Wednesday, December 01, 2004
December 2004 Newsletter
Services and Sermon Topics
Sunday, December 5, 2004 - 11:00 A.M.
“The Christian Curse” Mark W. Harris
During the election aftermath we heard about evangelical Christians voting their values. Is this really what Christianity is? Can there be any reason to uphold a Unitarian Universalist Christianity?
Greeters: Jane Knuttunen and Eileen Ryan
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 11:00 A.M.
“Perfect Presence” Mark W. Harris
At holiday time we are always searching for the perfect present. With children in the house that present seems to change daily. Why is it we strive for such perfection, and what does it do to our spiritual selves?
Greeters: Paula Chase and Theo Ellsworth
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:00 A.M.
Christmas Pageant
“UU Peace Angels” - Our Annual Christmas Pageant is presented by the children of our Religious Education program. Our DRE, Roberta Altamari is working with Giles and Cody to produce a great presentation of story, music and fun. Later in the service, watch for an innkeeper to appear!
Greeters:Jeanne Cleary and Barry Greess
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 7:00 P.M.
Winter Solstice Service
Darrick Jackson
This pagan influenced service will mark the Winter Solstice as a time for renewal. The longest night of the year, we will look through the darkness to find hope in the coming light.
Friday, December 24, 2004 -
5 P.M. and 7 P.M.
Christmas Eve Services
Our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight services will include special music, a story and the candlelight that envelops Silent Night. Join us at 5 or 7 with a social hour in between. Please bring holiday cookies to share.
UUSC Guest at Your Table Boxes are to be returned (make checks out to UUSC).
Sunday, December 26, 2004
People’s Poetry
We are hoping this will be a poetry service. Please bring your favorite Christmas or New Year or other winter holiday selections and share them with others.
Greeters: Marianne and Michael Collins
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
The Captain’s Log
Mark W. Harris
I have only spent one Christmas in my life on the road. I had just finished the fall semester in seminary, and was scheduled to be in England the first part of January to begin a six month stint as acting minister in Sheffield. I neither had the money to fly home nor a place to store my little orange Subaru, so I drove south from Berkeley because east and north were out of the question due to mountains and snow. The plan was to drive to Los Angeles and then head east through Arizona and New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns was amazing), and then on to Amarillo, Texas in the panhandle (where it was snowing), to a Civil War tourist stop in Vicksburg, Mississippi (it was one of the turning points of the war), and so on. The final destination was my parents house in Massachusetts, where my car could be stored for the winter and spring. Being on the road at Christmas time is an odd feeling, especially for someone who has always had family and stockings and decorated trees and presents. This had none of those reminders of the holiday.
Christmas Eve and Day were early in this journey. While Christmas Eve had none of the grumpy inn keepers telling me there was no room at the hotel, the establishments somewhere near the city of Angels were filled with indigent types staying in second rate rooms with crumpled sheets, broken locks, stained carpets and little black and white TVs. I think I ate take out Chinese food while I watched some old version of A Christmas Carol. I was seeing the ghost of Christmas past in my temporary neighborhood of people. It was a past that never changed and no one around me expected a reformed Scrooge giving out turkeys and gifts.
I felt like I was reliving the Christmas story of wandering people with no place to stay or go on a dark and lonely night. Think of the struggle of trying to find someone to give you shelter and feed you a meal or provide linens. This carpenter family was like today’s homeless or nearly homeless. The experience was only simulated for me - I had family and home that I was heading towards thousands of miles away, but it did point to those times when we feel alone and hopeless.
The Christmas story is filled with potential dangers, and this continues to be true, even after the baby is born (King Herod). We don’t know where our wanderings will lead us, but we can overcome our fears in hope that a great gift will come to us if we persevere on the perilous journey. As gloomy as Christmas Eve was, I drove east on Christmas Day, and entered the Joshua Tree National Park. I stood in awe of these trees named for the great leader of ancient Israel because their limbs were like arms stretched out in supplication guiding the travelers westward. The light and magic of the desert were inspiring. It was a wonderful gift simply to behold these sights I had never witnessed before.
The Christmas story is simple; a new life is just ahead on the winding roads waiting to be discovered and experienced. The holiday reminds us that it is better to live with hope that the Joshua Trees will appear in the days ahead. Will they bloom on the journey into the desert? We can never be sure. But if we believe that beauty awaits us wherever life’s decisions or trials take us, then even in our most difficult moments, we have hope that life will still bring us amazing gifts of love.
Happy Holidays Love, Mark
***************
Church News
Calendar
Sunday Worship Services at 11:00 a.m.
12/1 Fellowship meets at 7:30pm
12/4 B@G Indoor Clean-up, 9-3pm
12/5 Membership Growth Comm. , 9:30 a.m.
12/6 Choir meets at 6:30pm
12/8 Parish Committee meeting, 7:30pm
12/9 Finance Committee, 7:30 p.m.
12/12 Committee on Ministry, 9:30 a.m.
12/12 Canvass Committee, 12:15 p.m.
12/13 Choir meets at 6:30pm
12/18 Pageant Rehearsal 10:30am
12/19 Winter Solstice Service 7pm
12/20 Choir meets at 6:30pm
12/24 Christmas Eve Services 5 and 7 pm
***************
Among Us
We had a wonderful farewell for our dear friend, and FPW Trustee, Harold Bejcek. Thanks to Will Twombly, our Parish committee, and the Marshall Home for making this possible
A warm welcome to four new members of FPW: Nicholas and Michelina Tawa and Kevin Otto and Katja Holtta
Auction Results
What a great total for this years auction. We netted nearly $3,700 and had a great night of fun and wanton spending! Thanks to Paul Day, our auctioneer, Jean Merkl, our organizer and Gretchen Brown and Bobbie Brown for all their hard work in setting up the dinner and cleaning up afterwards. Thanks also to everyone who donated items and purchased them as well.
First Parish Photo Board
Digital Camera: It's time--some would say we're long overdue--to update FPW's photo board. Is there someone amongst us with a digital camera who would be interested in taking pictures of members and friends during two or three social hours in the next few months? If you are this person, please call Bobbie Brown to arrange convenient dates.
Poinsettias!
It’s that time of year again! If you would like to order poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary for the holidays, and then bring them home after the Christmas Eve service (or the morning of the 19th (if you wish), please fill out the order form below and return to the office by Dec. 5. Make checks out to First Parish of Watertown. The plants, in 6.5" pots, are from Wilson Farms in Lexington and are lovely and hardy.
I would like to purchase ____ poinsettias at $7.00 each.
Enclosed is $__________________
How many of which color(s)?
__ white __ pink__ red __ marble
In loving memory of _____________________
or
Gift of ________________________________
Name_______________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________
Telephone_____________________________
Christmas Eve services
and Guest At Your Table
There will be two services on Christmas Eve again this year. They will be similar services, but the music will vary somewhat. Both services will have candle lighting, carols, special music, and story telling.
A social hour will be held after the 5:00 p.m. service, and before the 7:00 p.m. service (Come at 6:00 if you are going to the 7:00 p.m. service). Members and friends are invited to bring holiday cookies to share for the social hour between the two services. We are seeking people to greet at both services. Please contact Bobbie Brown or Gretchen Brown if you are interested in helping out.
Christmas Eve is the traditional date for the collection of Guest At Your Table boxes. Please remember to bring your boxes to the service. We ask you to convert all cash and coins to checks made out to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). If you are not coming on Christmas Eve, please try to return your box by Sunday, December 19 or 26th at the latest.
Giving Boxes and Grow Clinic
Toy Drive
We are collecting toys and gifts for the children at the Grow Clinic once again. Please sign up at church during social hour. Unwrapped gifts needs to be brought to church by Sunday, December 12. Contact Patricia fox or David Morrison for more information. We have sixty-five names of children this year. Please be generous.
Giving Boxes
This is a reminder that the regular giving box donations during November and December are food donations for the Boston Medical Center Nutrition’s Resource Center. This is an expanded food pantry that serves the Grow Clinic as well as the women’s Infant and Children’s Program (WIC) and a Preventative Food Pantry and Demonstration Kitchen. Boston Medical Center is the first hospital in the United States to offer this type of program in a hospital setting. This program has been expanded in the past two years in an effort to address the effects of malnutrition on their patients, particularly the children, and impacting entire families’ overall health and well being.
The center is most appreciative of any food donations, and in particular expressed a need for: rice, canned soups, canned beans, canned fruits, and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and baby formula.
And looking ahead . . .
The Giving Box recipient for January/February will be Teen L.E.E.P. Books
(Leadership, Employment, and Enrichment Program), based at the Rediscovery House group home in Watertown. Rediscovery House serves older adolescent males who are aging out of the foster care system, and are preparing to live independently.
They are seeking donations of any NON-FICTION books in good condition. The
books may be new or used. They can also accept textbooks, if they are
current editions. Please take a moment to check your bookshelves - any
NON-FICTION books you no longer want could be very useful to these teens!
***************
A Midshipman’s Musings
Darrick Jackson
This time of the year, we really begin to notice the darkness. Each day, we spend less time in the light. This continues until December 21, the Winter Solstice, and the longest night of the year. After this date, we will slowly see more light until we reach the longest day of the year, June 21, the Summer Solstice. This cycle of light and dark continues year after year, after year.
This cycle runs within us as well. We all have our “light” sides and our “dark” sides. Usually we work to keep the “light” side showing and try to hide our darker sides, with varying degrees of success. We do not want to see our darker sides. Sometimes we are afraid of it, and mostly we do not understand it. But maybe we can learn something from the seasonal cycles of light and dark.
Last year, I wrote my final systematic theology paper on creating a doctrine of Shadow. I used the Native American and Jungian concepts of the Shadow as replacement for Christian Concepts of Sin and Evil. My premise was that by ignoring the shadow parts of ourselves, we are not able to achieve wholeness. It is this wholeness that allows us to achieve our full humanity, and on a theistic level, to our full divinity.
Shamanic practices include procedures for reintegrating our shadows into our lives. This does not mean allowing our shadows to take over our lives for a period of time. What it means is that we get to know our Shadow, and find out what gifts it can bring into our everyday lives. Once we learn how to use our shadow in a positive way, it’s negative hold on us lessens and vanishes.
I have recently begun a program of Shadow work for myself. I hope to finish the Shadow discovery phase by the Winter Solstice. Then, as the days gain more light I will begin the acceptance and integration phase. In this way, I can use the cycle of light and dark to ritualize my journey of self-discovery.
Blessed Be.
***************
Winter Solstice
There will be a Solstice service on December 19 at 7:00 p.m. led by our student minister, Darrick Jackson. This pagan influenced service will mark the Winter Solstice as a time for renewal. The longest night of the year, we will look through the darkness to find hope in the coming light.
Book Group
Here is a last minute reminder that the First Parish Book Group is getting ready to meet again. The book for December is: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. There are tentative plans to read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides after that. This first meeting is on Sunday December 5th at 4:00 p.m. All feed back is welcome on the meeting time and books! Feel free to bring a friend to the group also, the more the merrier! Speak to Jean Merkl if you have any questions.
“Blue Christmas: An Interfaith Service”
The Watertown Ministerial Association will be sponsoring a service on Monday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. Called “Blue Christmas,” it is especially for those who find themselves sad, lonely or living with loss this holiday season, and their friends and family. This service of music, prayer, meditation and light will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal at 9 Russell Ave., in Watertown. Mark Harris will be participating in the service, if you have questions
***************
Religious Education
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari
I can't believe the holiday season is already here. It can be a very busy time of year and I hope that each of you can find time to enjoy the true spirit of the holidays. I know, I know, I say that every year. And I know it gets tricky. I'm always wishing to overcome the commercialism of the season to really enjoy the holidays. But what holiday message am I suggesting we try to capture?
As a Unitarian Universalist, I have to wonder what holidays I should even honor. I'm not Christian, so can I celebrate Christmas? I'm not Pagan, so can I celebrate Winter Solstice? I'm not Jewish, so can I celebrate Hanukkah? I'm not Buddhist, Muslim, or Hindu, so can I celebrate one of the holidays from the Eastern religions? That's lots of things I'm not. But what am I?
Intellectually, it makes sense to me why Unitarian Universalists celebrate Christmas even though the majority of us don't consider ourselves to be Christian. Since our historical journey came from Christian roots, it is clear to see why a Christian holiday has long been more dominate in our seasonal celebrations than any of the holidays originating from one of our faith's other sources. While Winter Solstice and some holidays from other sources are gaining interest among UUs, Christmas still remains the most noticed and honored. But why?
First there has been the American evolution of Christmas away from the religious celebration of the birthday of Jesus towards a more cultural celebration of gift-giving as highlighted by Santa. For better or worse, an American family can actually make it through the entire Christmas season without even referencing baby Jesus. But even beyond cultural definitions, Unitarian Universalists through the years have seemed to take the Christmas holiday and make it special in their own unique ways. When I first started coming to First Parish, I was impressed with the Unitarian Universalist presentation of Christmas. Christmas is special because a holy baby was born. Yes, Jesus did grow up to be an incredibly inspiring religious leader, but his birth was a miracle. We as Unitarian Universalists use Christmas to acknowledge that Jesus was special in the same way that all babies are holy. We join with others around our country (and world) to celebrate the preciousness of life.
I grew even more impressed with my Unitarian Universalist ancestors when I did some research to write our Christmas Pageant. I discovered many Unitarians and Universalists who made incredible contributions to the Christmas holiday. There are the obvious contributors like James Pierpont's well-known carol "Jingle Bells", Edmund Hamilton Sears' beautiful carol "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", and Dr. Charles Follen's bringing of the tree decorating custom to America. In addition, there are countless stories of Unitarian Universalists who used the holiday season to continue to promote spreading peace and goodwill throughout the holiday season. Louisa May Alcott used her book "Little Women" to promote the idea that being with loved ones is what is most important at Christmastime and Charles Dickens used "A Christmas Carol" to promote Christmas as a time to be kind and charitable. Many more continued their dedicated work of helping those less fortunate than themselves. For example, Christmas Day didn't see Clara Barton stop her work of nursing wounded Civil War soldiers. In the pageant, we call them "UU Peace Angels".
In the pageant, we learn that we can be like them. Yes, we really can be "UU Peace Angels"! Join us on Sunday, December 19th to see this inspiring pageant and learn more.
The true spirit of the holiday season will be unique for each of us. It may focus on one of the holidays from this season or several. Each holiday has a meaningful message to share, and the holiday season can unite all of us with compassion and love if we keep our hearts and minds open.
Announcements:
Holiday pageant planning ...
Our annual holiday pageant is coming (during our intergenerational church service on December 19th) and it will feature our UU peace angels ~ Unitarian Universalists who have made significant contributions to this glorious holiday! We are pleased to announce that Giles Holt and Cody Urban will be co-directing (with assistance from Roberta) and we can be sure to expect some more of their great theatrics. We have plenty of big and small parts for all those interested in participating this year. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday, November 28, December 5, and December 12 at 10 AM. We will also have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 18th at 10AM. Contact Roberta today for more questions or to sign up!
Kudos to all of our participants and supporters for our recent community service projects! Since our last Arbella, we partied with the folks at the assisted living facility in town; we collected an unbelievable amount of surplus Halloween candy to donate to Birthday Wishes to use in goodie bags and piñatas for the birthday parties they host for children living in local homeless shelters; and we worked with the Miller Tracy Children's Foundation to shop for and package 35 Thanksgiving food baskets for local families in need. Great work!!!
Planning ahead ...
Great news for January 9th! To put the principle of "coming together with acceptance" into action, we have been invited to join the children at First Parish of Needham for worship and fun. We had a great time last year visiting the UU church of Greater Lynn and expect this trip to be equally grand. More details will follow in January, but save the date so your child won't miss out on this exciting adventure!
Another Adult RE opportunity:
Aging Group
Our two Sunday morning seminars with Bob Dutton on aging have spawned a Sunday morning group that will continue to meet. The first meeting in January will be on January 30, 2005 at 9:30 a.m..
Tax Year Ends
Friends, please remember that the tax year ends on December 31, 2004. Please note your opportunity to a make charitable deduction to First Parish this fiscal year. Our Canvass Committee will be sending special pledge reminders soon, and this year you will receive a special Holiday envelope with that reminder. Please be generous.
***************
Join Us for these special Holiday Worship Services
Sunday, December 19
11:00 a.m. Annual Christmas Pageant ”UU Peace Angels”
7:00 p.m. Winter Solstice Celebration
Friday, December 24
5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services
Sunday, December 5, 2004 - 11:00 A.M.
“The Christian Curse” Mark W. Harris
During the election aftermath we heard about evangelical Christians voting their values. Is this really what Christianity is? Can there be any reason to uphold a Unitarian Universalist Christianity?
Greeters: Jane Knuttunen and Eileen Ryan
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
Sunday, December 12, 2004 - 11:00 A.M.
“Perfect Presence” Mark W. Harris
At holiday time we are always searching for the perfect present. With children in the house that present seems to change daily. Why is it we strive for such perfection, and what does it do to our spiritual selves?
Greeters: Paula Chase and Theo Ellsworth
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 11:00 A.M.
Christmas Pageant
“UU Peace Angels” - Our Annual Christmas Pageant is presented by the children of our Religious Education program. Our DRE, Roberta Altamari is working with Giles and Cody to produce a great presentation of story, music and fun. Later in the service, watch for an innkeeper to appear!
Greeters:Jeanne Cleary and Barry Greess
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
Sunday, December 19, 2004 - 7:00 P.M.
Winter Solstice Service
Darrick Jackson
This pagan influenced service will mark the Winter Solstice as a time for renewal. The longest night of the year, we will look through the darkness to find hope in the coming light.
Friday, December 24, 2004 -
5 P.M. and 7 P.M.
Christmas Eve Services
Our annual Christmas Eve Candlelight services will include special music, a story and the candlelight that envelops Silent Night. Join us at 5 or 7 with a social hour in between. Please bring holiday cookies to share.
UUSC Guest at Your Table Boxes are to be returned (make checks out to UUSC).
Sunday, December 26, 2004
People’s Poetry
We are hoping this will be a poetry service. Please bring your favorite Christmas or New Year or other winter holiday selections and share them with others.
Greeters: Marianne and Michael Collins
Social Hour: Worship Committee
***************
The Captain’s Log
Mark W. Harris
I have only spent one Christmas in my life on the road. I had just finished the fall semester in seminary, and was scheduled to be in England the first part of January to begin a six month stint as acting minister in Sheffield. I neither had the money to fly home nor a place to store my little orange Subaru, so I drove south from Berkeley because east and north were out of the question due to mountains and snow. The plan was to drive to Los Angeles and then head east through Arizona and New Mexico (Carlsbad Caverns was amazing), and then on to Amarillo, Texas in the panhandle (where it was snowing), to a Civil War tourist stop in Vicksburg, Mississippi (it was one of the turning points of the war), and so on. The final destination was my parents house in Massachusetts, where my car could be stored for the winter and spring. Being on the road at Christmas time is an odd feeling, especially for someone who has always had family and stockings and decorated trees and presents. This had none of those reminders of the holiday.
Christmas Eve and Day were early in this journey. While Christmas Eve had none of the grumpy inn keepers telling me there was no room at the hotel, the establishments somewhere near the city of Angels were filled with indigent types staying in second rate rooms with crumpled sheets, broken locks, stained carpets and little black and white TVs. I think I ate take out Chinese food while I watched some old version of A Christmas Carol. I was seeing the ghost of Christmas past in my temporary neighborhood of people. It was a past that never changed and no one around me expected a reformed Scrooge giving out turkeys and gifts.
I felt like I was reliving the Christmas story of wandering people with no place to stay or go on a dark and lonely night. Think of the struggle of trying to find someone to give you shelter and feed you a meal or provide linens. This carpenter family was like today’s homeless or nearly homeless. The experience was only simulated for me - I had family and home that I was heading towards thousands of miles away, but it did point to those times when we feel alone and hopeless.
The Christmas story is filled with potential dangers, and this continues to be true, even after the baby is born (King Herod). We don’t know where our wanderings will lead us, but we can overcome our fears in hope that a great gift will come to us if we persevere on the perilous journey. As gloomy as Christmas Eve was, I drove east on Christmas Day, and entered the Joshua Tree National Park. I stood in awe of these trees named for the great leader of ancient Israel because their limbs were like arms stretched out in supplication guiding the travelers westward. The light and magic of the desert were inspiring. It was a wonderful gift simply to behold these sights I had never witnessed before.
The Christmas story is simple; a new life is just ahead on the winding roads waiting to be discovered and experienced. The holiday reminds us that it is better to live with hope that the Joshua Trees will appear in the days ahead. Will they bloom on the journey into the desert? We can never be sure. But if we believe that beauty awaits us wherever life’s decisions or trials take us, then even in our most difficult moments, we have hope that life will still bring us amazing gifts of love.
Happy Holidays Love, Mark
***************
Church News
Calendar
Sunday Worship Services at 11:00 a.m.
12/1 Fellowship meets at 7:30pm
12/4 B@G Indoor Clean-up, 9-3pm
12/5 Membership Growth Comm. , 9:30 a.m.
12/6 Choir meets at 6:30pm
12/8 Parish Committee meeting, 7:30pm
12/9 Finance Committee, 7:30 p.m.
12/12 Committee on Ministry, 9:30 a.m.
12/12 Canvass Committee, 12:15 p.m.
12/13 Choir meets at 6:30pm
12/18 Pageant Rehearsal 10:30am
12/19 Winter Solstice Service 7pm
12/20 Choir meets at 6:30pm
12/24 Christmas Eve Services 5 and 7 pm
***************
Among Us
We had a wonderful farewell for our dear friend, and FPW Trustee, Harold Bejcek. Thanks to Will Twombly, our Parish committee, and the Marshall Home for making this possible
A warm welcome to four new members of FPW: Nicholas and Michelina Tawa and Kevin Otto and Katja Holtta
Auction Results
What a great total for this years auction. We netted nearly $3,700 and had a great night of fun and wanton spending! Thanks to Paul Day, our auctioneer, Jean Merkl, our organizer and Gretchen Brown and Bobbie Brown for all their hard work in setting up the dinner and cleaning up afterwards. Thanks also to everyone who donated items and purchased them as well.
First Parish Photo Board
Digital Camera: It's time--some would say we're long overdue--to update FPW's photo board. Is there someone amongst us with a digital camera who would be interested in taking pictures of members and friends during two or three social hours in the next few months? If you are this person, please call Bobbie Brown to arrange convenient dates.
Poinsettias!
It’s that time of year again! If you would like to order poinsettias to decorate the sanctuary for the holidays, and then bring them home after the Christmas Eve service (or the morning of the 19th (if you wish), please fill out the order form below and return to the office by Dec. 5. Make checks out to First Parish of Watertown. The plants, in 6.5" pots, are from Wilson Farms in Lexington and are lovely and hardy.
I would like to purchase ____ poinsettias at $7.00 each.
Enclosed is $__________________
How many of which color(s)?
__ white __ pink__ red __ marble
In loving memory of _____________________
or
Gift of ________________________________
Name_______________________________________________________________________
Address_____________________________________________________________________
Telephone_____________________________
Christmas Eve services
and Guest At Your Table
There will be two services on Christmas Eve again this year. They will be similar services, but the music will vary somewhat. Both services will have candle lighting, carols, special music, and story telling.
A social hour will be held after the 5:00 p.m. service, and before the 7:00 p.m. service (Come at 6:00 if you are going to the 7:00 p.m. service). Members and friends are invited to bring holiday cookies to share for the social hour between the two services. We are seeking people to greet at both services. Please contact Bobbie Brown or Gretchen Brown if you are interested in helping out.
Christmas Eve is the traditional date for the collection of Guest At Your Table boxes. Please remember to bring your boxes to the service. We ask you to convert all cash and coins to checks made out to the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee (UUSC). If you are not coming on Christmas Eve, please try to return your box by Sunday, December 19 or 26th at the latest.
Giving Boxes and Grow Clinic
Toy Drive
We are collecting toys and gifts for the children at the Grow Clinic once again. Please sign up at church during social hour. Unwrapped gifts needs to be brought to church by Sunday, December 12. Contact Patricia fox or David Morrison for more information. We have sixty-five names of children this year. Please be generous.
Giving Boxes
This is a reminder that the regular giving box donations during November and December are food donations for the Boston Medical Center Nutrition’s Resource Center. This is an expanded food pantry that serves the Grow Clinic as well as the women’s Infant and Children’s Program (WIC) and a Preventative Food Pantry and Demonstration Kitchen. Boston Medical Center is the first hospital in the United States to offer this type of program in a hospital setting. This program has been expanded in the past two years in an effort to address the effects of malnutrition on their patients, particularly the children, and impacting entire families’ overall health and well being.
The center is most appreciative of any food donations, and in particular expressed a need for: rice, canned soups, canned beans, canned fruits, and vegetables, macaroni and cheese, peanut butter and baby formula.
And looking ahead . . .
The Giving Box recipient for January/February will be Teen L.E.E.P. Books
(Leadership, Employment, and Enrichment Program), based at the Rediscovery House group home in Watertown. Rediscovery House serves older adolescent males who are aging out of the foster care system, and are preparing to live independently.
They are seeking donations of any NON-FICTION books in good condition. The
books may be new or used. They can also accept textbooks, if they are
current editions. Please take a moment to check your bookshelves - any
NON-FICTION books you no longer want could be very useful to these teens!
***************
A Midshipman’s Musings
Darrick Jackson
This time of the year, we really begin to notice the darkness. Each day, we spend less time in the light. This continues until December 21, the Winter Solstice, and the longest night of the year. After this date, we will slowly see more light until we reach the longest day of the year, June 21, the Summer Solstice. This cycle of light and dark continues year after year, after year.
This cycle runs within us as well. We all have our “light” sides and our “dark” sides. Usually we work to keep the “light” side showing and try to hide our darker sides, with varying degrees of success. We do not want to see our darker sides. Sometimes we are afraid of it, and mostly we do not understand it. But maybe we can learn something from the seasonal cycles of light and dark.
Last year, I wrote my final systematic theology paper on creating a doctrine of Shadow. I used the Native American and Jungian concepts of the Shadow as replacement for Christian Concepts of Sin and Evil. My premise was that by ignoring the shadow parts of ourselves, we are not able to achieve wholeness. It is this wholeness that allows us to achieve our full humanity, and on a theistic level, to our full divinity.
Shamanic practices include procedures for reintegrating our shadows into our lives. This does not mean allowing our shadows to take over our lives for a period of time. What it means is that we get to know our Shadow, and find out what gifts it can bring into our everyday lives. Once we learn how to use our shadow in a positive way, it’s negative hold on us lessens and vanishes.
I have recently begun a program of Shadow work for myself. I hope to finish the Shadow discovery phase by the Winter Solstice. Then, as the days gain more light I will begin the acceptance and integration phase. In this way, I can use the cycle of light and dark to ritualize my journey of self-discovery.
Blessed Be.
***************
Winter Solstice
There will be a Solstice service on December 19 at 7:00 p.m. led by our student minister, Darrick Jackson. This pagan influenced service will mark the Winter Solstice as a time for renewal. The longest night of the year, we will look through the darkness to find hope in the coming light.
Book Group
Here is a last minute reminder that the First Parish Book Group is getting ready to meet again. The book for December is: The Secret Life of Bees by Sue Monk Kidd. There are tentative plans to read Middlesex by Jeffrey Eugenides after that. This first meeting is on Sunday December 5th at 4:00 p.m. All feed back is welcome on the meeting time and books! Feel free to bring a friend to the group also, the more the merrier! Speak to Jean Merkl if you have any questions.
“Blue Christmas: An Interfaith Service”
The Watertown Ministerial Association will be sponsoring a service on Monday, December 6 at 7:00 p.m. Called “Blue Christmas,” it is especially for those who find themselves sad, lonely or living with loss this holiday season, and their friends and family. This service of music, prayer, meditation and light will be held at the Church of the Good Shepherd, Episcopal at 9 Russell Ave., in Watertown. Mark Harris will be participating in the service, if you have questions
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Religious Education
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari
I can't believe the holiday season is already here. It can be a very busy time of year and I hope that each of you can find time to enjoy the true spirit of the holidays. I know, I know, I say that every year. And I know it gets tricky. I'm always wishing to overcome the commercialism of the season to really enjoy the holidays. But what holiday message am I suggesting we try to capture?
As a Unitarian Universalist, I have to wonder what holidays I should even honor. I'm not Christian, so can I celebrate Christmas? I'm not Pagan, so can I celebrate Winter Solstice? I'm not Jewish, so can I celebrate Hanukkah? I'm not Buddhist, Muslim, or Hindu, so can I celebrate one of the holidays from the Eastern religions? That's lots of things I'm not. But what am I?
Intellectually, it makes sense to me why Unitarian Universalists celebrate Christmas even though the majority of us don't consider ourselves to be Christian. Since our historical journey came from Christian roots, it is clear to see why a Christian holiday has long been more dominate in our seasonal celebrations than any of the holidays originating from one of our faith's other sources. While Winter Solstice and some holidays from other sources are gaining interest among UUs, Christmas still remains the most noticed and honored. But why?
First there has been the American evolution of Christmas away from the religious celebration of the birthday of Jesus towards a more cultural celebration of gift-giving as highlighted by Santa. For better or worse, an American family can actually make it through the entire Christmas season without even referencing baby Jesus. But even beyond cultural definitions, Unitarian Universalists through the years have seemed to take the Christmas holiday and make it special in their own unique ways. When I first started coming to First Parish, I was impressed with the Unitarian Universalist presentation of Christmas. Christmas is special because a holy baby was born. Yes, Jesus did grow up to be an incredibly inspiring religious leader, but his birth was a miracle. We as Unitarian Universalists use Christmas to acknowledge that Jesus was special in the same way that all babies are holy. We join with others around our country (and world) to celebrate the preciousness of life.
I grew even more impressed with my Unitarian Universalist ancestors when I did some research to write our Christmas Pageant. I discovered many Unitarians and Universalists who made incredible contributions to the Christmas holiday. There are the obvious contributors like James Pierpont's well-known carol "Jingle Bells", Edmund Hamilton Sears' beautiful carol "It Came Upon the Midnight Clear", and Dr. Charles Follen's bringing of the tree decorating custom to America. In addition, there are countless stories of Unitarian Universalists who used the holiday season to continue to promote spreading peace and goodwill throughout the holiday season. Louisa May Alcott used her book "Little Women" to promote the idea that being with loved ones is what is most important at Christmastime and Charles Dickens used "A Christmas Carol" to promote Christmas as a time to be kind and charitable. Many more continued their dedicated work of helping those less fortunate than themselves. For example, Christmas Day didn't see Clara Barton stop her work of nursing wounded Civil War soldiers. In the pageant, we call them "UU Peace Angels".
In the pageant, we learn that we can be like them. Yes, we really can be "UU Peace Angels"! Join us on Sunday, December 19th to see this inspiring pageant and learn more.
The true spirit of the holiday season will be unique for each of us. It may focus on one of the holidays from this season or several. Each holiday has a meaningful message to share, and the holiday season can unite all of us with compassion and love if we keep our hearts and minds open.
Announcements:
Holiday pageant planning ...
Our annual holiday pageant is coming (during our intergenerational church service on December 19th) and it will feature our UU peace angels ~ Unitarian Universalists who have made significant contributions to this glorious holiday! We are pleased to announce that Giles Holt and Cody Urban will be co-directing (with assistance from Roberta) and we can be sure to expect some more of their great theatrics. We have plenty of big and small parts for all those interested in participating this year. Rehearsals will be held on Sunday, November 28, December 5, and December 12 at 10 AM. We will also have a dress rehearsal on Saturday, December 18th at 10AM. Contact Roberta today for more questions or to sign up!
Kudos to all of our participants and supporters for our recent community service projects! Since our last Arbella, we partied with the folks at the assisted living facility in town; we collected an unbelievable amount of surplus Halloween candy to donate to Birthday Wishes to use in goodie bags and piñatas for the birthday parties they host for children living in local homeless shelters; and we worked with the Miller Tracy Children's Foundation to shop for and package 35 Thanksgiving food baskets for local families in need. Great work!!!
Planning ahead ...
Great news for January 9th! To put the principle of "coming together with acceptance" into action, we have been invited to join the children at First Parish of Needham for worship and fun. We had a great time last year visiting the UU church of Greater Lynn and expect this trip to be equally grand. More details will follow in January, but save the date so your child won't miss out on this exciting adventure!
Another Adult RE opportunity:
Aging Group
Our two Sunday morning seminars with Bob Dutton on aging have spawned a Sunday morning group that will continue to meet. The first meeting in January will be on January 30, 2005 at 9:30 a.m..
Tax Year Ends
Friends, please remember that the tax year ends on December 31, 2004. Please note your opportunity to a make charitable deduction to First Parish this fiscal year. Our Canvass Committee will be sending special pledge reminders soon, and this year you will receive a special Holiday envelope with that reminder. Please be generous.
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Join Us for these special Holiday Worship Services
Sunday, December 19
11:00 a.m. Annual Christmas Pageant ”UU Peace Angels”
7:00 p.m. Winter Solstice Celebration
Friday, December 24
5:00 and 7:00 p.m.
Christmas Eve Candlelight Services