THE FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBOROUGH

Transcription

1 THE FIRST UNITARIAN UNIVERSALIST SOCIETY OF MIDDLEBOROUGH 25 South Main Street, Middleborough, MA October, 2018 The theme for the month is Practice of Faith. Sunday, October 7, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Sarah Person preaching Connections Today we celebrate World Communion Sunday with cranberry juice and cornbread. Our service is grounded in the meaning of communion an act of sharing that invokes the promise of community. What are our spiritual obligations to one another in the world today? The very word religion comes from the word religio meaning binding to one another. We take nourishment from our experiences with one another, and we give back. Join us for an uplifting ritual and affirmation of the ways in which we are all a part of the whole. The Chalice Choir will be singing. Sunday, October 14, at 10:30 a.m. Della Hughes preaching Living on and with the Earth in a Fractured World We are on the earth and of the earth - our lives and our planet are fundamentally intertwined. Join me in reflections on the connective tissue between us and the earth and how that relationship nurtures us, informs us, challenges us, moves us - and how it calls us to embrace stewardship and interdependence in a fractured world. Lore Loftfield De Bower will be our guest organist/pianist. Special music will be provided by Jon Keene and Joshua McKiernan. Della M. Hughes is a Senior Fellow at the Center for Youth and Communities, Heller School for Social Policy and Management at Brandeis University. Her life's work is dedicated to ensuring all youth graduate high school prepared for post-secondary education and/or a career in the 21 st century labor market and as contributors to their communities. She is a graduate of Vanderbilt University Divinity School and the University of Tennessee School of Social Work. She has a beautiful 17-year-old daughter, Ali, and is a member of the First Parish Sudbury Unitarian Universalist. Sunday, October 21, at 10:30 a.m. Rev. Sarah Person preaching Road to Revelation Explore with us the nature of transformation that moment when we realize that our view of the world and ourselves in it is changed forever. Using the story of the Apostle Paul, we will examine the impact of national and global events that challenge the culture and values in which we were raised and in which we live. The Chalice Choir will be singing. Sunday, October 28, at 10:30 a.m. Vi Fairweather preaching Actualizing Our Potential Samhain is a time when spiritual activity is thought to be at its height. It seems a good time then to consider the question, What will it take to realize my full potential and craft a very meaningful life? Emily Esfahani Smith offers four tools to help us. This morning, with her, we will examine BELONGING, PURPOSE, STORYTELLING and TRANSCENDENCE to see in what ways they might support our evolving growth. Special music will be provided by Edward Kidd on marimba. Viola Fairweather first came to this church in 1969 when she came to Middleboro to teach. Over the years she has been on most committees. She was on staff as an RE Director and led many workshops and groups, including one on Death and Dying. She has done the Hospice Training, worked with dying patients and studied with Bernie Siegel. She is currently co-leading the course, Building Your Own Theology. Minister s Meditation Welcome back to our church community! And welcome Kelly Lownds, a longtime member who will be our Acting Director of Religious Exploration. This month, this year, I will be examining ways in which we can nurture our souls and sustain our work in the world. My thoughts this season turn to bounty, about giving and receiving the blessings of relationship. This is one of the ways in which faith becomes a living, breathing aspect of existence. I invite you to take all the opportunities we offer to go deeper into your own faith formation and into fellowship with one another. I also encourage you to invite family, friends and co-workers to join us on a Sunday morning. The first church I joined as an adult, I did so because my neighbor asked me to go with her for Bring a Friend to Church Sunday. I stayed because of the warmth and interest I encountered as well as the challenging sermons. It kept me going during the week when I faced other struggles. It balanced me. I d wish the same for you and yours. Blessings, Rev. Sarah

2 This award was presented by Linda Thompson at the worship service on June 17, ELSIE GAUDETTE AWARD 2018 In this church, we have an award given to commemorate an unsung hero. It was originated in 1991 to recognize and thank Elsie for her efforts in keeping this church alive and thriving. If you did not know her or hear about her, I m sorry...but you can ask around to get the facts from some of us older members. Elsie was an amazing person who was a transformative lady for F.U.U.S.M. This award has since been presented to others who have given selflessly, faithfully and constantly in service to the lifeblood of this Society over many years. The 15 people on this plaque have been recognized for their service to this UU community. One person said it s for people who can t say No, but that s not it. These people see what needs to be done, and they do it, with no thought of credit, or recognition. This year we will reward another member for unsung service in the mold that Elsie exemplified. It will be difficult to list accomplishments and contributions for today s recipient and keep the identity much of a secret because the service and experiences are unique. We honor a daughter, a wife, a mother, a leader, a teacher, a lifelong learner, a counselor, a writer, a great cook, an organizer, a social justice crusader, and a singer. All those people are one, and I probably missed a few. None of those jobs is more important than another. They all are, each in its turn. Knowing when each is needed is the trick. She is a lady in the best sense of the word, softspoken, sincere, polite and impressive. She could host an afternoon tea party with complete aplomb and assurance. That tea party might be part of a social justice cause, climate change, women s rights, prisoner reform, community outreach, or the UU s I Love My Church campaign. She has contributed her skills to leading the Worship Committee, interviewing for the I Love My Church efforts, collating and writing the Mission Statement, congregation description pamphlet, and working on our last very successful Minister s Search Committee. She is a gifted singer, always prepared, singing in the choir, ensembles, and participating in our musical shows. She encourages others to sing and makes everyone feel comfortable singing when they are unsure. These symbols of all the world faiths were made possible because she had our residence artist, Betsy McGrath Ehlers, create them in her inimitable style. This lady has an extraordinary gift of organization, and accomplishments that have come from her efforts in state and national organization. She works on social change, social justice, and gets others involved in the effort. When she has a subject to research and expand upon, she will work tirelessly to get it right and do a thorough job. She actually has a job, too! If you receive the UU World magazine, open it, and look for her byline, and read her articles. She has a wonderful writing style, informative, and easy to comprehend. Being a mother, she has raised 2 intelligent accomplished young women. Her husband helped, of course. She has also worked with our church youth, listening and counseling as a youth mentor. She has so many gifts and talents, we are very lucky she found us, because we have benefited greatly. This year s Elsie Gaudette Award is being given for her selfless service. She is Kimberly French.

3 UU Middleboro is well known for our Chalice Choir. For starters, the choir is disciplined, sounds mostly great, and is very good looking! Thirteen current choir members were in the choir ten years ago I call them the super stalwarts, and I am so appreciative of the continuity and dedicated base of support from these long-time choristers. Many of our newer members came to us carrying considerable choral and solo experience, looking for something a notch up from your typical church choir. We try to deliver! So much goes into building a choral sound: matching pitch and vowel sounds, using breath control, paying attention to the precision of consonants, shaping vocal lines, team work and team spirit. When we all show up, we are BIG. About one-third of the congregation sitting in the pews comes forward to sing musical offerings for worship services. Not all music is accessible to all people, for singing or for listening. How do we create a choir that meets everyone s needs? The answer is: We don t, and we can t. What we can do is work to provide a choral experience that meets most of the needs of most of the people, most of the time. We start with a wide variety of music and rehearsals that are paced for the middle, throwing ample perks left & right, up & down. We have homework recordings for those singers who learn aurally, and we work hard to help one another create something that none of us can create alone. Every voice in the choir is integral to the sound of that choir on that day at that moment. This is what performance art is all about. But rather than perfection or performance, our music is presented in the spirit of love and sharing, as a musical offering in the larger worship experience. Susan Hotchkiss, Director of Music SAVE THE DATE! Sunday, November 4, at 2:00 RAISING THE RAFTERS PART V Our Fall Concert this year will be on November 4, the fifth and final concert celebrating the renovation in 2014 of our circa 1890 Woodberry & Harris Tracker Organ. Our guest organist will be Permelia Sears from Dunstable, MA, who specializes in playing historical 19th century American tracker organs. The Chalice Choir will be singing, as well as congregational singing, and a fabulous solo by our Nancy Kidd on double bass. This will be a FREE concert, open to all. Let s pack the place and raise the rafters! JOIN ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT VOLUNTEER EFFORTS AT OUR CHURCH! On Sunday mornings, have you enjoyed a coffee or a tea at coffee hour and the chance to say hello to others following a service? Do you like the idea that we offer a coffee hour fellowship hour to give people a chance to mingle, talk about the sermon, catch up with longtime friends and meet our visitors? The Hospitality Committee has streamlined the process of coffee hour - even the coffee pots are all set up - you just have to plug them in. Supplies are provided or will be reimbursed. Please say yes when you are asked to host coffee hour. If all our families serve one or two weeks a year, we will be able to provide coffee hour every Sunday. To sign up, see the clipboard under the bulletin board in the Parish Hall, or Val at office@uumiddleboro.org.

4 RELIGIOUS Religious Exploration at UU Middleboro I m very excited to be coming on as the Acting DRE. There are some very big shoes to fill, and I am hoping I can help in the transition for the church. I have a background through my undergraduate degree in education, I have my Masters in Education, and I have been teaching in the church Sunday school since 1995! It has always been a strong interest for me to work as a DRE for the church, and I m grateful that the timing has finally worked out. I look forward to working with Rev. Sarah, the RE Committee, and the children and families in the church to provide a consistent, nurturing environment for learning and growth in our RE program. Thank you all. Kelly Lownds We ve successfully launched this year s program, The Quest for the Six Sources, with a look at our 4 th source, Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves. We ve covered the story of Abraham and his covenant with God, and we ve drawn up our own covenant, which will guide how we treat each other during our time together. Everyone has their own Questing Bag, Questing Journal and Moral Compass to take with them on this journey. The Moral Compass will help guide our decision making by asking us 7 questions: Are we respecting everyone? Are we being compassionate? Are we accepting that we re all different? Are we looking for new truths? Are we listening to others? Will our actions create more peace in the world? And how will our decisions affect the earth and all the plants and animals that we share the earth with? We ll be learning about the Prophets of the Hebrew Bible and through the story of Elijah think about how we can hear our own small, still voice within us to help guide us in our lives. Next, we ll start exploring the teachings of Jesus with the theme of embracing the stranger. Jesus was a master at accepting all people, whatever their social standing, sins or beliefs; and we have much that we can learn from his example. We need four volunteers for each Sunday morning program. If you fancy spending some quality time with the children and youth in our program: guiding them on their quests, helping them with art projects, and exploring the answers to questions together, then please consider signing up at the following link: Juliet Donaldson

5 CUUPS Mondays, October 1 & 29, at 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall On October 1 Niko Tarini will do a workshop on the foods of Halloween (Samhain). He will help us explore the many traditional foods of the holiday from Ireland to Mexico, savoring all the wonderful tastes that make the holiday special. On October 29 we will be celebrating SAMHAIN...the most sacred Sabbat for pagans. It is the final harvest of the year; it is the day we remember those who have past on; it is also the Pagan New Year. We show appreciation for what our ancestors have given us, and we honor our connection to the past and look to the future. As is our custom on Sabbats, we will have a potluck dinner to give thanks for the fruits of Mother Earth at this last harvest. All are welcome. HEALING CIRCLE Monday, October 8 7:00 8:30 p.m. in the Parish Hall We live in challenging times and are often busier than we wish to be. We are pressured and start to worry beginning at an early age. As we get older, juggling careers, families, and maybe even the needs of older parents adds more stress. We are concerned as to whether we have enough resources to see us through to the end of life. The media keeps us in a constant state of fear and anxiety. Although we feel powerless to change the current American atmosphere, we can learn to slow down and give ourselves a much-needed time out. To that end, the Healing Circle is offered as a way to take a step back from the chaos of life and do something just for ourselves. It is an invitation to take some time to retreat, relax and just "be." The Healing Circle is a safe and sacred space. Following a brief guided meditation to relax and center, practitioners will offer healing in a variety of modalities including Reiki, Healing Touch, and Shamanic Healing. This can be either hands on or off and is done in a way that respects personal boundaries. Recipients are also invited to place intentions and prayers for loved ones in the Healing Basket. The Healing Circle will be offered the second Monday of each month. The Circle is offered by donation in the Spirit of Love. MEMORIAL GARDEN MEETING Sunday, October 14, at 11:45 a.m., in the Sanctuary Anyone who is interested in helping out with our Memorial Garden is invited to attend this meeting. If you would like more information, contact Mike Schroeder at mwschroeder@verizon.net. We look forward to seeing you there!

6 DRUMMING CIRCLE Saturday, October 20 6:00 8:00 p.m. at Pam Rasa s Home The Drumming Circle is for anyone ages 15 and up who would like to attend. This is an indoor/outdoor event depending on the weather. Please bring your slippers with you. And bring a rattle or a drum or both if you have them, but there are extras for you to use as well. A main course will be provided, and finger foods are welcome. A $5 donation is requested. RSVP to Pam Rasa. NOVEMBER NEWSLETTER DEADLINE Sunday, October 21 The deadline for submitting your articles for the November Newsletter is Sunday, October 21. You may send your information to office@uumiddleboro.org. Thank you. SOULFUL SANCTUARY Friday, October 26 6:00 p.m. 8:30 p.m. in the Sanctuary October Finale Friday is scheduled for October 26 starting with a light supper at 6:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall. Dinner will be followed with Soulful Sanctuary, and we join Barry and Patty Simon and friends upstairs for "Embracing Autumn with Celebration and Reflection." The hour will be filled with music, poetry, and readings. The evening is designed to feed your body, soul and spirit, a chance to relax with friends and participate in music making and to sit back and ponder our transition from summer into fall. Barry and Patty welcome all to be involved in creating this evening as music makers or readers. Let them know if you are interested. WORDS MATTER: CONVERSATIONS ABOUT RACE Hosted by Carleen Loper, Sandy Smiley & Rev. Sarah Person Thursdays: October 25, November 15, November 29, December 6, December 13 5:30 to 7:00 p.m. in the Parish Hall If you have been looking for a good place to explore the complexity of race and society, please join us for five sessions of in-depth, guided conversation. In these times, it is as important as ever that we educate ourselves and understand how we might play a role in both the problems and solutions. We will be reading selections from books, watching videos related to the topic, and sharing our own served. experiences. Light refreshments will be

7 THE COMMANDMENTS A few people found meaningful the list of Ten Commandments that I wrote for my own use during one of the last sessions of the course Building Your Own Theology that I took in Florida. One of the most engaging processes for me was a homework assignment where we were invited to create our own Ten Commandments. I shared them during the summer service on August 26, reminding people throughout that they were the ideals by which I was trying to live, and they were helping me to make progress on my journey. They are being included in this Newsletter in the hope that they might encourage you to write for yourself what would be the precepts by which you are being led. So I urge you if you are not taking the Building Your Own Theology course now that you might think about it when we do the second part in the spring. The first three Commandments have to do with our relationship with the sacred, and the last seven have to do with our relationship with others. Viola Fairweather 1) Set aside time each day to be with the God of my understanding, my higher power, my Spirit of Life and Love. Be open to the experience of the Sacred within my world, especially in the beauty and majesty of the universe. 2) Have great respect for everyone I encounter. Look for the Divine within them. Don t be judgmental toward them. Realize that their differences can contribute to me because everyone s path has been different, and I must appreciate those differences. 3) Be open to finding a community of worshipers where I can walk my journey with others on a similar path who can offer me companionship and inspiration. 4) Cherish the contribution my parents made to my life at the same time as I recognize that while they did the best they could, I need to let go of the perfectionism and desire to always accommodate and please others that I took on. 5) Value all beings in the Web of Life. Out of respect and appreciation, don t cause them or myself harm. 6) Have a sense of integrity. In communicating with others, always tell the truth except when doing so would cause harm to them or another. Refrain from gossip or adding negativity, especially when I think doing so would endear me to another. 7) Have a sense of appreciation and gratitude for all that I have. Don t envy or take from another. In daily life be accepting of others just the way they are recognizing that there is enough to do in order to personally grow and change without trying to figure out what they need to do. 8) When there is a problem with something, go to the person that can do something about it. Otherwise, let it go. In communication with others, listen attentively and share only what will further the communication. 9) Be fully present in my life. Recognize that my brain will always chatter. It brings up fear, doubt and insecurity, which are valuations that must be set free. 10) Above all, evolve and empower love. Use time wisely so that there is time for your creativity and fun.

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: Meals: Rides: Cards: Caring Choir: Prayer Shawls & Blankets: Susan Curtiss Dody Adkins-Perry Marc MacQueen Chris Korben Valerie Fontaine Juli Gould MISSION STATEMENT We seek to provide a sanctuary where people can come together as a community to foster spiritual and personal growth through education and open discussion, to offer the opportunity for meditation and worship, and to serve as a liberal religious voice. In our interactions with one another, we seek to build a strong community, great with acceptance, appreciation, caring love, respect, tolerance, trust, and forgiveness; to listen to one another and resolve our conflicts peacefully; to sympathize with and show compassion to one another; to express our creativity together; and to delight in fun and friendship. As a religious community, we strive to help one another in our individual journeys to discover our spiritual selves; to find purpose, self-worth, and peace; to explore moral and ethical questions together; and to inspire, challenge, and to stimulate one another intellectually - with open-mindedness and without judgment. As individuals and in the larger community, we will speak against injustice and cruelty. We seek to model tolerance and diversity; confront the fear of difference; and thoughtfully address the many difficult problems of our world. PARISH COMMITTEE President: Bob Waterman Vice President: Barbara Bancroft Treasurer: Pam Davis Assistant Treasurer: Marc MacQueen Parish Clerk: Bill Howe Members At Large: Holly Begley Joshua McKiernan Eileen Smith Laura Stevens OUR BROADCASTS You can watch the service any time online at Our worship services are videotaped and broadcast over local cable television in Middleboro and Lakeville. SACRED HEART 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 bags and put them in the baskets located in the parlor. Thank you. WORSHIP SERVICES Everyone is welcome. Members and friends are invited to help with Coffee Hour or serve as a Greeter on a Sunday morning. Child care for the littlest children begins at 10:15 a.m. in the Nursery Room. We are handicapped accessible with an elevator serving both levels of the church. We also have hearing assistive devices and large print hymnals available.

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10 Visit to register for any of the following workshops. Claiming Our Spiritual Leadership October 13 & 27 in multiple locations. This workshop is for boards, committees, church staff, newly nominated or elected leaders, and longtime volunteers who want to tap their individual and collective power for living into the mission and purpose of their congregation. Join us on one of four dates and locations: Saturday, October 13, in Brunswick, ME; Saturday, October 13, in West Hartford, CT; Saturday, October 27, in Dedham, MA; and Saturday, October 27, in Woodstock, VT. Aren't We Welcoming Already? Saturday, November 3. A workshop for congregational leaders and teams looking to deepen their commitment to and practice of being a Welcoming Congregation. Lay Pastoral Care Training Saturday, November 10. A workshop designed for boards, committees, church staff, newly nominated or elected leaders, and longtime volunteers who want to tap their individual and collective power for living into the mission and purpose of their congregation. Healthy and Relevant Youth Ministry Saturday, November 17. A workshop designed for adults who work with youth, which could include Youth Advisors, Religious Educators, Youth Program Directors, Ministers.