Thursday, May 31, 2007
Wednesday, May 02, 2007
Arbella - Newsletter for June 2007
First Parish of Watertown
Arbella
June 2007
For calendar of events refer to our website, www. fpwatertown.org
Sermons/Services
Sunday, June 3, 2007
“Following the Signs” Mark W. Harris
Can we predict our future? Over the Memorial Day holiday my sister-in-law was telling me about a niece of hers who predicted she would be married on July 7 in 2007 at 7:00 p.m. And her prediction will come true!! Do the stars or perhaps something else (like DNA) predict who or what we will be?
Greeters: Diane and Thom Shepard
Social Hour: Holly Cachimuel and Paula Carnese
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Youth Sunday Service
Join us for a highlight of our year as we honor special rite-of-passages for some of the children and youth in our community. We will celebrate "First Chalice", "First Mentor", and our high school graduates. Plus, we will enjoy the talents of our youth as they lead us in worship!
Greeters: Anna Knight and Sue Kuder
Social Hour: Sue Demb and Kathy Button
Sunday June 17, 2007
Flower Celebration and All Church Picnic
Mark W. Harris
Our final service of the church year always features that great UU tradition of Flower Celebration, which comes to us from the Czech Unitarian martyr Norbert Capek. Please bring a cut flower to church. This day also marks
our annual all church picnic. Please bring a dish to share for the feast that follows the service. And plan to help us celebrate with an Environmental Fair. You will be able to purchase CFL bulbs, Canvas FPW grocery bags and shower “coaches.”
Greeters: Beth Parsons and TBA
Social Hour: Church Picnic, sponsored by Fellowship
Summer Services
All Summer Services will be at 9:30 a.m.
We will send out a summer flyer in July.
No services on July 1 and 8, and August 26 and September 2. Here are the leaders:
July
7/15 - Roberta Altamari
7/22 - Kyle Hart
7/29 - Carole Berney
August
8/5 - Charlyn Bethell
8/12 - Wendell Refior
8/19 - Chris Johnson
Captain’s Log
Rev. Mark W. Harris, minister
Thanks to my wife Andrea I have been thinking a great deal about “inclusion” both in terms of liberal thought and especially in the ways children are taught in schools these days. In theory it sounds like the perfect liberal approach to things. Inclusion simply means we include everyone. And we say, that’s excellent. In church we have differently abled people in our church school and in our worship services. We are happy to include everyone, and its makes us feel good to know that we are a welcoming place for all. In a church where the central premise is being part of a caring community that worships together, the long term effects of inclusion are apparent. We may feel as though we are truly building the community where we accept the inherent worth and dignity of all. But what about inclusion in other places, such as schools?
Just a few days ago Steve Rothstein, the President of Perkins School for the Blind had an editorial in the Globe. He was talking about some of the very harmful effects of this philosophy of inclusion. More blind children
are now part of the public school system. In inclusion rhetoric, we say everybody needs to be welcomed and accepted. Sighted children are exposed to blind children and vice versa. We will feel like everybody belongs. Right? Unfortunately, no.
First, we remember that Unitarian Universalist churches should feel some special relationship to schools like Perkins and the Fernald (now threatened with closure). Active Unitarian and abolitionist Samuel Gridley Howe (husband of peace activist and reformer Julia Ward Howe), was the first executive director of Perkins, when it was located in South Boston, and he was also the founder of the Fernald. He believed that everyone should be educated to the best of his/her abilities. Before that time children who were blind or had other disabilities were often not educated at all. Anyone with a disability was categorized as an “idiot.”
In Howe’s mind we must educate everyone to the best of his/her abilities. And this is precisely the problem with inclusion these days. In his editorial Rothstein writes about the great decline in the number of blind students who learn Braille, yet we know Braille remains the best way for a blind person to achieve high literary skills, and thus have success in life . Why is there a decline? Because more blind children are educated in the public schools, and since there is no one trained to teach them how to read braille, blind children simply cannot succeed as well as they are capable of. Inclusion would be a great idea IF we had the trained people and the money to provide the services that children need, but we don’t. So while the schools can say “we include blind people,” and appear accepting of diversity, they are actually fostering a decline in the ability of blind students to learn what they could learn. It is difficult to convince the state or anybody else of the problems with inclusion because everyone has been romanced by the idea of including everybody.
If a child has a reading problem or faces some other learning issue, the best place for them to be educated is probably a school that specializes in that problem. Some people would argue that they will feel ostracized from society because the child will be seen as odd or different. The problem is they feel more ostracized when they continue to fail and there are no resources to help them. We also need to ask what the long term effects on their lives will be, while we convince ourselves what good liberals we are by supporting inclusion. Then the special education students get classified as the ones who cause the problems, just as the Superintendent here in Watertown was doing recently by saying all the budget problems are due to Special Ed. This is a very complicated issue, but we all need to see the gulf between saying that inclusion is great, and then not providing the resources or the people to help those children who need it. Theories of including everybody are only as good as the instances where they are truly included with learning and social skills programs that help them become all that they can become.
Soon it will be time for a summer break for most of us. This is a chance for us to think about issues that perplex us in different ways than the one I discussed above and also relax with our loved ones. I am grateful for the life of the church because it allows me to find hope that children can be affirmed and loved for who they are, and that we can take our grief and pain about the affairs of the world, such as war and global warming, and find hope among religious folk like us, who believe there is a more loving way to be and do in the world. I will miss you all in the months ahead. Please remember our summer gatherings and join us in worship. I will be on vacation for most of July, and on call for most of August. Please call me at home if you need something. Our number in Maine is posted in the office on the file cabinet. I hope you have a wonderful summer!
Mark
Giving Box
Our May/June Giving Boxes are for R.E.A.C.H. (a battered women’s shelter in Waltham, formerly the Support Committee for Battered Women). Their needs include: Gift cards to grocery stores (especially Hannaford’s which is located in Waltham), Toiletries including paper towels, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo. Towels, twin sheets, blankets and pillows. Thank you.
Charitable offering
In May our special charitable offering benefited Bikes Not Bombs. The collection was $708.00. Thank you all. Final special collection this church year will be for The Food Project on June 10. Our own Cody Urban will tell us more.
See The FPW Website
This is another reminder to take a look at the new FPW website. Thanks again to Kyle Hart for all his labors in bringing this to life. You will find our website by going to: www.fpwatertown.org. There is a “Members”
page where you have online access to the church directory, photos of recent events, and also where you will see the Amazon.com icon. If you intend to make purchases from Amazon please click on through our website, and we get a small percentage of the sales for the church. The user name: fpwatertown and the password is: arbella. Other new areas on the website include: a FPW history page, a welcome page with info on how to join the church, a rental
page and a staff page. We would love to have your comments and feedback. All sermons are posted on the website, as well as the current newsletter and the calendar.
Rummage Sale
A Special Thanks to all those who helped out with the annual Rummage Sale. We do not have a complete list of names, but do want to acknowledge our hard worker co-chairs: Jane Knuttunen and Sue Kuder. Our total profit for the day was $1270.
Recycling Food to Help End Hunger
A group of folks from First Parish takes turns picking up unsold bread and pastries from Panera on Sunday nights, packaging it all up, and delivering it to the Watertown Food Pantry (located at St. John’s Methodist Church) on Tuesday mornings. Our rotation is complete through Labor Day, but we are interested in having more people participate. Currently we each do this job once a month -- with more people, it could be every five or six weeks. This is a great, easy way to actively help -- this food would otherwise be thrown away, and those who are hungry would have no fresh bread. It can be a nice family activity and teaching tool as well. Andrea Greenwood coordinates the calendar for current participants Valy McDonald; Kelly, Kyle, Roane and Gates Lenore Morton; David Benson; Nancy Dutton; Jean Merkl; John Gorman; and Mark, Dana, Asher and Levi Harris. Also (not sure if this is a benefit or a problem) you get to eat the broken cookies, cinnamon rolls, cakes, scones, bear claws.......
Bring back water
Please remember to collect some water from the place where your summer travels take you. Near or far please fill a small container with water from the place you visit so that you can share the life flowing spirit of your summer adventure. Our Water Service will be on Sunday, September 9 at 11:00 a.m.
Among Us
Last month we announced Sue and Joe Demb’s granddaughter. Here’s more: Micaela Genevieve Best Demb was born April 24 in Michigan. Congratulations.
Congratulations to High School Graduates:
Alex Rizza will go to Union College next fall.
Pam Knuttunen will be attending Suffolk University in the fall.
In the NEWS: (Both posted downstairs)
Paul Day was featured in an article in the Boston Globe concerning his Billy Bob comedian routine.
Chris Johnson and Ken Repp were featured on the front page of the Waltham paper in an article on Same-sex marriage. Elizabeth and Isabel were quoted in the same article.
When Charlotte Fitts-Sprague joined FPW she became the sixth generation to be UU.
5th generation -Judith Rice Fitts
First Parish Unitarian, Watertown, MA
4th generation Richard Swain Fitts
First Unitarian Church, Rochester, NY
3rd generation Gertrude Rice Fitts
First Universalist Church Foxboro, MA
2nd generation Nellie Hunnewell Rice
Third Universalist Church, Cambridge, MA
1st generation Franklin Hunnewell
First Parish (Unitarian) in Cambridge MA
Franklin’s parents Charles and Ruth were also members in Cambridge, but that predates Unitarianism. What a lineage!
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari
chalicedreamer@verizon.net
cell phone: 617-872-5145
I am going to keep my column short this month to allow room for other important information. Let me just briefly share some closure as the year winds down. My sincere thanks to everyone at First Parish who has contributed in any way to making this such a fabulous year!!! We’ve had wonderful & enthusiastic energy from our volunteers, a great & inspiring Coming-of-Age program, and the beginning of a vibrant & growing Youth Group! I enthusiastically look forward to more next year!!
I invite us all to take some time to fully enjoy the rewards of all our good work. Whether it be the exciting connection of marching with other UUs in the Pride Parade or the inspiring hope we get as we watch our youth grow up with UU values, there sure are a lot of amazing reasons to be UU today!
But don’t forget to balance all this celebrating and worthwhile activity with some time to rest and reflect. It’s a very busy time of year. Like all of my friends, I’ve been racing around all month from one commitment to the next. Even fun activities need to be balanced with quiet time. My family and I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend at Mark and Andrea’s beautiful home in Maine. At first, we were disappointed that rain was going to ruin our fun beach adventures there. But then we got there and the rain helped us settle into some much needed relaxation. We played games, we watched movies, we read books, and we just talked. As the weekend ended, Mike and I were both grateful for how relaxed we felt. We couldn’t remember the last time we felt so much at peace. It reminded me that I keep myself way too busy at home!
As we drove home from Maine, I promised myself that I would try to remember to keep some balance this coming summer. To balance the exciting adventures with some quiet time to connect with my family. To balance my obligations to others with some time to nurture myself too. This summer I’m planning for isn’t that far away. It will actually be here later this month. When it arrives, may you all find just what you are looking and hoping for! And I will look forward to seeing you again soon to hear all about it!!
Youth Group Plans;
Friday, June 1st to Sunday, June 3rd: District Youth Con in Haverill (Roberta will be our advisor for this.)
Sunday, June 3rd at 6pm: meet to plan Youth Sunday worship service (with pizza dinner)
Tuesday, June 5th at 7:30pm: need at least one or two Youth Group reps to attend the World in Watertown meeting to begin planning for Bikes Not Bombs‚ "bike collection drive" for this October.
Saturday, June 9th: Pride activities in Boston ... anyone want to go together?
Sunday, June 10th at 11am: lead Youth Sunday worship service
Sunday, June 17th during Social Hour: Help set up and staff a Green Sanctuary Sale table
Sunday, June 17th at time to be determined: picnic at Walden Pond
The Challenge of Creating Safety, Promoting Freedom, and Interrupting Heterosexism for our Children and Youth: Breakfast Discussion
What does the mom of an 17 year-old lesbian say to the parent's acquaintance who asks about a potential boyfriend? What about the well-meaning relative who comments that a charming young man (of 4,10, 15 years old) must have a lot of girlfriends?
These questions represent the heterosexism of the culture in which we are raised. How do we as friends and parents of children learn to phrase questions and thoughts in a way that children in our lives know that they are in a safe environment to fully discuss their worlds and feelings? How do we respond to the well-intentioned question without becoming a diversity sledgehammer? Do we have literature in our homes and church that let children know the full breadth of human experience?
While there are no simple answers, Jeanne Cleary and Elizabeth Tappan-deFrees would like to welcome all interested FPW friends and members to a breakfast to discuss how we support our church children and other children in our lives who are being raised in this world of assumed heterosexuality. Breakfast will be Sunday, June 10 at 9:30. If you have questions, please feel free to call us: Elizabeth 781-893-1695 or Jeanne 617-923-2701.
Gay Pride
We encourage all First Parish families to celebrate Gay Pride this month, and get involved as much as you can!!
Pride Activities on Saturday, June 9th
To learn more, go to www.bostonpride.org,
11am-11:45am Pride Service at Arlington Street Church , 351 Boylston Street , Boston
12noon Boston Pride Parade
Setup on Tremont street . Parade starts at the corner of Tremont and Clarendon streets, and will end at City Hall Plaza.
12noon-8pm Boston Pride Festival
City Hall Plaza
And get involved legislatively!
The all-important vote on an anti-marriage-equality amendment is coming soon! If the legislature votes in favor of the motion, then it will be put on the ballot for the people to decide whether or not same-sex couples will continue to have the right to marry. The MassEquality website has a great interactive map that shows which legislators support and oppose the amendment. Look at that map and see if you have family and friends that live in areas where a call or letter to their rep/senator might be helpful.
People do get confused as to whether we want a YES or a NO vote ˆ so it is good to be very explicit: we want a NO vote. Contact your legislators asking them to vote NO on this amendment and forward this to everyone you know who lives in Massachusetts . To find contact info for your legislator and to learn more about which legislators support and which oppose marriage equality, visit: http://www.massequality.org/action/maps/
Some inspiring readings to get you started ;
Please Read, Take Action and Forward
An except from a letter by Marc Solomon, Campaign Director for MassEquality
It’s wrong to let one group of people vote on the basic rights of another group of people - and history has shown that when initiatives that restrict minority rights are put to a popular vote, they almost always prevail.
The documentary film, "Better Angels," shows us what happened just two years ago in Wisconsin , when supporters of equality lost a campaign to prevent a similar discriminatory anti-gay amendment from being written into the Wisconsin Constitution. Activists and legislators in Wisconsin thought they could win. They ran a strong, well-funded campaign in what is normally a very progressive, LGBT-friendly state. But despite strong endorsements across the state and encouraging poll numbers, they lost by a wide margin. And the same thing could happen here. We believe this video helps make that strong case to legislators as they prepare to take a final vote on this discriminatory amendment - and we are so excited to share it with you.
Ready to take action to protect marriage equality? Go to www.massequality.org/action/ to learn how you can get involved (and for a link to the film).
WALTHAM DAILY NEWS TRIBUNE
Letters to the Editor
May 16, 2007
I am concerned about the pending vote on amending the constitution. It is troubling that the rights of a minority are in danger of being judged by the opinion of the majority. The Commonwealth is being faced with the choice of whether to add an amendment to our constitution whose sole purpose is to limit the already-existing rights of a specific group. The removal of existing rights is certainly not the intention of a constitutional amendment.
The question here is not about "what the majority of people want." The question here is not about religious beliefs.
This is about civil marriage, a civil contract between two individuals. It is about rights as defined by our existing and long-accepted laws. The recognition of civil rights is not traditionally put to the People. Rights are given, not removed, by the legislature. They are interpreted and protected by the courts.
Our nation’s history has, time and again, shown us that rights are not conferred by vote, but by the wise action of government.
Would those with disabilities have free access? Would women vote? (In fact, in 1915 the people of four states ˆ including Massachusetts ˆ voted against giving women the right to vote.) Would we have mixed-race marriages? Would African Americans have the right to vote? Indeed, would they even be free if the decision had been put to the popular vote? The advancement of civil rights ˆ the rights of women, of people of color, of the physically challenged ˆ has come about through the establishment of new laws that protect rights and by testing existing laws in our courts.
It is more appropriate that the voice of the majority ban together to protect the minority, not rescind or restrict their rights.
Christopher Johnson & Ken Repp, Waltham
Members at First Parish Watertown
Making a Mark
By Mark Caggiano, Student minister
My recent sermon on “Justice” was another installment in my philosophical and spiritual transition from lawyer to minister. One church member thought I was perhaps too hard on lawyers, but of course I am choosing to leave this profession and that is partly due to my reservations about the current legal culture. Both lawyers and clients would do well to reflect upon what the law really represents: that people do not trust each other. We worry about people harming each other, so there are crimes and punishments. We worry about people keeping their side of the bargain, so we have contracts and leases. We worry about getting paid back, so we have mortgages. These things are all understandable in a complex, modern society, but if you chase the argument back through these complexities to a simple interpersonal relationship, it is at the core a matter of trust.
In a church community, there is an important element of trust. We trust that Rev. Mark will be there on Sundays to preach. If he is not there, I imagine the first concern is not that he broke his legal and binding agreement to preach but that there is something wrong. Our concern would be that he was sick, or that his car broke down on the way home from Maine, or that something else kept him from his weekly duties. We trust that Mark will be there to preach, that Patty will be there to play and that Roberta will be there to teach. In each case, we trust them and do not ascribe their occasional absence to bad motivations or broken contracts. We might be curious or concerned, but not angry.
First Parish is a trusting community. Recently, the church had a cleanup day and more than 15 people showed up on a Saturday to pitch in – no one was required to come, but they did. The church canvass was just concluded and it was a clear success – no one was required to give, but they did. As a mostly volunteer organization, the church trusts that people will be there to help out when needed. It is also a very democratic community in many ways and decisions come from that communal process of discussion toward consensus. We similarly trust in this process of decision-making.
I would not suggest that you could run the world, or even Watertown, this way. We still need leases with our tenants to avoid disputes, employment policies to avoid confusion, and clear communication to avoid misunderstandings. People remain suspicious or fearful of the motivations of strangers and outsiders. The critical factor in this consideration is to get beyond that sense of the “other” and to understand those who might at first glance appear to be different. The Puritans, our religious ancestors, fled persecution in Europe only to set up a theocratic community in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritan church community was transformed over time, splintering into groups such as the Unitarians and the modern Congregationalists. These two groups moved beyond their stern, buckled shoe beginnings to become the two most liberal religious denominations in the United States. Things can change over time, with a lot of work and soul-searching. Trust may never become our first impulse, but in this same process of evolution, it may become more prevalent in our broader relationships. If a lawyer can become a minister, there is certainly the possibility for change in the wider community.
Best Wishes,
Mark C.
Environmental Fair
Mark your calendars! June 17th will be First Parish's first Environmental Fair. Come and purchase green merchandise including CFLs, shower coaches, cloth shopping bags and other environment-friendly products. The fair will be held during the annual picnic. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Green Sanctuary Steering Committee
New Member Welcome May 2007
We welcome Raz Mason
We welcome Lee Pierce
Lee is the proud mother of Emily, at this moment an 11-year-old. She has had a spectrum of occupations primarily in the helping professions (including: teaching young children for over 25 years, riding on an ambulance, family counseling, workshop coordinator, life coach, part of an ashram, portrait photographer, theological student and domestic goddess). Lee loves to play, ride her bike, spend the summer on Cape Cod, read and explore spirituality and human fulfillment, walk in nature, and be a cat perch for Hercules and Houdini. Lee has lived in the Boston/Cape Cod area for most of her life and now lives in West Newton. Her email “sig file” includes this poem by Emily at age 2:
when you talk be quiet
when you listen be loud
We welcome Dede Desault
Dede grew up UU; family legend has it that her parents chose a Unitarian church because they gave the best parties! Dede has been visiting a number of churches most of her adult life, and FPW is the first one she has wanted to join; she is very happy about that. Her daughter also attends FPW.
We welcome Brian Hebesian
Brian came to FPW through his wife Elisabeth and daughter Marina. He was attracted to the community aspect, the people he met seemed like good, interesting people. He is a computer programmer/geek by trade, but he does not consider his career his most important activity. His most important activity is being a dad which takes up so much of his life (in a good way). In addition Brian is keenly interested in the environment, which has led to him becoming co-chair of our Green Sanctuary committee. His other interests include kayaking, hiking, music.
CleanUp Day
A special thanks to all hose who helped out with our annual spring clean-up day. workers included: Brian Hebeisen, Elizabeth Strekalovsky, Izzy Tappan-deFrees
Elijah Tappan deFrees, Marilyn Boneau
Jane Knuttunen, Bob Shay, Chris Johnson
Jeff Miller, Nancy Dutton, Michael McCarthy
David Benson and Nick Haddad
Refreshments: David Morrison and Martha Scott
Baby Sitting Available
Fun, energetic and responsible 14 year old available for babysitting much of the summer -- days, evenings and weekends. Call Emma Day.
Need Childcare in Early June
Rachel Benson, soon to be a senior in college, is available for childcare from now until June 18 and then again in early August. Please call her
Rest and Recreation:
Three Crow Cottage, the future retirement home of your minister, is a lovely seaside spot where you can relax and ponder existence. Or where you can jump into a kayak and get a good workout. There are no full weeks open
there this summer, but July 22- 27 and August 18-23 are free. Also, for those who are not limited by the school year, or who have weekends free, June and September are perfect times to visit midcoast Maine. Contact
Andrea if you are interested -- themanse@comcast.net
Want to get away? Want to relax and rejuvenate? We can help with a Wine Country Excursion
An hour north of San Francisco are the lush vineyards, world class wineries and picturesque small towns of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. We invite all UUs and friends to share the beauty of our “home” through the UU Fellowship of North Bay’s “Wine Country Excursions.”
We offer small customized two day tours of our valleys which can include wine tastings, art galleries, museums, scenic trails and much more. We provide private rooms with bath in the homes of our members and experienced guides to conduct tours in their cars.
Tours are offered from mid-May through mid-October. Plan for two days of touring and a two or three night stay with all local transportation provided. Home hospitality without tours is also available. Our fees are below market rates for similar services. All proceeds to help our Fellowship grow and purchase property in this expensive real estate market. We have limited openings, so contact us now for details. Iris Barrie, 707.265.6926 or barrie001@comcast.net
“Napa was as delightful as I had expected. What was equally important and somewhat unexpected was the profound connections I felt with my hosts and hostesses.”
Carol Lim, Los Angeles
Discover Another Culture – Host an International Visitor!
Global Immersions, Inc. specializes in homestay living and Intercultural Services. Global Immersions Homestay is Boston’s leading homestay company striving to provide quality homestays in comfortable and safe environments, with rich intercultural interaction with American individuals and families for all visitors coming to Boston.
Global Immersions Homestay is currently accepting applications for homestay hosts. Competitive compensation provided – short and long-term placements available. For specific details on hosting, please contact Patty at 1-888-924-2712 or visit our website at www.globalimmersions.com
Come join us
Our Final Sunday of the Church Year - June 17, 2007
Beginning at 11:00 a.m. Intergenerational Service
Flower Celebration - Please remember to bring a cut flower to the service
All Church Picnic - Please bring a potluck item to share.
We provide beverages.
Environmental Fair - We will have CFL bulbs, FPW Cloth Shopping Bags and Shower Coaches for sale.
Arbella
June 2007
For calendar of events refer to our website, www. fpwatertown.org
Sermons/Services
Sunday, June 3, 2007
“Following the Signs” Mark W. Harris
Can we predict our future? Over the Memorial Day holiday my sister-in-law was telling me about a niece of hers who predicted she would be married on July 7 in 2007 at 7:00 p.m. And her prediction will come true!! Do the stars or perhaps something else (like DNA) predict who or what we will be?
Greeters: Diane and Thom Shepard
Social Hour: Holly Cachimuel and Paula Carnese
Sunday, June 10, 2007
Youth Sunday Service
Join us for a highlight of our year as we honor special rite-of-passages for some of the children and youth in our community. We will celebrate "First Chalice", "First Mentor", and our high school graduates. Plus, we will enjoy the talents of our youth as they lead us in worship!
Greeters: Anna Knight and Sue Kuder
Social Hour: Sue Demb and Kathy Button
Sunday June 17, 2007
Flower Celebration and All Church Picnic
Mark W. Harris
Our final service of the church year always features that great UU tradition of Flower Celebration, which comes to us from the Czech Unitarian martyr Norbert Capek. Please bring a cut flower to church. This day also marks
our annual all church picnic. Please bring a dish to share for the feast that follows the service. And plan to help us celebrate with an Environmental Fair. You will be able to purchase CFL bulbs, Canvas FPW grocery bags and shower “coaches.”
Greeters: Beth Parsons and TBA
Social Hour: Church Picnic, sponsored by Fellowship
Summer Services
All Summer Services will be at 9:30 a.m.
We will send out a summer flyer in July.
No services on July 1 and 8, and August 26 and September 2. Here are the leaders:
July
7/15 - Roberta Altamari
7/22 - Kyle Hart
7/29 - Carole Berney
August
8/5 - Charlyn Bethell
8/12 - Wendell Refior
8/19 - Chris Johnson
Captain’s Log
Rev. Mark W. Harris, minister
Thanks to my wife Andrea I have been thinking a great deal about “inclusion” both in terms of liberal thought and especially in the ways children are taught in schools these days. In theory it sounds like the perfect liberal approach to things. Inclusion simply means we include everyone. And we say, that’s excellent. In church we have differently abled people in our church school and in our worship services. We are happy to include everyone, and its makes us feel good to know that we are a welcoming place for all. In a church where the central premise is being part of a caring community that worships together, the long term effects of inclusion are apparent. We may feel as though we are truly building the community where we accept the inherent worth and dignity of all. But what about inclusion in other places, such as schools?
Just a few days ago Steve Rothstein, the President of Perkins School for the Blind had an editorial in the Globe. He was talking about some of the very harmful effects of this philosophy of inclusion. More blind children
are now part of the public school system. In inclusion rhetoric, we say everybody needs to be welcomed and accepted. Sighted children are exposed to blind children and vice versa. We will feel like everybody belongs. Right? Unfortunately, no.
First, we remember that Unitarian Universalist churches should feel some special relationship to schools like Perkins and the Fernald (now threatened with closure). Active Unitarian and abolitionist Samuel Gridley Howe (husband of peace activist and reformer Julia Ward Howe), was the first executive director of Perkins, when it was located in South Boston, and he was also the founder of the Fernald. He believed that everyone should be educated to the best of his/her abilities. Before that time children who were blind or had other disabilities were often not educated at all. Anyone with a disability was categorized as an “idiot.”
In Howe’s mind we must educate everyone to the best of his/her abilities. And this is precisely the problem with inclusion these days. In his editorial Rothstein writes about the great decline in the number of blind students who learn Braille, yet we know Braille remains the best way for a blind person to achieve high literary skills, and thus have success in life . Why is there a decline? Because more blind children are educated in the public schools, and since there is no one trained to teach them how to read braille, blind children simply cannot succeed as well as they are capable of. Inclusion would be a great idea IF we had the trained people and the money to provide the services that children need, but we don’t. So while the schools can say “we include blind people,” and appear accepting of diversity, they are actually fostering a decline in the ability of blind students to learn what they could learn. It is difficult to convince the state or anybody else of the problems with inclusion because everyone has been romanced by the idea of including everybody.
If a child has a reading problem or faces some other learning issue, the best place for them to be educated is probably a school that specializes in that problem. Some people would argue that they will feel ostracized from society because the child will be seen as odd or different. The problem is they feel more ostracized when they continue to fail and there are no resources to help them. We also need to ask what the long term effects on their lives will be, while we convince ourselves what good liberals we are by supporting inclusion. Then the special education students get classified as the ones who cause the problems, just as the Superintendent here in Watertown was doing recently by saying all the budget problems are due to Special Ed. This is a very complicated issue, but we all need to see the gulf between saying that inclusion is great, and then not providing the resources or the people to help those children who need it. Theories of including everybody are only as good as the instances where they are truly included with learning and social skills programs that help them become all that they can become.
Soon it will be time for a summer break for most of us. This is a chance for us to think about issues that perplex us in different ways than the one I discussed above and also relax with our loved ones. I am grateful for the life of the church because it allows me to find hope that children can be affirmed and loved for who they are, and that we can take our grief and pain about the affairs of the world, such as war and global warming, and find hope among religious folk like us, who believe there is a more loving way to be and do in the world. I will miss you all in the months ahead. Please remember our summer gatherings and join us in worship. I will be on vacation for most of July, and on call for most of August. Please call me at home if you need something. Our number in Maine is posted in the office on the file cabinet. I hope you have a wonderful summer!
Mark
Giving Box
Our May/June Giving Boxes are for R.E.A.C.H. (a battered women’s shelter in Waltham, formerly the Support Committee for Battered Women). Their needs include: Gift cards to grocery stores (especially Hannaford’s which is located in Waltham), Toiletries including paper towels, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, and shampoo. Towels, twin sheets, blankets and pillows. Thank you.
Charitable offering
In May our special charitable offering benefited Bikes Not Bombs. The collection was $708.00. Thank you all. Final special collection this church year will be for The Food Project on June 10. Our own Cody Urban will tell us more.
See The FPW Website
This is another reminder to take a look at the new FPW website. Thanks again to Kyle Hart for all his labors in bringing this to life. You will find our website by going to: www.fpwatertown.org. There is a “Members”
page where you have online access to the church directory, photos of recent events, and also where you will see the Amazon.com icon. If you intend to make purchases from Amazon please click on through our website, and we get a small percentage of the sales for the church. The user name: fpwatertown and the password is: arbella. Other new areas on the website include: a FPW history page, a welcome page with info on how to join the church, a rental
page and a staff page. We would love to have your comments and feedback. All sermons are posted on the website, as well as the current newsletter and the calendar.
Rummage Sale
A Special Thanks to all those who helped out with the annual Rummage Sale. We do not have a complete list of names, but do want to acknowledge our hard worker co-chairs: Jane Knuttunen and Sue Kuder. Our total profit for the day was $1270.
Recycling Food to Help End Hunger
A group of folks from First Parish takes turns picking up unsold bread and pastries from Panera on Sunday nights, packaging it all up, and delivering it to the Watertown Food Pantry (located at St. John’s Methodist Church) on Tuesday mornings. Our rotation is complete through Labor Day, but we are interested in having more people participate. Currently we each do this job once a month -- with more people, it could be every five or six weeks. This is a great, easy way to actively help -- this food would otherwise be thrown away, and those who are hungry would have no fresh bread. It can be a nice family activity and teaching tool as well. Andrea Greenwood coordinates the calendar for current participants Valy McDonald; Kelly, Kyle, Roane and Gates Lenore Morton; David Benson; Nancy Dutton; Jean Merkl; John Gorman; and Mark, Dana, Asher and Levi Harris. Also (not sure if this is a benefit or a problem) you get to eat the broken cookies, cinnamon rolls, cakes, scones, bear claws.......
Bring back water
Please remember to collect some water from the place where your summer travels take you. Near or far please fill a small container with water from the place you visit so that you can share the life flowing spirit of your summer adventure. Our Water Service will be on Sunday, September 9 at 11:00 a.m.
Among Us
Last month we announced Sue and Joe Demb’s granddaughter. Here’s more: Micaela Genevieve Best Demb was born April 24 in Michigan. Congratulations.
Congratulations to High School Graduates:
Alex Rizza will go to Union College next fall.
Pam Knuttunen will be attending Suffolk University in the fall.
In the NEWS: (Both posted downstairs)
Paul Day was featured in an article in the Boston Globe concerning his Billy Bob comedian routine.
Chris Johnson and Ken Repp were featured on the front page of the Waltham paper in an article on Same-sex marriage. Elizabeth and Isabel were quoted in the same article.
When Charlotte Fitts-Sprague joined FPW she became the sixth generation to be UU.
5th generation -Judith Rice Fitts
First Parish Unitarian, Watertown, MA
4th generation Richard Swain Fitts
First Unitarian Church, Rochester, NY
3rd generation Gertrude Rice Fitts
First Universalist Church Foxboro, MA
2nd generation Nellie Hunnewell Rice
Third Universalist Church, Cambridge, MA
1st generation Franklin Hunnewell
First Parish (Unitarian) in Cambridge MA
Franklin’s parents Charles and Ruth were also members in Cambridge, but that predates Unitarianism. What a lineage!
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari
chalicedreamer@verizon.net
cell phone: 617-872-5145
I am going to keep my column short this month to allow room for other important information. Let me just briefly share some closure as the year winds down. My sincere thanks to everyone at First Parish who has contributed in any way to making this such a fabulous year!!! We’ve had wonderful & enthusiastic energy from our volunteers, a great & inspiring Coming-of-Age program, and the beginning of a vibrant & growing Youth Group! I enthusiastically look forward to more next year!!
I invite us all to take some time to fully enjoy the rewards of all our good work. Whether it be the exciting connection of marching with other UUs in the Pride Parade or the inspiring hope we get as we watch our youth grow up with UU values, there sure are a lot of amazing reasons to be UU today!
But don’t forget to balance all this celebrating and worthwhile activity with some time to rest and reflect. It’s a very busy time of year. Like all of my friends, I’ve been racing around all month from one commitment to the next. Even fun activities need to be balanced with quiet time. My family and I recently had the pleasure of spending a weekend at Mark and Andrea’s beautiful home in Maine. At first, we were disappointed that rain was going to ruin our fun beach adventures there. But then we got there and the rain helped us settle into some much needed relaxation. We played games, we watched movies, we read books, and we just talked. As the weekend ended, Mike and I were both grateful for how relaxed we felt. We couldn’t remember the last time we felt so much at peace. It reminded me that I keep myself way too busy at home!
As we drove home from Maine, I promised myself that I would try to remember to keep some balance this coming summer. To balance the exciting adventures with some quiet time to connect with my family. To balance my obligations to others with some time to nurture myself too. This summer I’m planning for isn’t that far away. It will actually be here later this month. When it arrives, may you all find just what you are looking and hoping for! And I will look forward to seeing you again soon to hear all about it!!
Youth Group Plans;
Friday, June 1st to Sunday, June 3rd: District Youth Con in Haverill (Roberta will be our advisor for this.)
Sunday, June 3rd at 6pm: meet to plan Youth Sunday worship service (with pizza dinner)
Tuesday, June 5th at 7:30pm: need at least one or two Youth Group reps to attend the World in Watertown meeting to begin planning for Bikes Not Bombs‚ "bike collection drive" for this October.
Saturday, June 9th: Pride activities in Boston ... anyone want to go together?
Sunday, June 10th at 11am: lead Youth Sunday worship service
Sunday, June 17th during Social Hour: Help set up and staff a Green Sanctuary Sale table
Sunday, June 17th at time to be determined: picnic at Walden Pond
The Challenge of Creating Safety, Promoting Freedom, and Interrupting Heterosexism for our Children and Youth: Breakfast Discussion
What does the mom of an 17 year-old lesbian say to the parent's acquaintance who asks about a potential boyfriend? What about the well-meaning relative who comments that a charming young man (of 4,10, 15 years old) must have a lot of girlfriends?
These questions represent the heterosexism of the culture in which we are raised. How do we as friends and parents of children learn to phrase questions and thoughts in a way that children in our lives know that they are in a safe environment to fully discuss their worlds and feelings? How do we respond to the well-intentioned question without becoming a diversity sledgehammer? Do we have literature in our homes and church that let children know the full breadth of human experience?
While there are no simple answers, Jeanne Cleary and Elizabeth Tappan-deFrees would like to welcome all interested FPW friends and members to a breakfast to discuss how we support our church children and other children in our lives who are being raised in this world of assumed heterosexuality. Breakfast will be Sunday, June 10 at 9:30. If you have questions, please feel free to call us: Elizabeth 781-893-1695 or Jeanne 617-923-2701.
Gay Pride
We encourage all First Parish families to celebrate Gay Pride this month, and get involved as much as you can!!
Pride Activities on Saturday, June 9th
To learn more, go to www.bostonpride.org,
11am-11:45am Pride Service at Arlington Street Church , 351 Boylston Street , Boston
12noon Boston Pride Parade
Setup on Tremont street . Parade starts at the corner of Tremont and Clarendon streets, and will end at City Hall Plaza.
12noon-8pm Boston Pride Festival
City Hall Plaza
And get involved legislatively!
The all-important vote on an anti-marriage-equality amendment is coming soon! If the legislature votes in favor of the motion, then it will be put on the ballot for the people to decide whether or not same-sex couples will continue to have the right to marry. The MassEquality website has a great interactive map that shows which legislators support and oppose the amendment. Look at that map and see if you have family and friends that live in areas where a call or letter to their rep/senator might be helpful.
People do get confused as to whether we want a YES or a NO vote ˆ so it is good to be very explicit: we want a NO vote. Contact your legislators asking them to vote NO on this amendment and forward this to everyone you know who lives in Massachusetts . To find contact info for your legislator and to learn more about which legislators support and which oppose marriage equality, visit: http://www.massequality.org/action/maps/
Some inspiring readings to get you started ;
Please Read, Take Action and Forward
An except from a letter by Marc Solomon, Campaign Director for MassEquality
It’s wrong to let one group of people vote on the basic rights of another group of people - and history has shown that when initiatives that restrict minority rights are put to a popular vote, they almost always prevail.
The documentary film, "Better Angels," shows us what happened just two years ago in Wisconsin , when supporters of equality lost a campaign to prevent a similar discriminatory anti-gay amendment from being written into the Wisconsin Constitution. Activists and legislators in Wisconsin thought they could win. They ran a strong, well-funded campaign in what is normally a very progressive, LGBT-friendly state. But despite strong endorsements across the state and encouraging poll numbers, they lost by a wide margin. And the same thing could happen here. We believe this video helps make that strong case to legislators as they prepare to take a final vote on this discriminatory amendment - and we are so excited to share it with you.
Ready to take action to protect marriage equality? Go to www.massequality.org/action/ to learn how you can get involved (and for a link to the film).
WALTHAM DAILY NEWS TRIBUNE
Letters to the Editor
May 16, 2007
I am concerned about the pending vote on amending the constitution. It is troubling that the rights of a minority are in danger of being judged by the opinion of the majority. The Commonwealth is being faced with the choice of whether to add an amendment to our constitution whose sole purpose is to limit the already-existing rights of a specific group. The removal of existing rights is certainly not the intention of a constitutional amendment.
The question here is not about "what the majority of people want." The question here is not about religious beliefs.
This is about civil marriage, a civil contract between two individuals. It is about rights as defined by our existing and long-accepted laws. The recognition of civil rights is not traditionally put to the People. Rights are given, not removed, by the legislature. They are interpreted and protected by the courts.
Our nation’s history has, time and again, shown us that rights are not conferred by vote, but by the wise action of government.
Would those with disabilities have free access? Would women vote? (In fact, in 1915 the people of four states ˆ including Massachusetts ˆ voted against giving women the right to vote.) Would we have mixed-race marriages? Would African Americans have the right to vote? Indeed, would they even be free if the decision had been put to the popular vote? The advancement of civil rights ˆ the rights of women, of people of color, of the physically challenged ˆ has come about through the establishment of new laws that protect rights and by testing existing laws in our courts.
It is more appropriate that the voice of the majority ban together to protect the minority, not rescind or restrict their rights.
Christopher Johnson & Ken Repp, Waltham
Members at First Parish Watertown
Making a Mark
By Mark Caggiano, Student minister
My recent sermon on “Justice” was another installment in my philosophical and spiritual transition from lawyer to minister. One church member thought I was perhaps too hard on lawyers, but of course I am choosing to leave this profession and that is partly due to my reservations about the current legal culture. Both lawyers and clients would do well to reflect upon what the law really represents: that people do not trust each other. We worry about people harming each other, so there are crimes and punishments. We worry about people keeping their side of the bargain, so we have contracts and leases. We worry about getting paid back, so we have mortgages. These things are all understandable in a complex, modern society, but if you chase the argument back through these complexities to a simple interpersonal relationship, it is at the core a matter of trust.
In a church community, there is an important element of trust. We trust that Rev. Mark will be there on Sundays to preach. If he is not there, I imagine the first concern is not that he broke his legal and binding agreement to preach but that there is something wrong. Our concern would be that he was sick, or that his car broke down on the way home from Maine, or that something else kept him from his weekly duties. We trust that Mark will be there to preach, that Patty will be there to play and that Roberta will be there to teach. In each case, we trust them and do not ascribe their occasional absence to bad motivations or broken contracts. We might be curious or concerned, but not angry.
First Parish is a trusting community. Recently, the church had a cleanup day and more than 15 people showed up on a Saturday to pitch in – no one was required to come, but they did. The church canvass was just concluded and it was a clear success – no one was required to give, but they did. As a mostly volunteer organization, the church trusts that people will be there to help out when needed. It is also a very democratic community in many ways and decisions come from that communal process of discussion toward consensus. We similarly trust in this process of decision-making.
I would not suggest that you could run the world, or even Watertown, this way. We still need leases with our tenants to avoid disputes, employment policies to avoid confusion, and clear communication to avoid misunderstandings. People remain suspicious or fearful of the motivations of strangers and outsiders. The critical factor in this consideration is to get beyond that sense of the “other” and to understand those who might at first glance appear to be different. The Puritans, our religious ancestors, fled persecution in Europe only to set up a theocratic community in the Massachusetts Bay Colony. The Puritan church community was transformed over time, splintering into groups such as the Unitarians and the modern Congregationalists. These two groups moved beyond their stern, buckled shoe beginnings to become the two most liberal religious denominations in the United States. Things can change over time, with a lot of work and soul-searching. Trust may never become our first impulse, but in this same process of evolution, it may become more prevalent in our broader relationships. If a lawyer can become a minister, there is certainly the possibility for change in the wider community.
Best Wishes,
Mark C.
Environmental Fair
Mark your calendars! June 17th will be First Parish's first Environmental Fair. Come and purchase green merchandise including CFLs, shower coaches, cloth shopping bags and other environment-friendly products. The fair will be held during the annual picnic. We look forward to seeing you there!
The Green Sanctuary Steering Committee
New Member Welcome May 2007
We welcome Raz Mason
We welcome Lee Pierce
Lee is the proud mother of Emily, at this moment an 11-year-old. She has had a spectrum of occupations primarily in the helping professions (including: teaching young children for over 25 years, riding on an ambulance, family counseling, workshop coordinator, life coach, part of an ashram, portrait photographer, theological student and domestic goddess). Lee loves to play, ride her bike, spend the summer on Cape Cod, read and explore spirituality and human fulfillment, walk in nature, and be a cat perch for Hercules and Houdini. Lee has lived in the Boston/Cape Cod area for most of her life and now lives in West Newton. Her email “sig file” includes this poem by Emily at age 2:
when you talk be quiet
when you listen be loud
We welcome Dede Desault
Dede grew up UU; family legend has it that her parents chose a Unitarian church because they gave the best parties! Dede has been visiting a number of churches most of her adult life, and FPW is the first one she has wanted to join; she is very happy about that. Her daughter also attends FPW.
We welcome Brian Hebesian
Brian came to FPW through his wife Elisabeth and daughter Marina. He was attracted to the community aspect, the people he met seemed like good, interesting people. He is a computer programmer/geek by trade, but he does not consider his career his most important activity. His most important activity is being a dad which takes up so much of his life (in a good way). In addition Brian is keenly interested in the environment, which has led to him becoming co-chair of our Green Sanctuary committee. His other interests include kayaking, hiking, music.
CleanUp Day
A special thanks to all hose who helped out with our annual spring clean-up day. workers included: Brian Hebeisen, Elizabeth Strekalovsky, Izzy Tappan-deFrees
Elijah Tappan deFrees, Marilyn Boneau
Jane Knuttunen, Bob Shay, Chris Johnson
Jeff Miller, Nancy Dutton, Michael McCarthy
David Benson and Nick Haddad
Refreshments: David Morrison and Martha Scott
Baby Sitting Available
Fun, energetic and responsible 14 year old available for babysitting much of the summer -- days, evenings and weekends. Call Emma Day.
Need Childcare in Early June
Rachel Benson, soon to be a senior in college, is available for childcare from now until June 18 and then again in early August. Please call her
Rest and Recreation:
Three Crow Cottage, the future retirement home of your minister, is a lovely seaside spot where you can relax and ponder existence. Or where you can jump into a kayak and get a good workout. There are no full weeks open
there this summer, but July 22- 27 and August 18-23 are free. Also, for those who are not limited by the school year, or who have weekends free, June and September are perfect times to visit midcoast Maine. Contact
Andrea if you are interested -- themanse@comcast.net
Want to get away? Want to relax and rejuvenate? We can help with a Wine Country Excursion
An hour north of San Francisco are the lush vineyards, world class wineries and picturesque small towns of the Napa and Sonoma Valleys. We invite all UUs and friends to share the beauty of our “home” through the UU Fellowship of North Bay’s “Wine Country Excursions.”
We offer small customized two day tours of our valleys which can include wine tastings, art galleries, museums, scenic trails and much more. We provide private rooms with bath in the homes of our members and experienced guides to conduct tours in their cars.
Tours are offered from mid-May through mid-October. Plan for two days of touring and a two or three night stay with all local transportation provided. Home hospitality without tours is also available. Our fees are below market rates for similar services. All proceeds to help our Fellowship grow and purchase property in this expensive real estate market. We have limited openings, so contact us now for details. Iris Barrie, 707.265.6926 or barrie001@comcast.net
“Napa was as delightful as I had expected. What was equally important and somewhat unexpected was the profound connections I felt with my hosts and hostesses.”
Carol Lim, Los Angeles
Discover Another Culture – Host an International Visitor!
Global Immersions, Inc. specializes in homestay living and Intercultural Services. Global Immersions Homestay is Boston’s leading homestay company striving to provide quality homestays in comfortable and safe environments, with rich intercultural interaction with American individuals and families for all visitors coming to Boston.
Global Immersions Homestay is currently accepting applications for homestay hosts. Competitive compensation provided – short and long-term placements available. For specific details on hosting, please contact Patty at 1-888-924-2712 or visit our website at www.globalimmersions.com
Come join us
Our Final Sunday of the Church Year - June 17, 2007
Beginning at 11:00 a.m. Intergenerational Service
Flower Celebration - Please remember to bring a cut flower to the service
All Church Picnic - Please bring a potluck item to share.
We provide beverages.
Environmental Fair - We will have CFL bulbs, FPW Cloth Shopping Bags and Shower Coaches for sale.
Arbella - Newsletter for May 2007
First Parish of Watertown
Arbella
May 2007
for calendar of First Parish events, please go to fpwatertown.org
Sermons/Services
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Creeping Creedalism - Mark W. Harris
Do you know what the UUA Principles are? Do they inform your faith? In recent years the UUA Principles and Purposes have gained in popularity like no other statement of covenant or belief we have ever had. Yet we are a free, non creedal faith, and some of our members are concerned that they are becoming a substitute creed. Is there a creeping creedalism among us? This service will be followed by a talk back session - UUA Principles are under review, and the UUA needs feedback.
Music: Isabel Tappan deFrees, soprano horn
Greeters: Diane and Thom Shepard
Social Hour:
Ann Harrington and Virginia Howe
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Love and Help - Mark W. Harris
How do we know when our children need help? We were all horrified by the killings at Virginia Tech recently. As parents we want to see struggling children and young adults be helped, but is anybody there to do so? Child dedications for Katie and Haley Chamberlain.
Music: Aurora Sherman will sing.
Greeters:
Randy Rhoda and Michael McCarthy
Social Hour:
Bobbie Brown and Marilyn Boenau
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Justice Sunday Mark Caggiano
The man who is in transition from lawyer to minister will consider what justice means (as part of the Seven Virtues series). We will also celebrate UUSC Justice Sunday
Music: Djalai Babazadeh, viola
Greeters: Beth Parsons and Joani Mountain
Social Hour: The Sherman/Miller Family and Anna Glover
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Collector of Memories Mark W. Harris
Memorial Day combines both the remembrance of those who died in war, and those loved ones who are no longer with us. As the living we must be the collectors of memories for our faith, our families and ourselves. What kind of collecting do you do?
Music: Folk Song Society
Greeters: Kyle and Kelly Morton
Social Hour: Kathy Button and Ann Bloom
Captain's Log
Rev. Mark Harris, minister
I get nervous every Sunday. Maybe it does not show, but I am nervous before every service, even though I have been preaching for many years. I am nervous after the service, too. I often wonder how the sermon was received. Did you love it or hate it, or something in between? Some people will let me know immediately how much they liked it, but others will simply say, good morning. For me that is a sure sign that they didn't like it. Even though I may be wrong, I perceive that nothing said, says a lot. Others don't say anything at all. It is such a personal thing looking at all the faces, and wondering if there is any impact at all.
This is not a shameless attempt to get compliments. It is an acknowledgment that we are all nervous when we are personally invested in being liked, or doing a good job and we know others are going to judge the impact of the presentation in some way. I am sure every single coming of age youth was nervous before the big service on April 29. They had to share their credos with you. This was their own personal heartfelt litany of beliefs. How hard is that for a teenager! Yet they all spoke beautifully. Perhaps their nervousness was lessened because their families and mentors were there. Perhaps their nervousness was lessened because they were speaking before people who care about them and want them to do well. Or perhaps their nervousness was lessened because they just know how great they are.
Sometimes we are nervous for no reason at all. I perceive that those who do not say anything are being negative, but sometimes they liked it but cannot put their response into words. Sometimes we are speechless. Sometimes we are angered or upset by what is said, but perhaps it make us think or feel about an issue or concern in a new or different way. I was always the most nervous when I played baseball. It was difficult standing up there as the sole batter facing down a pitcher. All eyes are on you. It is not like being on a team, or even hidden in a line of players. It is you alone with the chance to be a hero or a goat. The nerves explode as the opportunity for failure fills us with nervous tension. Remember Sally Field at the Oscars many years ago saying, ³They like me.² It is true that for clergy we become less nervous when we know the people and feel a level of trust and understanding. They even forgive the sermons that are a little too long.
I get nervous before church annual meetings, too, and even before rummage sales. You see I want the church to do well. I want the church to make money, or I want the annual meeting to be a celebration of a good year. We had an amazing year by the way!! In one of my former churches one of the elder members used to congratulate me after the annual meeting was adjourned. It was a sign that the year was over, and it seemed to have been a good one. The budget was passed, and there were no major fights. When you work hard for something or devote your life to something, you want it to go well. We all know that feeling when we put ourselves into something, and then present it to a larger audience. I know I am invested in things going well, and so I become nervous before they begin. Will people show up? Everybody¹s nervous.
Everybody's nervous because everybody wants to be loved, and told how well they have done something. Everybody wants to be accepted and thanked. Everyone wants to have meaningful services with inspiring sermons and beautiful music set in a lovely space. People have a certain standard, and those of us who are professionals want to do well. We all want what we do to have meaning for others - whether presenting a sermon, a class, a program or a photo exhibit. One of my sons is feeling a certain pressure from a coach who seems devoted only to winning or performing. He feels like the coach just yells all the time, and the game has stopped being fun. Professional athletes are expected to perform at high standards, but even for them, they don¹t play well, if they stop having fun. If they only feel the pressure to perform, and forget why they love a sport, the passion is lost.
The down side of nervousness is that we are a culture hung up on performance. Confidence in performance only, or in only focusing on standards is dangerous. The young man who shot 32 people at Virginia Tech had always done well in school. He tested fine. Yet he truly became a child left behind. He was left behind because no one ever helped him emotionally. Where was his community of friends and support? We are too often a culture that forgets to take care of the whole person. We cheer the winners, and punish the losers. We never take the time to make more winners or affirm the losers. Of course we also need to do something when there is aberrant behavior. Too often we don't say anything, or just let it go because he passed the test. We get more nervous when we don't hear from each other. Sure I want to hear cheers when I give a great sermon, but let me hear something either way. Let me know you're there. I think those coming of age youth did so well because they know someone cares about what happens to them. We may not say enough, or we may say it awkwardly, but nevertheless being part of the community is an affirmation that we are here for each other. Maybe that is half the battle, just acknowledging that to each other. It was not just passing the test. It means giving a pat on the back, saying this is hard for me, too. I'll bet you're a little nervous.
Mark
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari chalicedreamer@verizon.net
cell phone: 617-872-5145
I¹m the first person to complain when people say or do things without thinking. And yet I sometimes catch myself doing the same thing. No matter how much I wish every saying and action of mine matched my values and beliefs, they sometimes don¹t. The huge majority of us (growing up in America) are conditioned to think certain ways and we don¹t often realize the complexities of how deeply society's prejudices are ingrained in us. So how do we slow down the speed of life to think carefully and critically to make sure all of our words and actions match our beliefs? It¹s easier said than done, but it¹s definitely worth the work.
One day, Dede Dussault gently challenged me to think about how something I was saying perpetuates the stereotype that older kids and parents don¹t maintain healthy and loving connections. Who me? How could someone who follows attachment parenting, extended nursing, family bed sharing, and homeschooling spread a message that youth don¹t like being with their parents and families? I thought about it and realized that Americans are conditioned to think that kids have to grow to be independent and completely separate from their parents, and I had blindly fallen for it. Dede inspired me to stop and think about this. Healthy independence is a balance as opposed to an either/ or. Our kids connections to others can be "in addition to" as opposed to "instead of" with us.
How do we build and keep healthy connections with our kids as they grow older? As parents of babies and toddlers, we had parent groups to talk about parenting issues and milestones. Yet as our kids get older, we don't have those opportunities to "talk". It's good to hear inspiration from others on these subjects. We will offer a chat on this subject in the fall. Beth Tappan-deFrees and Jeanne Cleary will be offering a breakfast chat on June 10th on a specific example of this ~ how to avoid heterosexual assumptions with our kids. I encourage everyone to slow down and open your mind to considering how you can make sure your beliefs are honored with your words and actions.
This conversation was perfect timing for the work I was doing at church. The RE committee, Mark and I have been looking at all of our rite-of-passage ceremonies to see if we could make any improvements. We ended up focusing most of our attention on the bridging ceremony. The first thing we did was take away the name "bridging into middle school" because the ritual had nothing to do with that school milestone. The transition age varies by town and educational choice. Instead, we are using the age of 11 as the guide for when this ceremony would happen. It feels like a time when youth start to experience an increase of freedom and responsibility. We will remain flexible with this age guideline. We also think it is a nice way to welcome new youth ages 11 to 13 who recently joined our church community.
The second thing is that we wanted to deepen the relationship with the "First Parish adult friend". As youth enter the next stage of their lives, it can be valuable to have friendly adults in addition to their family whom they trust and like. The youth will pick a First Parish adult that they¹d like to spend a little time with. Each youth and their "friend" will get together at least twice during May or early June to talk about why it¹s important to be UU in today¹s world and to do a small community service project together. This relationship will be a simplified vision of the "mentor" relationship they will later have in the Coming-of-Age program. After that relationship building, then the "friend" will briefly "introduce" the youth to the church community on Youth Sunday.
The third thing is that we¹d like to bring the parents back into this ceremony. After the mentor introduces the youth, a parent of the child will be invited into the ritual. Together, the parent and mentor will light a candle that the youth selected as his/her special candle. The parental role was a meaningful piece of this ceremony years ago that was lost when we replaced it with the "church friend". We believe it would be most beneficial to our youth to include both of these important roles instead of one or the other. Parents are welcome to share their "hopes and dreams" for their child, select a special reading to share in his/her honor, or work with the mentor to create a unique sharing. Then together, the parent and friend will present the youth with a small gift from the First Parish community that symbolizes our ongoing affirmation and support for the youth. We will see this new and improved ceremony on Youth Sunday (June 10th). I look forward to witnessing this celebration of our growing children that sincerely reflects many of our UU values!
May Community Service work :
Sunday, May 6th will be the Walk-for-Hunger. Any children, youth, adults, and families who wish to join a group of First Parish folks doing a two-mile-ish version of the walk are welcome! They will leave First Parish at 11 to meet up with the walkers in Newton Corner and walk through Watertown with them before coming back to First Parish. Roberta has pledge forms for you to use while collecting money for Project Bread in honor of your walk!
Through out the month, we will also be collecting supplies for Buddy Dog Animal Shelter. Helping homeless animals is a great project for families with young kids. (Place items in the wooden chest next to the R.E. closet in the Social Hall.) Here is their wish list: For the Cats & Kitties: Dry and/or canned cat and kitten food (yummy); Cat litter; Toys and play things (fun!!); Blankets (to snuggle in); Meat flavored baby food (for kittens & finicky eaters); Newspaper to line cages (and keep the cats up on current events); and Wild bird seed ( for bird watching entertainment). For the Dogs & Puppies: Canned dog food (the solid type is preferred by buddy dogs); Science Diet dry dog or puppy food (so there are no upset tummies); Collars (for the well-dressed dog); Leashes (yeah! - time for a walk); Toys ( all kinds - as long as they are fun!); Milkbones and/or treats (snack time). For the Staff: General cleaning supplies including bleach, paper towels, liquid dish soap, scrub pads, laundry detergent etc. (to keep us busy); Office supplies including pens, markers, paper clips, file folders etc. (to keep us organized); Towels (for drying off wet pets and staff members too!). To learn more about Buddy Dog, check out their website at www.buddydoghs.com.
New Youth Group starting!
May 6th at 6pm will be our first meeting of our new youth group. We will gather for a pizza dinner and getting to know you games. If you know a high school aged youth that might enjoy our group, this would be the perfect night to come check us out. See Roberta for more details.
The Challenge of Creating Safety, Promoting Freedom, and Interrupting Heterosexism for our Children and Youth:
What does the mom of an 17 year-old lesbian say to the parent's acquaintance who asks about a potential boyfriend? What about the well-meaning relative who comments that a charming young man (of 4,10,15 years old) must have a lot of girlfriends?
These questions represent the Heterosexism of the culture in which we are raised. How do we as friends and parents of children learn to phrase questions and thoughts in a way that children in our lives know that they are in a safe environment to fully discuss their worlds and feelings? How do we respond to the well-intentioned question without becoming a diversity sledgehammer? Do we have literature in our homes and church that let children know the full breadth of human experience?
While there are no simple answers, Jeanne Cleary and Elizabeth Tappan-deFrees would like to welcome all interested FPW friends and members to a breakfast to discuss how we support our church children and other children in our lives who are being raised in this world of assumed heterosexuality. Breakfast will be Sunday, June 10 at 9:30. If you have questions, please feel free to call us: Elizabeth 781-893-1695 or Jeanne 617-923-2701.
Among Us
Sue and Joe Demb have a new grandchild. Congratulations!
Charlyn Bethell is pictured on the Arsenal Center for the Arts calendar for a performance of the Solar Winds Woodwind Quartet on June 24
New Members:
Welcome to all of our Coming of Age class who joined the church on April 29 - Emma Day, Charlotte Fitts-Sprague, Lizzy Goldsmith, Zack Shepard, and Any Urban
Musical Musings
For this months newsletter I would like to share with you my annual report.
Report of the Director of Music
Though I have been here many years, this is only my second annual report. I am finding it very helpful to look back at the year and see how well we were able to achieve the goals that were set. Primarily, there were two important goals I wanted to implement: more participation by the congregation in the music on Sunday morning and more variety in the kind of music that is played by me and the soloists we hire. I have been very pleased with the results of the first goal. It has been wonderful how many members of the congregation have volunteered to share their talents with us. There has been more participation this year than any other year. It has been a lot of fun for me working with all of you. Since September, we have had (counting the choir) lay people performing on Sunday mornings a total of nine times!!! That is one service every month from October to June! Thanks to all of you who participated and a special nod to those brave souls who played by themselves: Lisa Wexler, Aurora Sherman, Izzy Tappan-deFrees, Charlyn Bethell, Karen Allendoerfer, and Djalai Babazadeh. I am looking forward to more adventures next year and more participants!
I also have gotten good feedback about the soloists this year. The flutist and the singer were new and of course we also hired our old friends.
It has been a great year for me at First Parish and I thank all of you.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Devore
From the Worship Committee
The sun has decided to grace us with its presence! The crocuses, daffodils and tulips are announcing that spring is here. Before you know it, we will be concluding our worship season for our summer hiatus. That brings us to two annual events that you are invited to take part in!
Our Flower Service will be on June 17. For those of you new to First Parish, this is among our favorite celebrations of the year ˇ everyone is asked to bring one flower to services that day. Come and take part in this service that will put a smile in your heart. DonÅt forget your flower!
Every summer we have several weeks of lay-led services. This year, we are increasing the number of services from four to six. The dates for the services are: July 15, 22, 29 and August 5, 12, 19. Please make note that there is no service on the last Sunday of August.
Although a couple folks have stepped up and offered to lead a service, we do need more volunteers! We also need people willing to help with music on one or more of the Sundays.
If you want to know what the experience of leading a service is like, speak to Jeanne Cleary, Kathy Button, Roberta Altamari, or Chris Johnson who were last summer¹s service leaders.
If you are interested in leading a summer worship service or providing music at one of the services, please speak to Chris Johnson or Mark Harris.
Thanks!
Worship Committee
Monthly Charitable Offering
Special Thanks to those to gave so generously to our special charitable offering in April to benefit the Renewal House. The total was $301.50. Our special offering on May 20 is for Bikes Not Bombs. Bikes Not Bombs is a nonprofit organization working for alternative transportation and community development. The group operates the Bicycle Recycling and Youth Training Center in Roxbury, MA, to promote environmental education, meaningful employment, and safe sustainable communities, both here in Roxbury and abroad. Alex Twombly, son of Sue and Will, works for Bikes Not Bombs. Our offering on June 10 will benefit The Food Project.
Look and SEE THE FPW Website
We have a brand new website thanks to the great efforts of Kyle Hart. We have added a staff page and a First Parish History page with some historic photos from the library collection. We also have a new photo gallery page with some highlights from the Charles River Clean Up Day and the Climate Rescue Day. These photos (courtesy of Carole Berney) are on the members page. This can be accessed with the user name:fpwatertown and the password: arbella. We think you will find the website is spruced up and attractive. We expect to add a few more things such as a welcome page, and a ³how to join the church² page. If you have suggestions for what we need, please speak to Kyle Hart or Mark Harris. Please note that virtually every sermon is posted on the website if you wanted a copy and missed getting one on a Sunday.
Giving Boxes
Thank you to everyone who gave to the March/April Giving Boxes for Renewal House. Our May/June giving Boxes are for R.E.A.C.H. (a battered women¹s shelter in Waltham, formerly the Support Committee for Battered Women). Their needs include: Gifts cards to grocery stores (especially Hannaford¹s which is is located in Waltham), Toiletries including paper towels, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, Towels, Twin sheets blankets and pillows. Thank you.
Green Sanctuary
The Green Sanctuary Steering Committee was organized with Norah Day and Brain Hebeisen as co-chairs. They began selling CFL¹s on Sunday morning, and hope to have canvass grocery bags for sale in the near future. Many plans are under way. All of the fluorescent light bulbs in the church have been replaced with new energy efficient ones under a program with NStar. Let¹s get Green together!
Rummage Sale, Saturday , May 5
Here comes the annual Rummage Sale at First Parish on Saturday, May 5. We need your last minute contributions! Looking for kitchen and household goods, electronics, sports equipment, games and toys, arts & crafts, small pieces of furniture, books, CD¹s, videos and DVD¹s, white goods, children¹s clothingŠ anything in good condition that you think someone else would like to have. Drop offs will be at the church Friday evening May 4 from 6 ˇ 9 p.m., and Saturday morning May 5 from 8 ˇ 10 a.m.. THEN - Come BUY on Saturday from 10 to 3
Dinner and Talent Show
Thanks to everyone who helped make for a very successful annual dinner and talent show. The Fellowship Committee was responsible for the dinner set up with about 90 people in attendance. Our talent show was organized by Isabel Tappan-deFrees, and Paul Day acted as our host for the evening, with Mark Caggiano ably filling in after Paul had to leave for a ³real² gig. Thanks to Michael Altamari for setting up the sound system and Michael McCarthy for sound. Thanks to all who performed : Paul Day, Roberta Altamari, Roane Morton, Seneca Hart, Betty Latner, Elijah Tappan-deFrees (& Guy) Aurora Sherman/ Jeff Miller, Dominque Altamari & Elisa Portz, Asa Goodwillie, Izzy Tappan-deFrees & Carole Berney (&Guy), Mark Caggiano, Lisa Wexler (guitar), Izzy, Guy Urban & Charlyn Bethell, Diana Shepard & band , Mike Altamari & Michael Collins, and all others who setup, cleaned up, or cooked for the dinner.
Sermon Talk Back and Workshop -
UUA Principles
On Sunday, May 6, Mark will be speaking on the UUA Principles in a sermon called Creeping Creedalism. Are you ready to defend our free faith and our non creedal approach to religious beliefs? Some people say that the UUA is trying to make the Principles and Purposes into a creed. Do you believe it? What¹s missing from our principles? The UUA is reviewing them, and would like our input. Please join Mark for a conversation about them on Sunday, May 6 after church. Pizza and drinks provided.
Here they are:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote
€ The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
€ Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
€ Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
€ A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
€ The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
€ The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
€ Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
€ Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
€ Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love;
€ Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
€ Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
€ Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
€ Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
No New UU
The New UU Class normally held in the spring was canceled. Another session will be held in the fall.
Annual Meeting
The 377th Annual Meeting of First Parish is now history. We passed a budget showing a highly successful canvass with nice raises for the staff and new items such as a new church computer and twice annual deep cleanings of the building. The parsonage roof will be replaced in the coming months. Watch for announcements for a new campaign to purchase new chairs for the sanctuary! Thanks to Charmian our moderator, Michael our clerk, and Jean and John our treasurers for their good work. We heard about our Personnel Committee and our Green Sanctuary Committee (with a budget yet to be determined) from Parish Chair, Martha Scott. We also voted to ordain Darrick Jackson (our most recent student minister on September 23, 2007 -mark your calendars). Lots of good church news this year!
Annual Spring Cleanup
The Building and Grounds Committee is sponsoring its annual spring clean up of the church grounds. Come for an hour or more for raking, planting, etc - Saturday, May 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Nick Haddad will be seeking signups during social hour the first two Sundays in May. (Rain Date, May 19)
The Great Warming
The Great Warming should be required viewing by all . . Future generations lives, and maybe ours, depend on it Laura Kern wrote in the New York Times on November 3, 2006. We will be showing the global warming themed DVD, The Great Warming on Sunday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. Please come. This is the last film we will be showing in this environmental series. We have had poor attendance, but we do have copies of the other films, if you would like to see them. The film was featured in an article in the Boston Globe last fall. Here is a portion of the NY Times review:
A Straightforward Look at Our Changing World² by LAURA KERN
The Great Warming, a straightforward, quietly persuasive primer on the climate-change crisis, provides both an abridged history and science lesson (delivered through the narration of Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morissette) and a vital briefing on where we stand today.
Stemming from a three-part series originally shown on Canadian television in 2004, this documentary, directed by Michael Taylor, travels four continents and encounters a wide assortment of real people ranging from scientists and professors to farmers and fishermen to architects and youth activists whose everyday lives are increasingly influenced by the effects of global warming. There certainly isn¹t a skeptic in the lot.
Without undermining the urgency of the situation, the film radiates optimism that the human race can seriously explore its role in keeping Earth a habitable planet, and has already begun to do so.
As long as the political leaders who hold the power to implement a larger plan of action remain in ³climate denial² (in the words of Stephen Schneider, a biologist from Stanford University), ³The Great Warming,² along with ³An Inconvenient Truth,² the other widely released documentary to address climate change this year, should be required viewing by all. Future generations¹ lives, and maybe even ours, depend on it.
Spend a Week on a Star
Looking for a new experience? Or maybe you¹d just like to get away from it all for a little while. Either way, the annual Star Island Conference on the Arts maybe just what you¹re looking for. Star Island is one of the larger islands in the Isles of Shoals, just 10 miles off the New Hampshire coast. The conference takes place among the remaining buildings of a 18th century village and the Oceanic Hotel, built in the late 19th century. The hotel has a broad porch with dozens of rocking chairs for guests to sit and enjoy beautiful Gosport Harbor.
The Conference on the Arts offers guests an exciting variety of workshops to choose from, including photography, theatre, dance, writing and visual arts. There¹s also assorted entertainment in the evenings - square dancing, poetry slams, classical musicians, talent shows, to name a few.
And if that isn¹t enough, there are minister led services (Unitarian-Universalist) each morning, and lay led services to candle light every night. This year the Conference on the Arts will be held from Saturday, June 16th through Saturday, June 23rd. It is one of many different conferences held on Star each year. To learn more visit www.starisland.org or www.stararts.org. It¹s not too late to register.
Submitted by Carole Katz
Men of Faith Against Sexism
This is an invitation to men from different spiritual paths and communities to join together and take a stand against violence against women. We are in the process of planning a spring supply drive. We¹ll gather outside of a store in Boston on Saturday, June 2nd and ask customers to buy products to
donate to Renewal House a local domestic violence shelter, run by the UU Urban Ministry.This is a project that has been coordinated by UU Men Against Domestic
Violence in the past and is now expanding to become interfaith. Join us in taking a visible stand against domestic violence, while we educate the public and provide some real material support for a local shelter. To learn
more or help out, email Matt Meyer at Laghalot4@hotmail.com or call 617-875-7694.
UUSC 2007 Civil Rights Journey
UUSC is excited to announce the 2007 Freedom Summer: A Civil Rights Journey, a JustWorks camp that will take you to the most significant sites of the civil rights movement.
Join UUSC for the fourth annual Civil Rights Journey to Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, July 7-14, 2007. During this intergenerational trip, we will travel together by bus to visit historical sites that were significant to people who worked, often at great personal peril, to register new voters during Freedom Summer 1964. Participants will also hear inspirational stories of people who were there.
The Civil Rights Journey will conclude with electoral-related skills training that will equip participants to return to their communities and campuses as activists. Freedom Summer 2007: A Civil Rights Journey (intergenerational 14 and over), fee $500. For a flyer you can download and post in your congregation, visit http://www.uusc.org/info/flyer07.pdf
Join us for this or one of our other JustWorks camps, meaningful social justice experiences and action opportunities for people of all ages. For more information, visit
www.uusc.org/justworks.
Greater Boston Intergenerational Chorus
SPRING CONCERT!
Directed by Joanne Hammil
Tues. May 22nd, 7-8pm
First Parish Church, 35 Church St, Watertown
(corner of Church & Summer, just behind Watertown Square)
Check out this unique community chorus for ages 10-adult
All abilities welcome
ExcitingÐÐððFunÐÐððEmpowering
..
Consider joining us in the fall!
We sing in a wide variety of styles (multi-cultural songs, contemporary, traditional, doo wop, rounds, and more!), break down ageist barriers, get to know one another, and make beautiful music!
Contact Director for more information:
joanne@joannehammil.com
617-923-8448 or 800-557-7010
www.joannehammil.com
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council,
a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.
Arbella
May 2007
for calendar of First Parish events, please go to fpwatertown.org
Sermons/Services
Sunday, May 6, 2007
Creeping Creedalism - Mark W. Harris
Do you know what the UUA Principles are? Do they inform your faith? In recent years the UUA Principles and Purposes have gained in popularity like no other statement of covenant or belief we have ever had. Yet we are a free, non creedal faith, and some of our members are concerned that they are becoming a substitute creed. Is there a creeping creedalism among us? This service will be followed by a talk back session - UUA Principles are under review, and the UUA needs feedback.
Music: Isabel Tappan deFrees, soprano horn
Greeters: Diane and Thom Shepard
Social Hour:
Ann Harrington and Virginia Howe
Sunday, May 13, 2007
Love and Help - Mark W. Harris
How do we know when our children need help? We were all horrified by the killings at Virginia Tech recently. As parents we want to see struggling children and young adults be helped, but is anybody there to do so? Child dedications for Katie and Haley Chamberlain.
Music: Aurora Sherman will sing.
Greeters:
Randy Rhoda and Michael McCarthy
Social Hour:
Bobbie Brown and Marilyn Boenau
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Justice Sunday Mark Caggiano
The man who is in transition from lawyer to minister will consider what justice means (as part of the Seven Virtues series). We will also celebrate UUSC Justice Sunday
Music: Djalai Babazadeh, viola
Greeters: Beth Parsons and Joani Mountain
Social Hour: The Sherman/Miller Family and Anna Glover
Sunday, May 27, 2007
Collector of Memories Mark W. Harris
Memorial Day combines both the remembrance of those who died in war, and those loved ones who are no longer with us. As the living we must be the collectors of memories for our faith, our families and ourselves. What kind of collecting do you do?
Music: Folk Song Society
Greeters: Kyle and Kelly Morton
Social Hour: Kathy Button and Ann Bloom
Captain's Log
Rev. Mark Harris, minister
I get nervous every Sunday. Maybe it does not show, but I am nervous before every service, even though I have been preaching for many years. I am nervous after the service, too. I often wonder how the sermon was received. Did you love it or hate it, or something in between? Some people will let me know immediately how much they liked it, but others will simply say, good morning. For me that is a sure sign that they didn't like it. Even though I may be wrong, I perceive that nothing said, says a lot. Others don't say anything at all. It is such a personal thing looking at all the faces, and wondering if there is any impact at all.
This is not a shameless attempt to get compliments. It is an acknowledgment that we are all nervous when we are personally invested in being liked, or doing a good job and we know others are going to judge the impact of the presentation in some way. I am sure every single coming of age youth was nervous before the big service on April 29. They had to share their credos with you. This was their own personal heartfelt litany of beliefs. How hard is that for a teenager! Yet they all spoke beautifully. Perhaps their nervousness was lessened because their families and mentors were there. Perhaps their nervousness was lessened because they were speaking before people who care about them and want them to do well. Or perhaps their nervousness was lessened because they just know how great they are.
Sometimes we are nervous for no reason at all. I perceive that those who do not say anything are being negative, but sometimes they liked it but cannot put their response into words. Sometimes we are speechless. Sometimes we are angered or upset by what is said, but perhaps it make us think or feel about an issue or concern in a new or different way. I was always the most nervous when I played baseball. It was difficult standing up there as the sole batter facing down a pitcher. All eyes are on you. It is not like being on a team, or even hidden in a line of players. It is you alone with the chance to be a hero or a goat. The nerves explode as the opportunity for failure fills us with nervous tension. Remember Sally Field at the Oscars many years ago saying, ³They like me.² It is true that for clergy we become less nervous when we know the people and feel a level of trust and understanding. They even forgive the sermons that are a little too long.
I get nervous before church annual meetings, too, and even before rummage sales. You see I want the church to do well. I want the church to make money, or I want the annual meeting to be a celebration of a good year. We had an amazing year by the way!! In one of my former churches one of the elder members used to congratulate me after the annual meeting was adjourned. It was a sign that the year was over, and it seemed to have been a good one. The budget was passed, and there were no major fights. When you work hard for something or devote your life to something, you want it to go well. We all know that feeling when we put ourselves into something, and then present it to a larger audience. I know I am invested in things going well, and so I become nervous before they begin. Will people show up? Everybody¹s nervous.
Everybody's nervous because everybody wants to be loved, and told how well they have done something. Everybody wants to be accepted and thanked. Everyone wants to have meaningful services with inspiring sermons and beautiful music set in a lovely space. People have a certain standard, and those of us who are professionals want to do well. We all want what we do to have meaning for others - whether presenting a sermon, a class, a program or a photo exhibit. One of my sons is feeling a certain pressure from a coach who seems devoted only to winning or performing. He feels like the coach just yells all the time, and the game has stopped being fun. Professional athletes are expected to perform at high standards, but even for them, they don¹t play well, if they stop having fun. If they only feel the pressure to perform, and forget why they love a sport, the passion is lost.
The down side of nervousness is that we are a culture hung up on performance. Confidence in performance only, or in only focusing on standards is dangerous. The young man who shot 32 people at Virginia Tech had always done well in school. He tested fine. Yet he truly became a child left behind. He was left behind because no one ever helped him emotionally. Where was his community of friends and support? We are too often a culture that forgets to take care of the whole person. We cheer the winners, and punish the losers. We never take the time to make more winners or affirm the losers. Of course we also need to do something when there is aberrant behavior. Too often we don't say anything, or just let it go because he passed the test. We get more nervous when we don't hear from each other. Sure I want to hear cheers when I give a great sermon, but let me hear something either way. Let me know you're there. I think those coming of age youth did so well because they know someone cares about what happens to them. We may not say enough, or we may say it awkwardly, but nevertheless being part of the community is an affirmation that we are here for each other. Maybe that is half the battle, just acknowledging that to each other. It was not just passing the test. It means giving a pat on the back, saying this is hard for me, too. I'll bet you're a little nervous.
Mark
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari chalicedreamer@verizon.net
cell phone: 617-872-5145
I¹m the first person to complain when people say or do things without thinking. And yet I sometimes catch myself doing the same thing. No matter how much I wish every saying and action of mine matched my values and beliefs, they sometimes don¹t. The huge majority of us (growing up in America) are conditioned to think certain ways and we don¹t often realize the complexities of how deeply society's prejudices are ingrained in us. So how do we slow down the speed of life to think carefully and critically to make sure all of our words and actions match our beliefs? It¹s easier said than done, but it¹s definitely worth the work.
One day, Dede Dussault gently challenged me to think about how something I was saying perpetuates the stereotype that older kids and parents don¹t maintain healthy and loving connections. Who me? How could someone who follows attachment parenting, extended nursing, family bed sharing, and homeschooling spread a message that youth don¹t like being with their parents and families? I thought about it and realized that Americans are conditioned to think that kids have to grow to be independent and completely separate from their parents, and I had blindly fallen for it. Dede inspired me to stop and think about this. Healthy independence is a balance as opposed to an either/ or. Our kids connections to others can be "in addition to" as opposed to "instead of" with us.
How do we build and keep healthy connections with our kids as they grow older? As parents of babies and toddlers, we had parent groups to talk about parenting issues and milestones. Yet as our kids get older, we don't have those opportunities to "talk". It's good to hear inspiration from others on these subjects. We will offer a chat on this subject in the fall. Beth Tappan-deFrees and Jeanne Cleary will be offering a breakfast chat on June 10th on a specific example of this ~ how to avoid heterosexual assumptions with our kids. I encourage everyone to slow down and open your mind to considering how you can make sure your beliefs are honored with your words and actions.
This conversation was perfect timing for the work I was doing at church. The RE committee, Mark and I have been looking at all of our rite-of-passage ceremonies to see if we could make any improvements. We ended up focusing most of our attention on the bridging ceremony. The first thing we did was take away the name "bridging into middle school" because the ritual had nothing to do with that school milestone. The transition age varies by town and educational choice. Instead, we are using the age of 11 as the guide for when this ceremony would happen. It feels like a time when youth start to experience an increase of freedom and responsibility. We will remain flexible with this age guideline. We also think it is a nice way to welcome new youth ages 11 to 13 who recently joined our church community.
The second thing is that we wanted to deepen the relationship with the "First Parish adult friend". As youth enter the next stage of their lives, it can be valuable to have friendly adults in addition to their family whom they trust and like. The youth will pick a First Parish adult that they¹d like to spend a little time with. Each youth and their "friend" will get together at least twice during May or early June to talk about why it¹s important to be UU in today¹s world and to do a small community service project together. This relationship will be a simplified vision of the "mentor" relationship they will later have in the Coming-of-Age program. After that relationship building, then the "friend" will briefly "introduce" the youth to the church community on Youth Sunday.
The third thing is that we¹d like to bring the parents back into this ceremony. After the mentor introduces the youth, a parent of the child will be invited into the ritual. Together, the parent and mentor will light a candle that the youth selected as his/her special candle. The parental role was a meaningful piece of this ceremony years ago that was lost when we replaced it with the "church friend". We believe it would be most beneficial to our youth to include both of these important roles instead of one or the other. Parents are welcome to share their "hopes and dreams" for their child, select a special reading to share in his/her honor, or work with the mentor to create a unique sharing. Then together, the parent and friend will present the youth with a small gift from the First Parish community that symbolizes our ongoing affirmation and support for the youth. We will see this new and improved ceremony on Youth Sunday (June 10th). I look forward to witnessing this celebration of our growing children that sincerely reflects many of our UU values!
May Community Service work :
Sunday, May 6th will be the Walk-for-Hunger. Any children, youth, adults, and families who wish to join a group of First Parish folks doing a two-mile-ish version of the walk are welcome! They will leave First Parish at 11 to meet up with the walkers in Newton Corner and walk through Watertown with them before coming back to First Parish. Roberta has pledge forms for you to use while collecting money for Project Bread in honor of your walk!
Through out the month, we will also be collecting supplies for Buddy Dog Animal Shelter. Helping homeless animals is a great project for families with young kids. (Place items in the wooden chest next to the R.E. closet in the Social Hall.) Here is their wish list: For the Cats & Kitties: Dry and/or canned cat and kitten food (yummy); Cat litter; Toys and play things (fun!!); Blankets (to snuggle in); Meat flavored baby food (for kittens & finicky eaters); Newspaper to line cages (and keep the cats up on current events); and Wild bird seed ( for bird watching entertainment). For the Dogs & Puppies: Canned dog food (the solid type is preferred by buddy dogs); Science Diet dry dog or puppy food (so there are no upset tummies); Collars (for the well-dressed dog); Leashes (yeah! - time for a walk); Toys ( all kinds - as long as they are fun!); Milkbones and/or treats (snack time). For the Staff: General cleaning supplies including bleach, paper towels, liquid dish soap, scrub pads, laundry detergent etc. (to keep us busy); Office supplies including pens, markers, paper clips, file folders etc. (to keep us organized); Towels (for drying off wet pets and staff members too!). To learn more about Buddy Dog, check out their website at www.buddydoghs.com.
New Youth Group starting!
May 6th at 6pm will be our first meeting of our new youth group. We will gather for a pizza dinner and getting to know you games. If you know a high school aged youth that might enjoy our group, this would be the perfect night to come check us out. See Roberta for more details.
The Challenge of Creating Safety, Promoting Freedom, and Interrupting Heterosexism for our Children and Youth:
What does the mom of an 17 year-old lesbian say to the parent's acquaintance who asks about a potential boyfriend? What about the well-meaning relative who comments that a charming young man (of 4,10,15 years old) must have a lot of girlfriends?
These questions represent the Heterosexism of the culture in which we are raised. How do we as friends and parents of children learn to phrase questions and thoughts in a way that children in our lives know that they are in a safe environment to fully discuss their worlds and feelings? How do we respond to the well-intentioned question without becoming a diversity sledgehammer? Do we have literature in our homes and church that let children know the full breadth of human experience?
While there are no simple answers, Jeanne Cleary and Elizabeth Tappan-deFrees would like to welcome all interested FPW friends and members to a breakfast to discuss how we support our church children and other children in our lives who are being raised in this world of assumed heterosexuality. Breakfast will be Sunday, June 10 at 9:30. If you have questions, please feel free to call us: Elizabeth 781-893-1695 or Jeanne 617-923-2701.
Among Us
Sue and Joe Demb have a new grandchild. Congratulations!
Charlyn Bethell is pictured on the Arsenal Center for the Arts calendar for a performance of the Solar Winds Woodwind Quartet on June 24
New Members:
Welcome to all of our Coming of Age class who joined the church on April 29 - Emma Day, Charlotte Fitts-Sprague, Lizzy Goldsmith, Zack Shepard, and Any Urban
Musical Musings
For this months newsletter I would like to share with you my annual report.
Report of the Director of Music
Though I have been here many years, this is only my second annual report. I am finding it very helpful to look back at the year and see how well we were able to achieve the goals that were set. Primarily, there were two important goals I wanted to implement: more participation by the congregation in the music on Sunday morning and more variety in the kind of music that is played by me and the soloists we hire. I have been very pleased with the results of the first goal. It has been wonderful how many members of the congregation have volunteered to share their talents with us. There has been more participation this year than any other year. It has been a lot of fun for me working with all of you. Since September, we have had (counting the choir) lay people performing on Sunday mornings a total of nine times!!! That is one service every month from October to June! Thanks to all of you who participated and a special nod to those brave souls who played by themselves: Lisa Wexler, Aurora Sherman, Izzy Tappan-deFrees, Charlyn Bethell, Karen Allendoerfer, and Djalai Babazadeh. I am looking forward to more adventures next year and more participants!
I also have gotten good feedback about the soloists this year. The flutist and the singer were new and of course we also hired our old friends.
It has been a great year for me at First Parish and I thank all of you.
Respectfully submitted,
Patty Devore
From the Worship Committee
The sun has decided to grace us with its presence! The crocuses, daffodils and tulips are announcing that spring is here. Before you know it, we will be concluding our worship season for our summer hiatus. That brings us to two annual events that you are invited to take part in!
Our Flower Service will be on June 17. For those of you new to First Parish, this is among our favorite celebrations of the year ˇ everyone is asked to bring one flower to services that day. Come and take part in this service that will put a smile in your heart. DonÅt forget your flower!
Every summer we have several weeks of lay-led services. This year, we are increasing the number of services from four to six. The dates for the services are: July 15, 22, 29 and August 5, 12, 19. Please make note that there is no service on the last Sunday of August.
Although a couple folks have stepped up and offered to lead a service, we do need more volunteers! We also need people willing to help with music on one or more of the Sundays.
If you want to know what the experience of leading a service is like, speak to Jeanne Cleary, Kathy Button, Roberta Altamari, or Chris Johnson who were last summer¹s service leaders.
If you are interested in leading a summer worship service or providing music at one of the services, please speak to Chris Johnson or Mark Harris.
Thanks!
Worship Committee
Monthly Charitable Offering
Special Thanks to those to gave so generously to our special charitable offering in April to benefit the Renewal House. The total was $301.50. Our special offering on May 20 is for Bikes Not Bombs. Bikes Not Bombs is a nonprofit organization working for alternative transportation and community development. The group operates the Bicycle Recycling and Youth Training Center in Roxbury, MA, to promote environmental education, meaningful employment, and safe sustainable communities, both here in Roxbury and abroad. Alex Twombly, son of Sue and Will, works for Bikes Not Bombs. Our offering on June 10 will benefit The Food Project.
Look and SEE THE FPW Website
We have a brand new website thanks to the great efforts of Kyle Hart. We have added a staff page and a First Parish History page with some historic photos from the library collection. We also have a new photo gallery page with some highlights from the Charles River Clean Up Day and the Climate Rescue Day. These photos (courtesy of Carole Berney) are on the members page. This can be accessed with the user name:fpwatertown and the password: arbella. We think you will find the website is spruced up and attractive. We expect to add a few more things such as a welcome page, and a ³how to join the church² page. If you have suggestions for what we need, please speak to Kyle Hart or Mark Harris. Please note that virtually every sermon is posted on the website if you wanted a copy and missed getting one on a Sunday.
Giving Boxes
Thank you to everyone who gave to the March/April Giving Boxes for Renewal House. Our May/June giving Boxes are for R.E.A.C.H. (a battered women¹s shelter in Waltham, formerly the Support Committee for Battered Women). Their needs include: Gifts cards to grocery stores (especially Hannaford¹s which is is located in Waltham), Toiletries including paper towels, razors, deodorant, toothbrushes, toothpaste, shampoo, Towels, Twin sheets blankets and pillows. Thank you.
Green Sanctuary
The Green Sanctuary Steering Committee was organized with Norah Day and Brain Hebeisen as co-chairs. They began selling CFL¹s on Sunday morning, and hope to have canvass grocery bags for sale in the near future. Many plans are under way. All of the fluorescent light bulbs in the church have been replaced with new energy efficient ones under a program with NStar. Let¹s get Green together!
Rummage Sale, Saturday , May 5
Here comes the annual Rummage Sale at First Parish on Saturday, May 5. We need your last minute contributions! Looking for kitchen and household goods, electronics, sports equipment, games and toys, arts & crafts, small pieces of furniture, books, CD¹s, videos and DVD¹s, white goods, children¹s clothingŠ anything in good condition that you think someone else would like to have. Drop offs will be at the church Friday evening May 4 from 6 ˇ 9 p.m., and Saturday morning May 5 from 8 ˇ 10 a.m.. THEN - Come BUY on Saturday from 10 to 3
Dinner and Talent Show
Thanks to everyone who helped make for a very successful annual dinner and talent show. The Fellowship Committee was responsible for the dinner set up with about 90 people in attendance. Our talent show was organized by Isabel Tappan-deFrees, and Paul Day acted as our host for the evening, with Mark Caggiano ably filling in after Paul had to leave for a ³real² gig. Thanks to Michael Altamari for setting up the sound system and Michael McCarthy for sound. Thanks to all who performed : Paul Day, Roberta Altamari, Roane Morton, Seneca Hart, Betty Latner, Elijah Tappan-deFrees (& Guy) Aurora Sherman/ Jeff Miller, Dominque Altamari & Elisa Portz, Asa Goodwillie, Izzy Tappan-deFrees & Carole Berney (&Guy), Mark Caggiano, Lisa Wexler (guitar), Izzy, Guy Urban & Charlyn Bethell, Diana Shepard & band , Mike Altamari & Michael Collins, and all others who setup, cleaned up, or cooked for the dinner.
Sermon Talk Back and Workshop -
UUA Principles
On Sunday, May 6, Mark will be speaking on the UUA Principles in a sermon called Creeping Creedalism. Are you ready to defend our free faith and our non creedal approach to religious beliefs? Some people say that the UUA is trying to make the Principles and Purposes into a creed. Do you believe it? What¹s missing from our principles? The UUA is reviewing them, and would like our input. Please join Mark for a conversation about them on Sunday, May 6 after church. Pizza and drinks provided.
Here they are:
We, the member congregations of the Unitarian Universalist Association, covenant to affirm and promote
€ The inherent worth and dignity of every person;
€ Justice, equity and compassion in human relations;
€ Acceptance of one another and encouragement to spiritual growth in our congregations;
€ A free and responsible search for truth and meaning;
€ The right of conscience and the use of the democratic process within our congregations and in society at large;
€ The goal of world community with peace, liberty and justice for all;
€ Respect for the interdependent web of all existence of which we are a part.
The living tradition which we share draws from many sources:
€ Direct experience of that transcending mystery and wonder, affirmed in all cultures, which moves us to a renewal of the spirit and an openness to the forces which create and uphold life;
€ Words and deeds of prophetic women and men which challenge us to confront powers and structures of evil with justice, compassion and the transforming power of love;
€ Wisdom from the world's religions which inspires us in our ethical and spiritual life;
€ Jewish and Christian teachings which call us to respond to God's love by loving our neighbors as ourselves;
€ Humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit;
€ Spiritual teachings of Earth-centered traditions which celebrate the sacred circle of life and instruct us to live in harmony with the rhythms of nature.
Grateful for the religious pluralism which enriches and ennobles our faith, we are inspired to deepen our understanding and expand our vision. As free congregations we enter into this covenant, promising to one another our mutual trust and support.
No New UU
The New UU Class normally held in the spring was canceled. Another session will be held in the fall.
Annual Meeting
The 377th Annual Meeting of First Parish is now history. We passed a budget showing a highly successful canvass with nice raises for the staff and new items such as a new church computer and twice annual deep cleanings of the building. The parsonage roof will be replaced in the coming months. Watch for announcements for a new campaign to purchase new chairs for the sanctuary! Thanks to Charmian our moderator, Michael our clerk, and Jean and John our treasurers for their good work. We heard about our Personnel Committee and our Green Sanctuary Committee (with a budget yet to be determined) from Parish Chair, Martha Scott. We also voted to ordain Darrick Jackson (our most recent student minister on September 23, 2007 -mark your calendars). Lots of good church news this year!
Annual Spring Cleanup
The Building and Grounds Committee is sponsoring its annual spring clean up of the church grounds. Come for an hour or more for raking, planting, etc - Saturday, May 12 from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Nick Haddad will be seeking signups during social hour the first two Sundays in May. (Rain Date, May 19)
The Great Warming
The Great Warming should be required viewing by all . . Future generations lives, and maybe ours, depend on it Laura Kern wrote in the New York Times on November 3, 2006. We will be showing the global warming themed DVD, The Great Warming on Sunday, May 20 at 7:00 p.m. Please come. This is the last film we will be showing in this environmental series. We have had poor attendance, but we do have copies of the other films, if you would like to see them. The film was featured in an article in the Boston Globe last fall. Here is a portion of the NY Times review:
A Straightforward Look at Our Changing World² by LAURA KERN
The Great Warming, a straightforward, quietly persuasive primer on the climate-change crisis, provides both an abridged history and science lesson (delivered through the narration of Keanu Reeves and Alanis Morissette) and a vital briefing on where we stand today.
Stemming from a three-part series originally shown on Canadian television in 2004, this documentary, directed by Michael Taylor, travels four continents and encounters a wide assortment of real people ranging from scientists and professors to farmers and fishermen to architects and youth activists whose everyday lives are increasingly influenced by the effects of global warming. There certainly isn¹t a skeptic in the lot.
Without undermining the urgency of the situation, the film radiates optimism that the human race can seriously explore its role in keeping Earth a habitable planet, and has already begun to do so.
As long as the political leaders who hold the power to implement a larger plan of action remain in ³climate denial² (in the words of Stephen Schneider, a biologist from Stanford University), ³The Great Warming,² along with ³An Inconvenient Truth,² the other widely released documentary to address climate change this year, should be required viewing by all. Future generations¹ lives, and maybe even ours, depend on it.
Spend a Week on a Star
Looking for a new experience? Or maybe you¹d just like to get away from it all for a little while. Either way, the annual Star Island Conference on the Arts maybe just what you¹re looking for. Star Island is one of the larger islands in the Isles of Shoals, just 10 miles off the New Hampshire coast. The conference takes place among the remaining buildings of a 18th century village and the Oceanic Hotel, built in the late 19th century. The hotel has a broad porch with dozens of rocking chairs for guests to sit and enjoy beautiful Gosport Harbor.
The Conference on the Arts offers guests an exciting variety of workshops to choose from, including photography, theatre, dance, writing and visual arts. There¹s also assorted entertainment in the evenings - square dancing, poetry slams, classical musicians, talent shows, to name a few.
And if that isn¹t enough, there are minister led services (Unitarian-Universalist) each morning, and lay led services to candle light every night. This year the Conference on the Arts will be held from Saturday, June 16th through Saturday, June 23rd. It is one of many different conferences held on Star each year. To learn more visit www.starisland.org or www.stararts.org. It¹s not too late to register.
Submitted by Carole Katz
Men of Faith Against Sexism
This is an invitation to men from different spiritual paths and communities to join together and take a stand against violence against women. We are in the process of planning a spring supply drive. We¹ll gather outside of a store in Boston on Saturday, June 2nd and ask customers to buy products to
donate to Renewal House a local domestic violence shelter, run by the UU Urban Ministry.This is a project that has been coordinated by UU Men Against Domestic
Violence in the past and is now expanding to become interfaith. Join us in taking a visible stand against domestic violence, while we educate the public and provide some real material support for a local shelter. To learn
more or help out, email Matt Meyer at Laghalot4@hotmail.com or call 617-875-7694.
UUSC 2007 Civil Rights Journey
UUSC is excited to announce the 2007 Freedom Summer: A Civil Rights Journey, a JustWorks camp that will take you to the most significant sites of the civil rights movement.
Join UUSC for the fourth annual Civil Rights Journey to Atlanta, Selma, Montgomery, and Birmingham, July 7-14, 2007. During this intergenerational trip, we will travel together by bus to visit historical sites that were significant to people who worked, often at great personal peril, to register new voters during Freedom Summer 1964. Participants will also hear inspirational stories of people who were there.
The Civil Rights Journey will conclude with electoral-related skills training that will equip participants to return to their communities and campuses as activists. Freedom Summer 2007: A Civil Rights Journey (intergenerational 14 and over), fee $500. For a flyer you can download and post in your congregation, visit http://www.uusc.org/info/flyer07.pdf
Join us for this or one of our other JustWorks camps, meaningful social justice experiences and action opportunities for people of all ages. For more information, visit
www.uusc.org/justworks.
Greater Boston Intergenerational Chorus
SPRING CONCERT!
Directed by Joanne Hammil
Tues. May 22nd, 7-8pm
First Parish Church, 35 Church St, Watertown
(corner of Church & Summer, just behind Watertown Square)
Check out this unique community chorus for ages 10-adult
All abilities welcome
ExcitingÐÐððFunÐÐððEmpowering
..
Consider joining us in the fall!
We sing in a wide variety of styles (multi-cultural songs, contemporary, traditional, doo wop, rounds, and more!), break down ageist barriers, get to know one another, and make beautiful music!
Contact Director for more information:
joanne@joannehammil.com
617-923-8448 or 800-557-7010
www.joannehammil.com
This program is supported in part by a grant from the Watertown Cultural Council,
a local agency that is supported by the Massachusetts Cultural Council, a state agency.