THE FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBOROUGH. 25 South Main Street, Middleborough, MA September, 2015

Transcription

1 THE FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBOROUGH 25 South Main Street, Middleborough, MA September, 2015 The yearlong theme is Embracing the Stranger. Sunday, September 6, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Sarah K. Person preaching W.A.L.K. with Me We may think to Welcome, Ask, and Listen before we can really Know someone, but how rarely that happens in our lives! Maybe it s time to change that. It is fall, time for new beginnings and new ways of making friends. Join us for our Ingathering Service, a family-friendly tradition. We ll welcome you with the uniquely Unitarian Universalist ceremony of the Water Communion. You re invited to bring a small sample of water representing a place that is special to you. At the beginning of the service, we will, one-by-one, pour our water together into a large bowl. The combined water is symbolic of our shared faith coming from many different sources and experiences. We will then bless the water, and later it will be poured into our Memorial Garden by our children. In this way we honor our past as well as our present. Religious Education will start the following Sunday, September 13. Members of the Chalice Choir will be singing. COME TO THE INGATHERING BREAKFAST THIS MORNING AT 9:00! (See details inside.) Sunday, September 13, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Sarah K. Person preaching Colorblind As a progressive faith, we treasure our convictions that all people, regardless of race, wealth, gender, ability or culture, should be treated fairly and compassionately by society. Some claim we shouldn t recognize color or any other difference and that we should treat everyone the same. But that notion can limit our understanding of the poison of racism. Explore with us today how being colorblind in race relations may really mean being insensitive to color. We run the risk of being a large part of the problem of race in America if we ignore the profound impact it has on our lives and the lives of those around us. The Chalice Choir will be singing. Sunday, September 20, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Sarah K. Person preaching Check All That Apply How often we are pigeonholed, evaluated and treated by those who regard us as a category rather than a person. Join us as we learn the lessons of living by numbers while leaving our assumptions behind. Music this morning will be provided by Patty & Barry Simon (flutes and hammered dulcimer). Sunday, September 27, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Sarah K. Person preaching Allied Forces To live as we were meant to live in this complicated world, we are sometimes called upon to stand up for ourselves and others. What does being an ally mean in this day and age? Join us as we explore the deep meaning of interdependence. The Chalice Choir will be singing. Minister s Meditation It is September, and welcome home! We ve had a great summer series with church members filling our pulpit with remarkable reflections. The fall is a time of new beginnings and getting back to old traditions. We are looking ahead to a full year of worship, music, enlightenment and just plain fun! Our theme for the year is Embracing the Stranger. We ll have family-friendly services, special events, educational activities for all ages and service opportunities. And if you have children in junior or senior high school, we are especially happy to report we have a six-church collaborative, UUnited, that will offer great programming for our youth. The new Director of Youth Ministry for UUnited is our very own Greg Stevens. Greg will also be offering the Our Whole Lives program this year in collaboration with Juliet Donaldson, our Director of Religious Education. Our team with Juliet - Susan Hotchkiss, Director of Music; Valarie Ortelt, Church Administrator; and Steve Page, Sexton; is preparing for a great year ahead. Welcome home, everyone. It will be good to see you. Rev. Sarah

2 THE FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBOROUGH Phone number: The church administrative offices are located at 40 North Main Street, Middleborough. Chris s Comments Our Seventh Principle states as a covenant: Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part. The Seventh Principle is our youngest UU Principle. The Rev. Forrest Gilmore, executive Director of Shalom Community Center in Bloomington, Indiana, wrote in his book about our seven principles: Our seventh Principle, respect for the interdependent web of all existence, is a glorious statement. Yet we make a profound mistake when we limit it to merely an environmental idea. It is so much more. It is our response to the great dangers of both individualism and oppression. It is our solution to the seeming conflict between the individual and the group. Our seventh Principle may be our Unitarian Universalist way of coming to fully embrace something greater than ourselves. The interdependent web expressed as the spirit of life, the ground of all being, the oneness of all existence, the community-forming power, the process of life, the creative force, even God can help us develop that social understanding of ourselves that we and our culture so desperately need. It is a source of meaning to which we can dedicate our lives. I admit I like the thought of all the connections that a web has. I have frequently admired the beauty of a spider web. The interconnected web connects me to each of you as securely as it connects me to the earth, the trees, the water, the sky and to myself. We are interdependent - some days offering a helping hand, other days needing assistance. Many people who come to UU Middleboro do not have a personal god. I am not suggesting that you need to find one. What I do suggest is that you consider what there is in the universe, inside or outside of you, that you connect with as a power greater than yourself. Some of the powers greater than myself that I consider and connect to at various times include the ocean, the moon, the sky, the universe, gravity, Divine Intelligence, weather, horses and First UU Middleboro. For me all of those things are Love. Love is the most powerful force in the universe. Like Greg Stevens, I suggest you simply pray. Talk to it, let it know what you want and need, feel it love you. Chris Korben, President DRE JULIET DONALDSON ACHIEVES RECOGNITION FROM UUA Congratulations Juliet Donaldson! Juliet has achieved recognition from the UUA s Faith Development Office for completing 75 hours of Renaissance training. Our denomination s program for religious educators is a complex and demanding one. I am grateful for her dedication, and for your support of her professional development. Juliet s work on these educational modules will reap many benefits for us. Rev. Sarah YARD SALE A SUCCESS! Congratulations on a lot of hard work to Dave Berman and Nancy Backus and a host of volunteers. The final tally on the Yard Sale is $4, What a successful effort! Marc MacQueen

3 INGATHERING BREAKFAST Sunday, September 6, at 9:00 a.m. There will be an Ingathering Breakfast again this year on the first Sunday of the church year. You will have a choice of eggs, bacon, sausages, pancakes, fruit salad, cornbread, and the usual beverages. Food should be ready at 9:00 a.m. and will be served until 9:45 a.m. Cost for this all-you-can-eat breakfast is $6 for adults; kids eat free! So come eat, register for Church School, socialize and find out what your friends have been up to. CHURCH SCHOOL Parents will have time to register their children for Church School during the breakfast. Registration is $15 per child with a maximum of $35 per family. CUUPS On Monday September 7, at 7:00 p.m. in Parish Hall, CUUPS will be having a Pagan discussion. Come join us for a night of planning. What would you like to see happen this year in CUUPS? On Monday, September 21, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall, join us as we celebrate Mabon, the second harvest festival. INSIGHT MEDITATION Led by Tom Tanguay Beginning Friday, September 25, at 6:00 p.m. Trying to meditate? Perhaps you have been encouraged by the documented benefits of regular meditation practice, such as reduced stress, improved cognitive functioning, better emotional regulation, enhanced self knowledge and spiritual well being. However, beginning and sustaining a meditation practice on one s own can be challenging. Many find meeting regularly with other meditators encourages and supports their practice, increasing the likelihood of reaping meditation s benefits. If you are a new or experienced meditator with an interest in sharing this skillful practice with others, please join us at an introductory session on Friday, September 25, at 6:00 p.m. We welcome all with an interest in Insight Meditation and our ongoing practice group. The ongoing Insight Meditation Group will begin meeting on the first and third Fridays, October through December, from 6:00 to 7:30 p.m. There is no fee. Tom Tanguay will facilitate the group. Tom has studied and practiced for many years at the Insight Meditation Society of Barre and Cambridge, The Barre Center for Buddhist Studies, and Empty Sky Sanga. He is a member of the Institute for Meditation and Psychotherapy and Spiritual Directors International. He has conducted numerous workshops and is currently teaching Insight Meditation at Maha Yoga Center for Stress Management. A retired psychotherapist, he also offers Mindfulness Based Spiritual Direction to individuals.

4 MUSIC JAM Friday, September 25 The music jam will begin at 8:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Bring your voices, instruments or just ears. Sit in a circle and take a turn playing, singing, reading a haiku or whatever. Have fun! This event is open to the church, but please bring your friends. SALADS, MEDICINE, AND MORE Monday, September 28, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall This workshop, led by Tanya Trzeciak and Mike Schroeder, will cover common weeds that most of us have in our gardens and usually dispose of. We will show you that they make fine dining and also good medicine. Along the way, we will tell some stories not commonly known about the plants. There is a sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Any questions, contact Tanya. LAKEVILLE ARTS & MUSIC FESTIVAL Saturday, October 3 The Lakeville Arts & Music Festival is scheduled for Saturday, October 3. Middleboro UU has been a participant for several years. We sell yummy soups, chicken salad, and meatball subs as well as drinks, goodies and ECO apples. It serves as a good fundraiser for our church and a great way to be involved in the community. We need many hands to create a successful fundraiser. We need soup makers, chicken salad and meatball makers, bakers of tea breads and cookies, and others who prepare and clean up. We need people Thursday evening, October 1, and Friday afternoon/evening, October 2, to prep; and, of course, many hands the day of the event to set up, sell and clean up. If you do not cook or bake, we will accept cash donations to allow us to purchase the needed items, but we do need lots of yummy food to sell. We are hoping that you can let us know how you can help. To volunteer for work shifts and to volunteer to provide food, contact Andrea Priest. We also invite new people to be involved in the planning committee of this event to learn the ropes - contact Andrea if you are able to help. The menu is Portuguese Kale Soup and Veggie Vegetarian Soup with breads; chicken salad and artisan breads; meatball subs; pumpkin, date nut, cranberry and zucchini breads; cookies and brownies; and cold bottled water in addition to the ECO apples and bags of cranberries. Let s start the year off with a successful and fun fundraiser. Make our jobs easier by contacting Andrea today. Thank you! COMING SOON: AN INTRODUCTION TO PASSAGE MEDITATION Thursdays: October 8, 22, 29 and November 12, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall An introductory program in Passage Meditation and the 8 points, as taught by Eknath Easwaran, will be presented and facilitated by Valerie Fontaine. There will be four sessions, each an hour and a half long. Please contact Valerie if you plan to participate in this program. It will be open to the general public only if there is space.

5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION PROGRAM Introducing OWL for 7 th - 9 th Graders: Open to ALL interested families I am excited to announce that our church will be hosting our multi-church 7 th - 9 th Grade OWL Course this year. OWL stands for Our Whole Lives and is a comprehensive lifespan sexuality education program developed jointly by the UUA and UCC. It is a groundbreaking program that doesn t just teach the nuts and bolts but encompasses self-worth, sexual health, responsibility, justice and inclusivity. OWL recognizes that we are all sexual beings and that sexuality is far broader than what happens in the bedroom. Both my older children took the course when they were 7 th graders, and I was always grateful that they had that opportunity; but now having done the facilitator s course myself, I am even more appreciative of the program and what it offers our youth. With the emergence of the Internet, pornographic images are just a few clicks away; and often the first introduction many young people now get to sex is a twisted version involving aggression, subjugation, and objectification. OWL gives our youth the opportunity to be introduced to sex as a healthy, loving, natural part of people s lives. As Unitarian Universalists, we believe that our youth have the right to ask questions, receive complete and accurate information about sexuality and explore these issues in an open and safe environment. Unfortunately, many abstinence programs that youth receive give incomplete, inaccurate, and judgment based information. See this clip from Last Week Tonight for a lighthearted look at sex education in the U.S.: We believe that all youth should have the opportunity to take part in this course, regardless of church affiliation. So if you know a family with a 7 th - 9 th grader who may be interested in taking part, please let them know that this opportunity is available and ask them to contact Greg Stevens or me for more information. I m looking forward to seeing everyone again when church restarts on September 6. Meanwhile, enjoy the last few weeks of summer. Juliet Donaldson, Director of Religious Education OWL is NOT Sex Ed We are offering Our Whole Lives Grades 7-9 this year starting in October The most common misconception I hear about OWL is The kids have good Sex Education in the schools now so we don t really need OWL. OWL is much different than sex education offered in most public schools. Yes, the OWL program does go over the biology of human sexuality, but that is where most school-based programs stop. The real value of OWL is all of the areas it goes beyond traditional Sex Ed. OWL covers the emotions of human sexuality, how to deal with feelings that arise, how to make good decisions based on the four key core values of OWL, Self-Worth, Sexual Health, Responsibility, and Justice and Inclusivity. We discuss how to ask someone out on a date and how to say no, respectfully. We discuss the negative influences of our popular culture and the damage it can do to developing youth. Gender Expression, stereotypes, sexual orientation, and healthy sexual relationships are also discussed. Please attend our Parent Orientation on Sunday, September 13, at our church from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. to learn more about this program, even if you have not decided to enroll your youth. Greg Stevens, OWL Facilitator

6 The fall ingathering service is right around the corner, a time when we once again start up our music program with special music offerings every single Sunday through June 19. The Chalice Choir is a dedicated group, rehearsing on Tuesday evenings from 7:00 to 8:30 and singing for worship every other Sunday. From within that group we have vocal ensembles and soloists, and additionally we have talented instrumentalists who bring us even MORE variety of sound and style. Periodically throughout the church year, we pull together a Family Choir, which is a short-term commitment of just a couple lively rehearsals before holidays and special services. All singers from both choirs are eligible to be a part of the large bank of singers who sing in small Caring Choirs for ministry to members and friends who cannot easily come to Sunday worship. The Vocal Workshop has been moved from Saturday to Sunday, August 30, from 10:30 to noon, followed by a light lunch. This workshop is aimed at our Chalice Choir but is open to all who are interested in improving their singing. Our clinician is Murray Kidd, a fine tenor soloist whose resume includes performances with the Handel and Haydn Society, Boston Baroque, Pro Arte Chamber Orchestra, and many operatic appearances in New England, a master s degree from New England Conservatory, Music Director of Polymnia Music Society in Melrose, and Principal Conductor of the Vermont Music and Arts Center. In addition to directing our very own Middleboro High School vocal department, he currently serves as Music Director of Christ Congregational Church (UCC) in Brockton. To register for the vocal workshop, you can me at music@uumiddleboro.org or talk to me directly. There is no charge for the workshop, and a nominal charge to help defray expenses for the luncheon afterward. Registration is a must for planning purposes. And finally, mark your calendars for a Fabulous Fall Concert at our church on Sunday, October 25, at 3:00. This is a joint collaboration between the First UU Society of Middleboro and the choir at UCC Abington under the direction of our former organist Mortimer Barron. More info to follow. Sing Soon, Susan Hotchkiss, Music Director PLAQUE HONORING BUD SOULE In the early 1980s, with the support of then Minister Reverend Patt Herdklotz, the church decided to install a handicapped-access elevator. It was a huge deal at the time. The cost was about $25,000, and we raised it all from church members. The person who made it "his" project, and worked tirelessly to help us get it done, was Bud Soule. He led, urged, and supported, and helped us see the justice of making our building handicapped-accessible. We might have done it without his encouragement, but it would have taken much longer. Bud helped the church to live its beliefs in ways we had not done since we had built the church. In recognition of his achievement (one of many things he did, over many years, for many people), the Parish Committee has decided to put up a plaque recognizing Bud and the work he did to get the elevator installed. If you would like to recognize Bud, and help the church to help pay for the plaque, please write a check to the UU Church, with Bud's Plaque in the memo line. Thank you.

7 INTRODUCING: HELP WANTED AN EXPANSION OF THE SERVICE AUCTION PEOPLE HELPING PEOPLE ALL YEAR LONG At a recent calendar planning meeting for the church, a simple and insightful question was raised: The reverse auction is great, but people need help all year long. Is there some way we can make that happen? The answer is YES. So today we are introducing a HELP WANTED section for unskilled jobs. Here s how it will work. Let s say you need help moving, mowing your lawn, feeding you pets while you re away, etc. If you re willing to donate to the church to have someone provide this service, you can or call the church office and ask for the service and the amount you re willing to donate to be included in the next UU Updates. A member of the church who is interested in providing the service will contact you. We will be relying on individuals to self-select in this process and step up to provide these services. This has never been a problem in our church. Once the service is provided, you simply make the donation to the church. It would be helpful if you included the word service on the memo line of the check so that we can track the success of this program. Any questions, please contact Norm Grenier. No questions, just call or the Church Office with your job request. SAFETY HERE AT THE CHURCH In February of 2000, the Parish Committee passed comprehensive Safety Guidelines designed to keep everyone as safe as is possible in a public setting. We agreed at that time that we would publish a news article every year reminding people that the guidelines exist and mention briefly what they contain and how they work. Some key features are: We require that at least two adults are in church school classrooms. Every volunteer or professional who works with our children or youth must become an official volunteer by submitting to a CORI check. Every year all church school children are offered at least one class in Safety covering both stranger danger and personal empowerment. Adults are offered a class in Safety annually, and every adult is encouraged to take the class at least once. The guidelines include procedures that can be followed by the Safety Committee should a known sex offender desire to attend the church. Sadly, the headlines in the news over the past several years have taught us that no church can ever be a totally safe place because it is part of society at large. What we have learned, as we have studied the issue of church safety, is that our true measure of safety stems not from a policy but from our level of education on the issue and our continued willingness to talk openly with each other and our children. Our church leadership is committed to maintaining an environment that is as safe, secure and nurturing as possible. With that in mind, anyone who has not yet attended a safety class is encouraged to attend this year s class when it is offered. If you have any questions or concerns regarding our safety guidelines and practices, they may be directed to our President, Chris Korben; our Minister, Sarah Person; or our Director of Religious Education, Juliet Donaldson.

8 PARISH CARE Pastoral Care help is available to assist with meals, transportation, emergency babysitting, and hospital visits during illnesses or other family emergencies. We are a diverse, active and caring community; and we welcome your questions and your participation. You are always invited to call or visit our minister to discuss any matter of concern to you. Pastoral Care: Susan Curtiss Janet Walkden Meals: Dody Adkins-Perry Rides: Tricia Tummino Cards: Chris Korben Caring Choir: Valerie Fontaine Prayer Shawls & Blankets: Juli Gould COFFEE HOUR The new budget does not have all the funding needed for coffee and supplies for coffee hour. Cream and milk alone cost $7 - $9 per week, and the average donation collected per week is $6. Coffee alone costs more than $300 a year, and we love our coffee! How can you help? Please put money, as you can, into the donation basket at coffee hour, bring in nonperishable boxed milk, or buy gift cards to the supermarket for any amount. For the goodies, you can sign up on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall. Thank you for your support. The Hospitality Committee FOOD PANTRY Our congregation supports the Sacred Heart Food Pantry. Among items most needed are: peanut butter and jam; canned tuna, salmon and mackerel; cold cereal - bran flakes, cheerios, kix, etc; powdered milk; dry hot cereal mixes - oatmeal, farina, cream of wheat, etc; granola bars; whole wheat and graham crackers; dried fruit; boxed pasta and noodle mixes; canned beans, vegetables and fruit; ketchup; mayonnaise; vegetable oil; honey; microwavable meals; canned meats; staple meal items; and toiletries, such as shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant and baby wipes. No expired items, please. Place your donations in the baskets located in the parlor. Thank you. Evalyn Buczek PARISH COMMITTEE President: Chris Korben Vice President: Amanda Huggon-Mauretti Treasurer: Marc MacQueen Assistant Treasurer: Eileen Smith Parish Clerk: Holly Begley R.E. Liaison: J. R. Pucillo-Dunphy Members At Large: Nancy Backus David Berman Brendan Conroy Christine Hoyle FLOWERS FOR THE ALTAR Providing flowers or another kind of altar decoration for a Sunday Service is a wonderful way that we honor important life events and people we love or wish to memorialize. The donations are noted in our order of service. Full participation helps us get to know one another better as we share our memories of events and people that are important in our lives and, at the same time, it keeps our altar table looking fresh, adding a touch of beauty and interest to the week s service. Please check the sign-up sheet on the bulletin board in the Parish Hall for a time when you might like to provide flowers for the altar. Thank you CHURCH CALENDAR A draft of the online church calendar has been updated for the church year. Please check and make sure your committee/group meeting or event is posted on the calendar You can see where your group is meeting by clicking on the event. Let Valarie (office@uumiddleboro.org) know of any discrepancies. Thank you.

9

10 REGIONAL PROGRAMS OUR BROADCASTS Our worship services are videotaped and broadcast over local cable television in Middleboro on Comcast channel 95 and Verizon channel 35. Visit: Middleboro: Sunday & Monday: 10:00 a.m. Wednesday & Thursday: 4:00 p.m. Friday: 3:00 & 7:00 p.m. Saturday: 7:00 p.m. Our worship services are now broadcast over local cable television in Lakeville on Verizon channel 32. Lakeville: Sunday: 6:00 p.m. Tuesday & Thursday: 10:00 a.m. Saturday: 6:00 p.m.