TOP OF THE SQUARE JUNE, 2018 NEWSLETTER

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1 TOP OF THE SQUARE JUNE, 2018 NEWSLETTER First Parish Plymouth Unitarian Universalist National Memorial Pilgrim Church 19 Town Square, Plymouth, MA Minister Rev. Art Lavoie Meet our wonderful new Minister, Art, and his partner, Tom! Director of Religious Education Kim Caple Director of Music Sandi Hammond Director of Music Emerita Lynne Wilkinson Ben & Pandy Brewster, 88 Warren Avenue Friday, June 29 th, 5:30-8:30pm Parish Committee: President Anne-Marie Harnett Vice President Ron Clarke Please bring a dish to share Please contact Anne-Marie if you can come a little early to help set up, or stay a little afterwards to help clean up Treasurer Clerk Amy Palmer Members at Large Patricia Devine Meghan Snee

2 FROM THE DESK OF Kim Caple Not Just Another Church Year Draws to a Close It s hard to believe another church year is drawing to a close. Each May, writing my annual report is a sort of spiritual practice that takes me through the year and allows me to pause at what we have accomplished. I am always in awe of just how much we are able to do as a community and a congregation when we take the time to step back and review. Despite some unexpected transitions, we were still able to provide weekly theme-based worship services and religious education classes that were diverse, educational, and hopefully inspirational. Five intergenerational services brought the congregational together as a whole in a meaningful way: Stone Soup, Christmas Pageant, One Word, Blessing of the Animals, and Children s Sunday. We continued on our mission of a more full week faith model evolving Friday Night RE into Friday Night Fellowship. The meetinghouse scavenger hunt, field trip to Temple Beth Jacob, Landfill Harmonic screening, Chinese New Year celebration, and Empty Bowls at Claychick are just some of the many Friday night activities we enjoyed this year. If you have not attended a Friday Night Fellowship, I would encourage you to do so in the next church year. It is a wonderful way to build community among other members and generations of the congregation, invite friends to church in an unintimidating way, and just have fun. Social Action projects chosen by the students were our focus on the first Sunday of each month. The congregation was an integral part of the success of these projects by providing donations, volunteer hours, and a willing audience. Together we volunteered at the food pantry to provide the backpack food program to Head Start in the summer, adopted two families from the homeless shelter for the holidays, participated in the MLK, Jr. Day of Service by preparing a meal for the homeless, filled our barn with bunnies, chicks, and lambs donating $620 to Heifer International, completed a fall and spring clean-up of the First Parish grounds, and donated to the Plymouth Animal Shelter through a benefit walk. On behalf of the Religious Education program, I thank you, the congregation members, for your support of these projects and experiences this past year. We can t do it without you and we don t want to! Despite the challenges we have faced this year, we have also had many successes and it is critical to celebrate our wins as much as we mourn our losses. As we continue to evolve, I am filled with anticipation at what is possible for our small but mighty crew. Kim Caple, Director of Religious Education Those who can, do. Those who can do more, volunteer.

3 A NOTE TO THE CONGREGATION As you all know, Parish Committee made a recommendation for a full-time contractual minister in March. We then had several Congregational Dialogues in March and April, and based on the feedback we received from those as well as s and calls, we found that our recommendation was supported. Moving forward with the Congregation's knowledge and blessing, we posted the job opening on the UUA's website which then linked interested ministers to our website. We received five inquiries and four applications. One candidate withdrew as she had accepted another position. Another is in Canada and needs to be sponsored to be brought into the U.S. The Parish Committee forwarded the remaining two applications to the Search Team: Amy Palmer, Meghan Snee, Ken Stone, Bob Vinson, and Shelley-Jo Talvacchia. On Wednesday, May 2nd, we found out that the timeline for interim searches was very tight and that this affected our search and our timeline. Since many ministers apply for all three types of positions: interim, contractual, and developmental, that meant that many of the best candidates would be offered interim positions in the first round, which ended last week. That process shrinks the pool of candidates and pushed us into action sooner than we thought. Thanks to our amazing Search Team, they stepped up immediately, reviewed the applicant packets, and held interviews last week. We are delighted to announce that the Search Team unanimously recommended Art Lavoie, who is finishing an interim ministry at Kingston, to the Parish Committee. The Parish Committee and the staff then met with Art on Friday night. The staff enthusiastically supported hiring Art. The Parish Committee unanimously voted to offer him the position. He accepted. We are ironing out the details of his contract this week. We are very excited about the match and hope that you are as well. We know that the process was very fast, and you may need some time to process this development. Your Parish Committee is here if you have any questions or just need to connect. Art Lavoie feels called to work with Congregations in transition. He brings a calm, clear and compassionate presence to the table as well as many years experience as a minister. We are thrilled to work with him, and we are excited by what is possible. Please join us in welcoming Art Lavoie to our Congregation and to Plymouth. We will keep you updated as things progress. Your Parish Committee And since all this loveliness can not be Heaven, I know in my heart it is June. -Abba Woolson

4 May began with a very special Intergenerational Children's Chapel/Social Action Sunday Service Blessing of the Animals. Kids, adults, and furry friends participated in a remembrance and blessing of the animals followed by a walk to benefit the Plymouth Animal Shelter. Dogs, cats, and even a hamster participated in the festivities. In Memorial - Tedy Snee OWL ENDING AT NE BASE CAMP The OWL program finished up in with an awesome day at NE Base Camp. Students participated in many of the adventures the camp has to offer followed by dinner and conversation at the Caples. It was an awesome wrap up to a great year! Tedy passed away peacefully surrounded by his loving family, the Snee's (Meghan, Mike, Addison, and Emerson) after having "the best last day" ever. He will be missed terribly. Continued on Next Page

5 RELIGIOUS EDUCATION CONTINUED Thank you to Chuck Eaton for hosting us at camp. A huge thank you to Amy Palmer and Chris Lennon for volunteering their time and talents to make OWL a reality. Sunday, June 3 Children's Sunday - LAST DAY OF RE! JUNE COFFEE HOUR MEN S BREAKFAST Saturday, June 2 & 16, 9:00 am Kevin s Clubhouse, 265 S. Meadow Rd. ANNUAL MEETING Sunday, June 3, Following Worship CHOIR PRACTICE Sunday, June 3, 10, 17 & 24 8:45 am, Meetinghouse PARISH COMMITTEE Monday, June 4, 7:00 pm, Parish House PRIDE SING-IN Thursday, June 7, 7:00 pm First Parish Plymouth Meetinghouse During June, July, and August, the Coffee Hour will be hosted by people who sign up for a specific date on the Summer Sign-up Sheet. The sign-up sheet is located at the table where coffee is served. The sheet also will be circulated during our Annual Meeting. Thank you for all of your help! The Worship & Music Committee (Karen Cruz, Patricia Devine, Linda Harding, Jenn Kanze-Eaton, Sibel Karchner) has volunteered to host Coffee Hour on Sunday June 3 rd. LGBQA+ OPEN MIC NIGHT Friday, June 8, 7:00 pm, Kendall Hall WORSHIP & MUSIC Wednesday, June 20, 7:30 pm Parish House WOMEN S BREAKFAST Saturday, June 23, 9:00 am Plane Janes, Plymouth Airport We rehearse Sunday mornings at 8:45. Anyone interested in joining the choir can contact Sandi at any time - there is no attendance policy. sandihammond6@gmail.com

6 JUNE WORSHIP SERVICES What Does It Mean To Be A Community of Joy? In my own worst seasons I ve come back from the colorless world of despair by forcing myself to look hard, for a long time, at a single glorious thing: a flame of red geranium outside my bedroom window. And then another: my daughter in a yellow dress. And another: the perfect outline of a full, dark sphere behind the crescent moon. Until I learned to be in love with my life again. Like a stroke victim retraining new parts of the brain to grasp lost skills, I have taught myself joy, over and over again. - Barbara Kingsolver Sunday, June 3 Appreciation Sunday, Celebrating Ourselves. It takes a village to raise a child, and it takes beloved community to build a whole church ministry... and we are doing it! Come and be appreciated! Con-celebrated with DRE Kim Caple and Rev. Judy Campbell Sunday, June 10 - Finding Joy There is more joy somewhere There is more joy somewhere I'm gonna keep on 'til I find it There is more joy somewhere These lines from one of my favorite hymns encourages us to keep on til I find it. But where do we look? What does the experience of joy, profound joy of a lasting nature, come from? How do we find it? And yes, we will sing this old African American Spiritual. Our annual Flower Communion will be part of this Family Service. Lay led service by Vaughn Keller Sunday, June 17 Juneteenth and the State of Liberty. Juneteenth, a day to reflect on the State of Liberty in the United States of America. On Freedom Day, which celebrates the 19 the June in 1865, when Major Gen. Gordon Granger came to Galveston, Texas, to inform a reluctant community that President Abraham Lincoln two years earlier had freed the slaves and to press locals to comply with his directive. We will look at the lived rights and freedoms of African Americans since slavery ended, and what actions we must take to use our Privilege for the safety and liberty of People of Color. Lay Led by Jenn Kanze-Eaton. Sunday, June 23 - Shake Your Soul. This service is an opportunity to rise out of the pews and awaken your soul through gentle, joyful, reflective movement. No dancing skills necessary. Emily creates a safe space to breathe and stretch, to enjoy movement that feels fluid and natural, and to dust off your spontaneity. See you in Kendall Hall!

7 Summer Services: Our Spiritual Journeys This spring during the Pledge Drive pot luck, someone remarked: Wouldn t it be wonderful to learn more about each other s spiritual paths? As individuals, what is our religious upbringing and what are the episodes in our lives that brought new realization to our spirituality? Why did we choose to worship as Unitarian Universalists? Yes! Finding a venue to share our spiritual journeys would be wonderful opportunity to know each other at a deeper level. So why not start this summer? The Worship and Music Committee will be asking for friends and members of the congregation to pair up in twos and threes to offer their stories and to share readings and music that reverberates with their spiritual journey. Please consider sharing your story. A Worship Coordinator is available to advise and move the service through the transitions. On July 1 st, Summer Worship Services will move to the recently renovated Brewster Chapel. Sandi is scheduling musicians to provide accompaniment to hymns and songs. Summer is a joyful time to grow as a community. Worship in Brewster Chapel is a congregation favorite: a cheery spot, bright and sunny. Windows open wide to let the breeze flow. Thoughtful conversation and fellowship is offered outside. If you aren t ready to lead a service, perhaps you can provide refreshments for fellowship. Brewster Chapel, on the First Parish Plymouth Campus, is located at the top of the road that runs along our stone Meetinghouse. UUs BEING UUs May 5 th Town Clean-Up Members of First Parish Plymouth - Ken Stone, Ann Marie Schulze, Deborah Rudolf and Linda Harding - joined other volunteers along with staff of Plymouth Plantation to clean low lying areas of Warren Avenue impacted by the flooding. (That's only half of a kayak that was pulled from the brush.) They hauled approximately 30 orange bags, 10 contractor bags (twice as big as the orange ones) and 4 truckloads of storm debris that came across Warren Avenue from Burt s.

8 All are welcome for a Musical Pride Celebration Thursday, June 7 6:15 Open Mic ~ 7:00 Sing-In First Parish Plymouth Meetinghouse June 9 th is the day of Boston s annual Pride Parade. In support of that event, Plymouth s First Parish Unitarian Universalist will be hosting an LGBTQ, non-denominational Sing-A-Along on Thursday Evening June 7 th. Many may not be aware that for some time now, First Parish has regularly hosted an LGBTQ open mike night. On the 7 th, the evening will begin with an hour of open mic performances followed by a Sing-A-Long during which all in attendance are encouraged to join in and raise their voices in celebration.

9 Our newly organized Caring Team wants to offer meals, visits, and rides to church to members and friends of the congregation. The Caring Team is looking for volunteers to help us provide these services: Meals Rides to church Visits If you would like to be on call, check the above service you could help with and list your phone number and/or . We will contact you as needs arise. Name Phone You can complete this form and give it to one of our team members, leave it in the collection plate, send it to the church office, or contact a member of the caring team or the church office. CARING TEAM Karen Alix, Carol Bernal, Ed Carlier, Patricia Devine, Dell Hammond, John Hammond, Amy Palmer, Megan Snee. Never believe that a few caring people can t change the world. For, indeed, that s all who ever have. ~Margaret Mead

10 THANK YOU FIRST PARISH UU Mass Action would like to thank First Parish Church in Plymouth for the opportunity to share worship with you and to thank you for your donation of $575! Your continued partnership strengthens our shared work and means so much to us! At UU Mass Action, we are working hard to organize UUs in Massachusetts and we couldn t do our shared work without you! There are many social and economic justice issues that demand our attention today. UU Mass Action works to develop relationships with many community and faith organizations that share in our vision of creating a world where all people are honored and valued. We work to connect our UU congregations into this network so that together, we can create the world we envision. We live our principles together and move towards a world where all people are honored and valued through the following efforts: Core Campaigns Certified Working Groups Climate Justice Black Lives Matter End Mass Incarceration Economic Equity in Politics Economic Justice Gun Violence Prevention Immigrant Rights First Nation s Rights Transgender Rights It is important now, more than ever, that we are organized and prepared to take action! If you d like to learn more about any of these projects, please explore our website at or contact Laura Wagner at lwagner@uumassaciton.org. Sincerely, Laura Wagner MSW, Executive Director Thank you for partnering with Heifer International. We have received $590 from your group of donors. The end of extreme poverty is within our grasp, and your help matters. Your commitment to helping others gives hope to families who once struggled with hunger and poverty and provides the foundation for strong farming families. Families in rural villages in places like Peru, India and Ghana have more secure futures to look forward to as well, because of your generosity. Best of all, through Heifer s tradition of Passing on the Gift, your gift will be multiplied for many seasons to come. Thank you for investing in Heifer International to help make a better world one family at a time. Sincerely, Pierre U. Ferrari President and CEO Summer is a promissory note signed in June, its long days spent and gone before you know it, and due to be repaid next January. -Hal Borland

11 Service Auction Kentucky Derby Day Saturday, May 5 COMMUNITY EVENTS RALLY AGAINST GUN VIOLENCE LET S KEEP THE MOMENTUM 9 th Annual National Cancer Survivors Day Celebration of Life Thursday, June 21, 4:00 7:00 pm Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital Plymouth South Parking Lot at Obery Street Join us for a fun-filled event with entertainment, door prizes, raffles and food! Master of Ceremonies Jordan Rich - WBZ-AM s Jordan Rich Show Musical Entertainment - Despite Dwight Featuring Jordan Hospital Club Cancer Center Medical Director Matt Komey, MD on drums Special Guests: Natasha Verma NBC Boston News Anchor, Cancer Survivir, Founder of Put a Cap on Cancer Joe Andruzzi - Three Time NE Patriot Super Bowl Champion, Cancer Survivor, Co-Founder of the Joe Andruzzi Foundation Free and Open to the Public Call to register

12 First Parish Plymouth 19 Town Square Plymouth, MA Spring being a tough act to follow, God created June. -Al Bernstein First Parish in Plymouth Love is the spirit of this congregation and service its law. Welcome to First Parish Unitarian Universalist