at 11 am.
Appointments may be made for times outside office hours.
Rev. Stower’s office hours member of First Parish are as follows:
Tea with the Minister
Newcomers to First Parish are invited to attend a “Tea with the Minister” on 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.
375th Anniversary Committee Please join us on November 15th when the 375th Anniversary Committee welcomes Reverend David Parke, who served as Interim Minister to First Parish in 1974-75. Dr. Parke is a scholar and published author of several works on Unitarianism, including The Epic of Unitarianism: Original Writings from the History of Liberal Religion, which has been in continuous publication for over 50 years. He has also served as Editor-in-Chief of the UnitarianUniversalist World. As the last guest in our series of visiting former ministers, Reverend Parke will lead our service as well as join us for coffee and fellowship after the service. Please join us on this special day!!
November Birthdays
Kelly Walling
Danny Todd
Cathie McGowan Nov 7 Nov 8 Nov 13 Patrick Hale
Katie Jacobsen Wesley Hine Nov 22 Nov 28 Nov 29
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 781-449-5286 Church Office Administrator Christine Conway 781-834-2040 Treasurer Judy Wolffer 781-544-0191 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 617-275-5700 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
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. To establish a standard format to the committee meetings which wi" include time for setting and tracking goals. To do our best to understand what does or does not make our Sanctuary feel like a “sanctuary”.
First Parish Universalist in Scituate and First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Cohasset Team Up to Host Multigenerational Religious Education Evening
Features Dinner, Worship, and Family Game Night (November 2, 2009) - Busy schedules, work obligations, family commitments can make attending Sunday morning religious education classes extremely challenging. First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Cohasset’s Religious Education (RE) Committee acknowledges these difficulties and will offer a fun filled family alternative. On Friday, November 13th the RE programs at both congregations will partner to hold its monthly “Thank God It’s Friday” Multi-generational RE program to begin at 6:00 pm in the Old Sloop Room located at First Parish Unitarian Universalist in Scituate at 330 First Parish Road in Scituate. A simple pasta dinner will be provided along with multigenerational prayer and socializing. Following dinner, youngsters and their adult companions will team up with one another (or against one another) for an evening of board games, trivia, and other family fun games and activities.
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Whether you are single or partnered, whether you have children or not – All are welcome to bring your busy week otherwise, we will consider your comments confidential. to a close and start off your weekend in an engaging way MaryAnn Linker; 781-545-3241 fal15@comcast.net with a welcoming, spiritual community. The cost is free. Kim Ryan; 781-545-1714 kimryan47@comcast.com Please join us for the fun!
Ann Hale; 781-545-1428 annlattinville@yahoo.com
To be an effective committee we need to hear from you. Please feel free to speak with any one of us in person or contact us by phone or email. Unless you say
For more information, contact Jim FitzGerald, Director of Religious Education at (781) 383-1100 or JFitzGerald@firstparishcohasset.org. RE CALENDAR FOR NOVEMBER
Mission/Vision Workshop Postponed
Plans to begin developing a First Parish mission statement were to have begun this Sunday with a visit by Ballou Channing District Executive Bill Zelazny. Sunday, November 8th – RE classes Friday, November 13th – TGIF Multi-generational RE However, this has been postponed until January 24th. Be on the look out in future newsletters for questions program, 6 pm at FPUU in Scituate such as, “Why do you come to First Parish in Scituate?” Sunday, November 15th – RE classes which are intended to prove our discussion on what our Sunday, November 22nd – RE classes congregation’s mission is. Sunday, November 29th – NO RE classes/Multigenerational worship (Thanksgiving weekend)
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The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
Mens Group
A meeting to form a First Parish Men’s Group was held after the service on Sunday. Ideas were exchanged on the kinds of activities the group would like to do. Some of the ideas were: • A Fishing Tournament • A Forum on Men’s Health Issues • Father/Son/ Daughter Bowling • Red Sox/Celtics/Bruins Game • Service Project Our first event will be a men’s breakfast a the church on December 13th at 8 am. All the men in the church are invited to attend and bring a friend. In Lieu of a Birthday Present.... As we wind down our celebration of our 375th "birthday", we would like to ask our families to consider making a gift to the Food Pantry in honor of our church. On November 15th, we would like to co"ect as many supplies and/or cash donations for the Food Pantry as we can at our service. The 375th Anniversary Committee wi" deliver them to the Pantry. November is the month our congregation works at the pantry, and the supplies are very low. This would be a great "present" in honor of our church and its history of service to the community. If you need a shopping list, these items are always in demand: canned soups, canned meats (hams, Spam, etc.), canned stews, canned pastas, paper towels & toilet paper (larger pkgs ok), personal care items (shampoos, toothpaste etc.). As always, if you would prefer to donate cash instead, it is very much welcomed. The Pantry spends their money wisely!
Thank you for a" of your support during this
very special year!
SNOWFLAKE FAIR NEWS SATURDAY DECEMBER 5 9AM – 2PM
We will be selling chances on raffle items at the Village Market in Scituate. Saturday November 14 10AM - 1PM Saturday November 28 10AM - 1PM This year’s items are Red Sox tickets donated by Rev. Stower, Leslie Kilduff is donating one of her photographs, and Mona Fornell (Barbara Leavitt’s mother) is donating an afghan. If you can volunteer to help at the raffle table, please call Yvonne Twomey - 545-5578 or MaryAnn Linker – 545-3241. Stay tuned for more news! Crafters, soup makers, bakers, wreath makers, candy makers, all helpers - your volunteer opportunity awaits! Be a part of a First Parish tradition!
Snowflake Fair Gift Baskets
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: GOURMET * DOGS * SPA* CATS * GARDENERS * TEA & COFFEE *KIDS ACTIVITY * HOLIDAY HOSTESS GIFTS Please look for a box marked "GIFT BASKETS" on the back counter of the Old Sloop Room where you can leave your goodies! Any questions, please ask Cathie McGowan or Mary McRae. Thank you!!
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The Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church Of Scituate
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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
The Infinite Goodness has such wide arms that it takes whatever turns to it.
Something to think about.......
THE NEWSLETTER OF THE FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST CHURCH OF SCITUATE
~ Dante