The Spire. October 4, Sunday Services 10 a.m. Report from General Assembly Multimedia Presentation in the Parish Hall

Transcription

1 October 4, 2006 The Spire The Newsletter of the First Parish Church of Norwell, Massachusetts October 4, 2006 Vol. V Issue 3 Sunday Services 10 a.m. October 8 Rev. Carol Karlson, guest minister This morning, we welcome back the Rev. Carol Karlson, former student minister here at First Parish. Ushers: Joanne Howard & Jim Pickel Pulpit Arrangement: Sue Robinson Chalice Lighter: open Coffee Hour: Mary Lou and Bob Sutter & Diane Koury October 15: General Assembly Delegates Report from General Assembly Multimedia Presentation in the Parish Hall People go to GA for the business meetings, the workshops and lectures, the inspiration and one more thing, for the people; the shared experience; the relationships with other religious liberals. The worship, the workshops, the witness, and the spirit of this GA will be shared with you, by the Denominational Affairs Committee on GA Sunday, October 15 th. This year we plan to take you there via multi media. This service will be held in the Parish Hall. So note your calendars, and come to St. Louis with us on October 15 th! Ushers: Jim Pickel and Chris Silva Pulpit Arrangement: Netta and Paul Vercollone Chalice Lighter: open Coffee Hour: Jackie Magazu October 22: Rev. Victoria Weinstein Rev. Weinstein begins a sermon series on the Ten Commandments. Ushers: Peg and Chris Kitchenham Pulpit Arrangement: Peg and Chris Kitchenham Chalice Lighter: open Coffee Hour: Les and Marlon Taylor & Carrie Brandon FIRST PARISH CHURCH of Norwell, Massachusetts 24 River Street, P.O. Box 152 Norwell, MA Office Hours: 9 Noon, M&F 9 1, T,W, Th PHONE: FAX: E MAIL: office@firstparishnorwell.org HOME PAGE: Minister: Rev. Victoria Weinstein In an emergency, call the Parsonage: Director of Religious Education: Stuart Twite, Director of Youth Programming Jennifer Anderson Music Director: Gingy Grimes Parish Committee: Chris Silva, Chair (Home) Committee Members: David Dube, John Meddaugh, Jim Pickel, Cathy Phillips, Sally Turner and Derek Sulc Treasurer: Marta Reese Collector: Jeannette Mitchell Minister Emeritus: Richard M. Fewkes The deadline for the next issue of THE SPIRE is Sunday, October 15, Submissions may be ed as an attachment to: office@firstparishnorwell.org, or dropped off in hard copy or disk at the church office.

2 In the Spirit Rev. Victoria Weinstein My mother Shirley is a living testament to the fact that it s never too late to pursue a dream. She has a wonderful singing voice, and appeared in musicals frequently in her youth. She and my father met, in fact, when doing a production of Guys and Dolls together. After she had children, Mom stopped singing and performing, choosing instead to support me in my theatrical endeavors through my childhood, teen and college years, and all the way up through my adulthood until my work in ministry made it impossible for me to keep up a regular schedule of performing. She has always been amazingly supportive without ever being a dreaded stage mother type. About ten years ago, Shirley started auditioning for, and getting cast in, musicals and singing groups. Since then she has done cabaret, local theatre, singing camp, entertaining folks in nursing homes, and was even a contestant in the Senior Ms. New York pageant! It has been an unbelievable joy to see my beloved mother get some of the affirmation and attention that I feel has been due her for many decades, and to see her have so much fun with her talent. I know that I will be bursting with pride as I sit in the audience at Danny s Piano Bar in New York City this coming Sunday afternoon and see her perform her own one woman cabaret, Too Marvelous For Words: The Magic of Johnny Mercer. She has asked me to sing one of Mr. Mercer s songs, and I m sure you can guess which one it is, You ve got to acc en tuate the positive, elim inate the negative, latch onto the affirmative don t mess with Mister In Between. What is it that you have been secretly wishing to do your whole life but never thought you could accomplish it? What s stopping you from attempting it? Remember the words of the brilliant dancer and choreographer Martha Graham: There is a vitality, a life force, an energy, a quickening that is translated through you into action and because there is only one of you in all of time, this expression is unique. And if you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and be lost. And what a loss that would be. I wish you the courage of imagination beyond the limits of your own vision. I wish it for us as individuals, as a church, as a community, as a nation, as a human race. In faith, hope and love, Vicki

3 The Spire October 4, 2006 Caring Corner Church friends and members are invited to attend a special conversation facilitated by aftercare specialist Rev. Deborah Pope Lance on October 22 from 4 6 pm in the. We will review the basic, public information about Richard Buell s recent court case for the benefit of those who would like to be informed. Rev. Weinstein will briefly identify some of the pastoral and theological issues that have arisen within the congregation as a result of the case, and Rev. Pope Lance will provide perspective on how such events within a community may affect a congregational system. We will have a time for questions and for sharing. Please let Rev. Weinstein know if you plan to attend. Friends of Pauline Colbert wishing to make contributions to First Parish may choose to do so by requesting that their gifts be applied to The Organ Restoration Fund in her memory. Members of Paulineʹs family are in agreement that this would be an appropriate way to remember her and to show our appreciation of her many years of devoted service to the Church. Please hold Cindy Gallo Casey in your thoughts and prayers. Cindy s mother, Marjorie, is in the hospital with a variety of serious ailments. We are so glad to welcome home our entire contingent of Transylvanian travelers, and look forward to seeing their photographs and videotapes. We keep Ed Mosher in our thoughts and prayers as he heads to Beth Israel Hospital on October 4 for surgery. Get well soon, Ed. Our healing thoughts go to Jean Christensen, who is recovering from surgery at Mass General Hospital. Richard Buell is able to receive mail at MCI Concord. Please let Rev. Weinstein know if you would like his address. Church Council Save the Date! This year s Church Council meeting will be held Wed., November 1 st in the Parish Hall. Social time will begin at 6:30 p.m., dinner at 7, and the meeting will begin promptly at 7:30 and end at 9 p.m. All Committee Chairs, Staff and Parish Committee members are included in this very important evening. Details will be mailed next week. Please RSVP to the office as soon as possible. Alliance News Please join Alliance members for our October book review on Wednesday, October 18 th, at the home of Vivian Perry, 6 Trellis Circle, Pembroke. We are looking forward to having Stuart Twite as our book reviewer. The program starts at 10 a.m. and will be hostessed by Pearl Jayko and Marguerite Pierce. See you there! Be reminded that dues of $10 are due. Bring to any meeting or mail to Marguerite Pierce, 72 Old Meeting House Lane, Norwell. Singing Party Gingy Grimes, our Music Director, is inviting children and youth of all ages, who enjoy singing, to join her for a Singing Party. She will meet with the children right after Sunday School, in the beginning Sunday, November 5. Yummy refreshments will be provided. So if your children love to sing, eat, and laugh, come join Gingy for a fun musical experience. They will even have the opportunity to sing at a couple of special church services. Parents of younger children are welcome.

4 The Spire October 4, 2006 June in St. Louis, Mo! That is where Rev. Vicki, Walter LeFlore and your delegates and alternates (Jackie Magazu, Chris Silva, Mary Mercier, Joyce and Jim Pickel, Jean Christensen) attended this year s General Assembly of Unitarian Universalist Congregations. For those of you who are not very familiar with GA, here s a little background. The Unitarian Universalist Association is a faith community of more than 1000 self governing congregations that bring to the world a vision of religious freedom, tolerance and social justice. Since the 1961 merger of the American Unitarian Association and the Universalist Church of America to form the Unitarian Universalist Association, church members and clergy meet each year in a General Assembly of Congregations, to conduct the official business of the Association. Over the past forty five years, GA has grown into a robust conference of worship, workshops, social action, networking, and a national celebration of spiritual community, for the thousands who attend. For your delegates, GA involves meetings. The UUA s official positions are created through a bottom up democratic process in which delegates from member congregations introduce and vote on measures at the Assembly. At this year s Business and Plenary Sessions, over 2000 congregational delegates amended UUA Bylaws, approved budget, and voted a public witness agenda that will affect the future direction of the Association, including a formal Statement of Conscience on the Threat of Global Warming. Each GA also has a positive impact on the local community hosting the assembly. At the Sunday morning worship service, $32,000 was donated to benefit Lift for Life Gym, a St. Louis organization offering after school fitness and educational programs for disadvantaged youth. People go to GA for the business meetings, the workshops and lectures, the inspiration and one more thing, for the people; the shared experience; the relationships with other religious liberals. The worship, the workshops, the witness, and the spirit of this GA will be shared with you, by the Denominational Affairs Committee on GA Sunday, October 15 th. This year we plan to take you there via multimedia. This service will be held in the Parish Hall. So note your calendars, and come to St. Louis with us on October 15 th! Sign up at Coffee Hour to help with Sunday Services Light the Chalice, help with Coffee Hour, Usher or bring flowers We Need You! HARVEST FAIR BAKE TABLE NEEDS BAKERS!! Without Church bakers donating food we ll have little to sell. So, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE Warm up your ovens and whip up a batch. We need pies, bars, cookies, cakes, candy fudge, baked beans, casseroles, breads If it s homemade it will sell. Thank you all!!!!

5 The Spire October 4, 2006 Who Drew the Farmerette? Let her lead you to The Harvest Fair, October 21 Every since I can remember, we have used the little farmerette holding a pumpkin to advertise the Harvest Fair. So I called Eleanor Gaudette to try to find her history. She thinks it might have been Peg McMullen who designed it. Does anyone know for sure? It has been at least thirty years, probably more. She stands for old fashioned, tried and true which the Harvest Fair is, but we want it to grow and be new also. We need you and your new ideas, so share them with us and come help. We also need your quality and clean, pre owned treasures. So clean your closets and basement, garage and children s rooms. Gather up your valuables and bring the toys, books/cds and household items to the church the week before. We are still looking for a volunteer to help with publicity. Call Peg Kitchenham, All of the tables can use help! We need you to bake, make handcrafts, collect dried items, corn stalks, potted plants, and fresh flowers that you have in your garden. Let Margy Miola know what you can bring. See Deanna Riley for ideas on Gift Baskets you could make. Thank you to Mary Nickerson and Patti Waters for chairing the Toy Table upstairs. They will need help. Call them at As September drifts into October, and the pumpkins ripen on the vine, don t miss this special all church activity, and important fundraiser, Saturday, October 21 from 9:00 to 3:00. Plan to support the Snack Bar by eating with us. We need you to come and shop and we promise a wonderful, joyous day, the kind of which memories are made! What is Heifer International? Heifer is an organization which supplies animals and training to needy people all over the globe. What is the First Parish Heifer Gift Ark Fundraising Project? This all church, all year fundraiser will attempt to raise $5,000 for Heifer International. We also want to raise consciousness about poverty, hunger, sustainable farming, etc. What do we get for our $5,000? We will enable Heifer to supply an ark full of animals (two of many types of animals and 2 flocks of several types of fowl) and training to individuals all over the world. What is the Super Heifer Committee? It is the organizing committee for this fund raiser, so named by Stuart Twite because it is composed of one member from many of the church committees plus interested parishioners. Please join us! What are the Heifer calendars and banks? The month long calendar has a short topic of the day which we are asking you to discuss as a family at a certain time each day for ex. at dinnertime. The small cardboard banks are for coins you wish to deposit for the Ark Project. These are given out to families, individuals and couples at the church. Check out the Heifer Gift Ark bulletin board in the Parish Hall! Call Bev Gardner, chair, ( ) to volunteer or if you have questions about Heifer.

6 The Spire October 4, 2006 SERVICE COMMITTEE to minister to each others needs and to those of humanity Service Committee Update September Outreach Kadacs, Partner Church Thanks to your warm generosity at our first Second Sunday collection, $1300 was added to $1000 donated last year and was transported (in cash!) to Kadacs. $600 was given to the minister to supplement her salary. The balance was given to the general funds to be used for continued improvements to the Parish House (parsonage) including new storm windows and kitchen door. October Outreach Heifer International Ark The Service Committee would like to encourage support of our all church Ark project by having our October Second Sunday collection go toward the group goal. We encourage all families (with or without children!) to complete the Ark calendar and fill your bank see Stuart at the RE table if you need one. Our special collection next Sunday will be an incentive to work throughout the year to build and fill our Ark! Next Meeting of the Service Committee Service Committee will meet Sunday, October 8 th, at 11:30 in the. We always welcome new faces to just visit or to consider joining our vital outreach on behalf of the church. Pilgrims Return from Romania Transylvania Kadacs The seven of us who spent eleven days immersed in the history and culture of our partner church will have many varied impressions of our travels. We will, however, have many common denominators the incredible hospitality of the people, the shared experience of connecting with fellow Unitarians, and a renewed commitment, as your representatives, to the community of Kadacs. Our village suffered tremendous loss of bridges, roads, homes, and community buildings in the flash flood one year ago. Yet what we saw was a community rebuilding itself, thanks in part to our financial aid houses being renovated, a new community center almost complete (it will be dedicated this Saturday), and roads repaired. The most exciting news for Kadacs is the new, vibrant, young minister and her family. It was obvious, just a month into her ministry, that she is connecting to the community and reaching out to their hearts and souls. Even in Hungarian, without translation, we could sense the passion of her sermon and the warmth of her personality. Our communion with them last Sunday will remain a highlight for all of us, particularly as our First Parish Cushing chalice given more than a decade ago was used to serve the wine. Our group hopes to offer an evening of Hungarian/Transylvanian food and a visual presentation about the trip in the near future. In the meantime, ask any of us about our experience we d love to see YOU make the next trip! Sue and Dexter Robinson, Betsey and Bob Detwiler, Mary Mercier, Sally Turner and Peg Carpenter

7 The Spire October 4, 2006 GIFT BASKETS for the HARVEST FAIR! Itʹs been 4 years since Deanna Riley had the idea to do, with your help, gift baskets for the Harvest Fair. This has become the table many people look for, knowing that they will get a wonderful reasonably priced theme basket to give as a gift. WE provide the basket, and YOU provide the creativity and the items for the basket. Weʹve noticed through the years that people are looking for SMALLER BASKETS IN THE $15 35 RANGE, so we encourage you to keep this in mind if you choose to do a basket. Also, people have asked for BASKETS FOR CHILDREN. Look out for summer sales a great way to stock a basket! WORKING TOGETHER FOR UU GROWTHʺ Saturday, October 21, :00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Coffee, donuts and lunch provided Registration is required Deb Weiner, the UUA Director of Electronic Communications, will be the workshop leader for this program held at the Barnstable UU church. The workshop will focus on how we can help congregations with joint advertising and publicity, website development, and how congregations can attract newcomers to share the enthusiasm we have for our faith and convince new people to join and actively participate. There will be time for networking. Deb Weiner has many years of experience in public relations, marketing, communications and membership development at the UUA. If you have an interest in growth and membership development at First Parish, plan to join Dexter Robinson and Jackie Magazu for this trip to the Cape. October at The James James Library & Center for the Arts In the James Art Gallery Opening on Friday, October 6, 6 8 p.m. Opening reception for Abington oil painter Diane Panarelli Miller. On exhibit through October 31. Jazz Concert Back by popular demand! The Marshall Wood Jazz Trio with special guest vocalist Donna Byrne. Last year this concert was a sell out. The James recital hall will swing with great music on Saturday, October 14 at Tickets $20 adult/$18 senior/$10 adult available in advance and at the door space permitting. Complimentary Tickets available Complimentary tickets to all James events are available at two Norwell locations: For Norwell seniors at the Council on Aging (thanks to a gift from the Priscilla Merritt Spradlin Memorial Fund) and at the Norwell Public Library. Visit or for the full schedule of events, photos, and more. Registered E Bay Dealer Sought We are looking for someone from the church who is registered on e bay as a dealer and who could handle an occasional sale for us. Once in a while we get donations (a jaccuzi, an antique book, or an oriental rug for example) which needs a broader market than we are able to provide through the Church Fair or Auction. If you might be interested in helping us out, give a call to Joanne Howard or Peg Kitchenham,

8 Religious Education at First Parish From the DRE: Our church school year is off to a great start. A four week curriculum created by Heifer International has started our children off with enthusiasm. Each class has taken the identity of an animal needed by Heifer and are planning activities around them. We encourage ALL of the wonderful parishioners at First Parish to GET INVOLVED in this year s all-church service project. Watch for news and consider joining the SUPER HEIFER COMMITTEE. Bev Garner, the chair of the SUPER HEIFERS, has done a staggering amount of work on this project, so next time you see her, say thanks and ask how you can help. In addition, our adult learning program is off and running. Melody Barlow, the chair of the Adult Learning Committee has been working hard to create a series of old and new programs that will appeal to all. If you have never come to a program before, make a resolution to do so. Child care is available upon request and we would love to see you and hear your point of view. Our upcoming programs are described in this Spire. Many blessings, stuart A Panorama of Life The First Parish Bible Study discusses: Paul: the First Liberal Christian? We begin the year with: Paul s Letter to the Philippians Written during one of his imprisonments, Philippians is one of Paul s most engaging letters and is a perfect introduction to several important themes. Join us on Sunday Morning, October 15 th at 9:00am in the Fogg Parlor. If you need a Bible or have any questions, please contact stuart twite at: Home: Church: DREStuart@aol.com The First Parish Book Group Discusses: The Dante Club (note the book change) By Matthew Pearl

9 This entertaining and fascinating mystery novel is set in mid 19 th Century Boston and centers on the group of scholars and poets (including Longfellow, Holmes, and Lowell) who produced the first translation of Dante s inferno. Wednesday Evening, Oct. 11 th at 7:00pm in the second Sunday conversation Refreshments will be served Our second Sunday conversation is held the second Sunday of each month. This year s theme will be: Religion in the News Our topic for conversation in October will be: Should religion have any place in the public square? If so what? Can and should that place be limited? Sunday, October 8 th Parlor. at 9:00am in the Fogg Refreshments will be provided Religion and Science Presented by: Jim Pickel & Bernie Gardner (and guests) A series of four interactive discussions on the centuries-old clash between Religion and Science, this program will include presentations on the latest information on the four topics listed below followed by discussions about their political, religious, and moral implications. Topics: A History of Religion and Science Cosmology Earth Science and Global Warming DNA and Stem Cell Research Humans Playing God? Tuesday evenings, October 3 rd, 10 th, 31 st, and November 28 th at 7:30 pm

10 October Sunday Monday Tuesday Wednesday Thursday Friday Saturday Second Sunday Morning Service Church School Youth Group Babycare 10 AM Coffee Hour 11 AM Service Committee 11:30 a.m. 15 SSHAGLY 7-9 p.m. Survivors Group AA, Parish Hall 8:30 p.m 16 Adult Learning: Religion and Science Led by Bernie Gardner and Jim Pickel Choir Rehearsal Ballroom Dancers Parish Hall 20 Family Birthday Party All-Parish Pot Luck Dinner and Birthday Party! Parish Hall 21 5:30 9 p.m. Morning Service Church School Youth Group Babycare 10 AM Coffee Hour 11 AM SPECIAL PARISH MEETING IN THE MEETINGHOUSE 11:30 A.M. SSHAGLY 7-9 p.m. AA, Parish Hall 8:30 p.m Parish Committee 7:00 p.m South Scituate Fund Comm. Church Office Alliance Book Review at the home of Vivian Perry 10 a.m. Choir Rehearsal NO BALLROOM DANCERS HARVEST FAIR! 9-3 Showing of An Inconvenient Truth in Parish Hall 6 p.m. followed by reception and discussion ALL WEEK SET-UP FOR HARVEST FAIR IN THE PARISH HALL/FOGG PARLOR Morning Service Church School Youth Group Babycare 10 AM Coffee Hour 11 AM SSHAGLY 7-9 p.m. Survivors Group AA, Parish Hall 8:30 p.m Caregivers Group Preschool Board Meeting in the Parish Hall 7:30 10 P.M. Showing of An Inconvenient Truth in Parish Hall 10 a.m. followed by reception and discussion Choir Rehearsal Ballroom Dancers Parish Hall BALLOU CHANNING DISTRICT MEETING in Barnstable, MA 29 Morning Service Church School Youth Group Babycare 10 AM Coffee Hour 11 AM 30 SSHAGLY 7-9 p.m. AA, Parish Hall 8:30 p.m 31 Adult Learning: Religion and Science Led by Bernie Gardner and Jim Pickel

11 If you no longer wish to receive this newsletter, check here and drop in the mail. No postage is required. NON-PROFIT ORG. STANDARD MAIL FIRST PARISH UNITARIAN 24 River Street P.O. Box 152 Norwell, Massachusetts U.S. POSTAGE PAID NORWELL, MA PERMIT NO. 2 THE SPIRE TIME RELATED MATERIAL ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED WARRANT FOR SPECIAL PARISH MEETING The members of First Parish of Norwell are hereby notified of a Special Parish Meeting to be held Sunday, October 15, 2006, at 11:30 a.m., in the Meeting House, to hear and act upon the following articles: ARTICLE I: To act upon the acceptance of new members. ARTICLE II: To hear and act upon the financial reports of committees for the year ending June 30, 2006 (July 1, June 30, 2006). September 30, 2006 Norwell, Massachusetts N. Dexter Robinson Parish Clerk Come, one and all, to the All-Church Pot Luck Dinner and Birthday Party! Saturday, October 14 th 5:30-9 p.m. sponsored by the Activities Committee more details inside