Tuesday, April 01, 2008
Arbella-April Newsletter 2008
First Parish of Watertown
Arbella
April 2008
For the calendar of events go to our website at fpwatertown.org and use the calendar marked new.
Sermons and Worship Services
Sunday April 6, 2008
“The Cost of War” Mark W. Harris
In March we passed the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War. In conjunction with the UUSC, we will mark Justice Sunday, and ask what has the war cost us in terms of resources and relationships, and assess how this conflict has affected each one of us.
Greeters: Jean Merkl and John Gorman
Social Hour: Brian Heibesen and Elizabeth Strekalovsky
Sunday April 13, 2008
“Confessions” Mark Caggiano
Mark will explore his personal theological musings, after three years of Divinity School and four decades of living.
Greeters: Ken Repp, Chris Johnson
Social Hour: Teodor Ellsworth and Jim Felty
Sunday April 20, 2008
Earth Day Celebration
Mark W. Harris
An intergenerational service where we celebrate our connections with the interdependent web. Look for a story, some music from the Folk Song Society, some special fun for all ages, and don’t forget to bring a mug, as we consider and act on our connections to the earth. Maybe a take home tree to plant?
Greeters: John Chamberlain & Sarah McSweeney
Social Hour: Celeste Oliva and Barbara Hansberry
Sunday April 27, 2008
Sharing the Minns Lectures
Mark W. Harris
This year I am the Minns Lecturer. Four of the five lectures will be given in this area. Please come! (one will be in Watertown; see elsewhere in newsletter) My subject matter is Class. It is often said we are a class bound faith. Is it true? How do our ideas about religion restrict who it is we appeal to.
Music: Frank Grimes,
Greeters: Jan Klein and Dede Dussault
Social Hour: Roger & Judy Kamm & Virginia Howe
Captains Log
What a whirlwind! Our last month at church has been one activity after another. The good news is that we had a whole lot of fun and entertainment. From Comedy Night to Canvass Dinners to Easter pancakes to our Benefit Concert, a good time was had by all (our many thank yous are noted elsewhere). While the church has had a good year, I know it has been a challenging year for many individuals. Members have struggled with the grief of saying goodbye to a parent, struggled with their own illnesses and set backs, and continued to be concerned by a world plagued with issues of war and peace and a floundering economy. So I hope you were able to take a break from the trials of life, and enjoy some good times with friends old and new this past month.
Now the month ahead is a more serious time for First Parish. We need to see how our budget shapes up, and thus we urge those of you who have not made pledges for fiscal 2008-09 to please do so today. Your continuing support for the church is vital. At the end of the month we will have our annual meeting. Committee chairs are urged to send us annual reports. We have many accomplishments to be proud of ; the Personnel Committee is nearly finished with its work; the Green Sanctuary committee has 12 action items that deserve your participation; we have 130 new chairs on the horizon; there will be discussion of space needs and much more. Do we really need to think about more space?
Well, look around. The parking lot is confusing on a given Sunday. The church school lacks classroom space. The minister shares an office with the nursery. The sanctuary is full when the children are present. These are good problems to have, but it does mean that we may not be very welcoming to someone who wants to park, go to church or bring a child to our church school. What can we do? Close our doors and say, go away! This is a nice church, but let’s keep it just for us! Well, hopefully we will want to share our faith and our sense of community so that we can grow and prosper. As they say, if you are not growing, you are . . .
What about growth? Not long ago I was looking at an old UUA directory, the denominational phonebook that lists all the congregations and ministers. I was the editor of this publication when I worked at UU headquarters. The edition I was look at was from 1988, twenty years ago. Our congregation listed 55 members that year, and now we are more than double that with 115 reported this year, and current numbers at about 125 with 60 registered in the church school. In a time when mainline churches are mostly floundering, we offer a faith that stands for freedom and hope against superstition and fear, a faith that says divinity is within each of our hearts, a faith where children are affirmed, and not saddled with guilt, where those who are refugees from other faiths are welcomed and not rejected for all the “heretical” theological and personal beliefs they hold to be true, where we believe in each other and how we live in the world and not in some dogmatic words to be followed without doubt or question.
Twenty years ago when that directory was published this was a small church that struggled to survive, and probably did not believe it could do much, but survive. Now every Sunday there are more than 100 people in the building. We have doubled in membership. We are giving one offering every month to a charitable cause. It seems to me when there is a need in Watertown someone calls me and asks how can First Parish help? With two Capital Fund Drives, a Welcoming congregation, and a soon to be Green Sanctuary, you are movers and shakers of our own gospel of creating a community of love and care. In April, as the annual meeting approaches, let us celebrate all that we have done and can do in the years ahead.
Mark
Among Us
Our deepest sympathy to John Gorman, Jean Merkl and family at the recent death of John’s mother, Mary. A service was held in Needham, MA.
Our deepest sympathy to John Chamberlain and his family at the death of John’s mother in California in January. A service was held in Connecticut.
Our deepest sympathy to John Buchanan and his family at the recent death of John’s father. A memorial was held in Concord, MA
A warm welcome to those people who have either signed an intention to be a member form or transferred from another church. It is good to have you with us. All will be welcomed in
May :Carmen Emerson, Paul Montesino, Neil Zarin and Ginger Burns.
ANNUAL DINNER IS COMING!!
First Parish’s Annual Dinner and Talent Show will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. People attending are requested to bring a dish – main dish, salad, dessert, appetizer, etc. Children are encouraged to come. Build Your Best Dish! – to represent our Canvass Theme – “Sustaining Today & Building for Tomorrow”
Izzy Tappan-deFrees is coordinating the talent show. Please contact her for more information or to donate your talent to the show.
We hope that everyone will attend this fun filled evening - where the food is good and plentiful, and the talent is …talented.
The Fellowship Committee
RUMMAGE SALE May 3:
The First Parish Rummage Sale will be Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We are looking for quality donations! We like books, records, audio and video tapes, DVD’s, children’s clothes, linens and white goods, kitchen and household items, small electronics and appliances (in working order), arts and crafts, bric-a-brac, sporting goods, toys and games, small furniture, etc. etc. We don’t accept adult clothing, and we can’t take computers, electronic components or TV’s because of disposal problems. Otherwise, whatever you want to recycle that you think someone else would like is what we want! Drop off times are at the church Friday evening, May 2 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morning, May 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. We will need lots of help setting up Friday night and Saturday morning, selling on Saturday and cleaning up Saturday afternoon. Please see Jane Knuttunen ( knuttun@rcn.com ) or Sue Kuder (skuder@cmlaw.net ) if you can help, or with questions.
(N.B. Each year we worry about disposing of items that do not sell. This year we are asking the Vietnam Vets to take away what is left over. Although they pick up every Tuesday in Watertown, they will not pick up at a church…just at private residences. So, we need people to volunteer to take 2 – 3 bags of stuff home, and put them out for the Vietnam Vets on Tuesday. We can arrange the pick-ups… we just need to volunteers to take bags home. Again, please let Jane or Sue know if you could help out in this way).
Newcomer Breakfast
If you are new to First Parish, there is a special event coming planned just for you! Twice a year our Fellowship Committee hosts a Newcomer Breakfast. All those who are new to the church (more or less) are invited to come meet others for this special meal which always features our FPW array of tasty foods and warm friendships. The breakfast will be on Sunday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. Newcomers will receive an invitation, but if we miss you somehow, please come! This breakfast will be followed by two weeks of New UU classes, sessions meant to introduce newcomers to First Parish and its history and organization.
Thank you one and all
Our first annual Easter pancake breakfast was a nice gathering. About 50 people (young and old) attended and enjoyed the pancakes, sausage and fruit. A special thanks to all who helped out or made contributions: Will and Sue Twombly, Judy and Roger Kamm, Martha Scott, Nancy Dutton and David Benson, Jeanne Cleary( our shopper) and Barry Greess and Nathan (our other shopper and master pancake flipper), Jill Shaw and Barbara Farrell, and Izzy Tappan deFrees. Other donations: Missy Shay and Kelly Morton. It was fun to cook and prepare together. Let’s do it again!
Our first annual Comedy Night made $350 for the Social Action committee. Special thanks to Paul Day and Mark Caggiano for making these arrangements.
The annual benefit concert this year was given to support the Matenwa Community Learning Center in Haiti. The full house at the concert raised $1,000 for the school after the performers were paid. This is nearly the equivalent of an entire year’s salary for one teacher. Thanks to those who helped out: Kyle Hart, Paul Dansereau, Holly Cachimuel (who spoke on behalf of the church), Patricia Fox, David Morrison, Martha Scott and the two Marks. Also thanks to those who baked goodies for the intermission refreshments.
Fluorescent Bulb Concerns
(from Green Sanctuary)
I've heard there's mercury in CFL bulbs. Should I worry?
Several members of the church have recently spoken up about their concern that compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain a small amount of mercury, which is toxic. While many of us are making the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs we need to be fully informed about CFLs. Many products used in the home, office, and school contain mercury: thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, barometers, tube fluorescent light bulbs, energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, electrical switches, and thermostats to name a few. All compact fluorescents contain trace amounts of mercury ˜ but don't worry! CFLs contain far less mercury than other items in the house: CFLs (4 mg), thermometers (500 mg), older thermostats (3,000 mg). Plus, using CFL bulbs actually prevents more mercury from being released into the air by power plants. A power plant emits about 10 mg of mercury to produce the electricity needed to run an incandescent bulb, compared to only 2.4 mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same amount of time. Also, most of the mercury in a CFL is recycled if the bulb is disposed of properly.
How should I dispose of my burned-out bulbs?
CFLs cannot go into the regular trash. First Parish is looking into having a collection box for used CFLs at the church. In the meantime, CFLs can be safely disposed of at the Watertown hazardous drop-off site in Lexington (Please use the Lexington site for all your toxic trash!) Also, some hardware stores will accept used CFLs. No mercury is released unless the bulbs are broken so it is important not to break the bulbs. If you do, here are some suggestions for cleanup. Thank you so much. These bulbs are tremendous energy savers, but you need to dispose of them properly.
Should a CFL break, take these simple precautions. Open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape.Do not use a vacuum or broom. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Use disposable rubber gloves if desired. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag and dispose of at one of the sites mentioned above.
If a CFL breaks on a rug or carpet, first remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag in the outdoor trash.
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari
Roberta@chalicedreamer.net
cell phone: 617-872-5145
website for RE families: www.chalicedreamer.net
On Easter Sunday, Nathan Greess and Dominique Altamari shared a chalice lighting that they wrote together inspired by the first four lines from an Emily Dickinson poem. Several people asked that it be printed in the Arbella, so here it is …
“Hope” is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without
The words and never stops --- at all
“Peace” is the calm in everyone
The urge to just relax
For people to walk hand and hand
And find their inner soul
“Love” is that little spark of joy
The light to guide you through the dark
Because one spark starts a flame
Of everlasting love
“Life” is taking the first step,
The start of something new
After every end is a new beginning
You just have to take a chance
“Hope” is a thing with feathers
“Peace” is your inner soul
“Love” is a spark of joy
“Life” is a new beginning
Just take a chance
In March, I attended a training for religious educators on working with youth. As with most of these trainings, I find them to be both inspiring and affirming of the work we are already doing here in Watertown. For a small congregation with a new youth group, we are already witnessing the amazing evolution of a youth ministry.
The focus of our training was on ministry with youth. Ministry meaning “caring for and about, being attentive to: deserving our caring, thought, prayer”. With meaning “mutual ministry, theology of equity in power relations”. Youth meaning “focus on junior and senior high”. This is all a clear shift away from the outdated visions of youth groups. It’s not enough to just have a social forum for teens to get together. We need to have a ministry dedicated to meeting the unique needs of our youth. And while Watertown is already doing that quite well, I thought I’d share some of the basics with you both to affirm what we are already doing and inspire us to continue our meaningful work. Also, many of the basic theories for youth ministry are very relevant for the other ministries.
I learned two basic theories that I really wanted to share with you. One is for creating a balanced program. A youth ministry should include activities inspiring growth in five areas – worship, social action, activities and fellowship, learning, and leadership. These areas don’t need to be in equal proportions, but all should be represented in the activities. A sixth area, youth adult relations, is ideally inter-woven throughout all of these five areas. Throughout the year, our youth have participated in activities in all of these areas. But have you? First Parish has a wide variety of programs that fall within these areas. Do you participate?
The most intriguing part to consider was youth adult relations. I’ve seen some very nice connections growing between our youth and various adults in the community. It is well known that a strong youth ministry benefits the entire congregation in countless ways! I think the Watertown community as individuals and as a congregation has an excellent attitude towards our youth ministry. From Lee Pierce spending countless hours leading Our Wholes Lives for our Junior High youth and folks like Chris Johnson, Ken Repp, David Morrison, and Charlyn Bethell doing special projects with our youth to many of you enthusiastically participating in the projects the youth have brought to us, I really appreciate the respect and kindness everyone has shared with our youth this year. And that doesn’t even take into account the many dedicated others working wonders with our younger youth (they will be thanked later this year!). I would love to see even more connections continue to grow as our youth ministry does! Anyone who would like to get more involved with activities our youth are doing this year or next, please let me know.
Speaking of youth adult relations, I want to publicly acknowledge that we have been extremely lucky to have Barry Greess working this year as our Youth Advisor. He has been a trustworthy, compassionate, and fun leader for our youth. He helps create a ministry that is both safe and enjoyable for our teens. While he does receive a stipend for his work with our Senior High group, he has been working double time volunteering another four hours every Sunday morning to help with our Middle School group. It really is incredible to realize how much talent, energy, and time Barry has been dedicating to our youth ministry all year. If you see him, thank him on behalf of our entire community! And if you see his wife, Jeanne Cleary, or his son, Nathan Greess, thank them too for giving up so much family time so that he can do this for us!
The other youth ministry theory that I thought was worth sharing was regarding building community. Community is built in steps starting with “bonding”, moving to “opening up”, and “affirming”, and then “stretching”, finally “deeper sharing”. This theory is appropriate for groups of all types. All the members of a group won’t feel comfortable opening up until some low-risk bonding activity has been shared. Likewise, all of the members of a group won’t feel comfortable stretching and deeply sharing until activities promoting bonding, opening up, and affirmation have happened. This process needs to happen in each meeting, but you can move through introductory activities quicker once a group has been together long term. It seemed obvious as I learned it, but then I realized how many times I start a group with check-in before I give people the opportunity to bond with a “lower risk” activity. It’s really valuable to know these basic blocks for building community. It enables us to create healthier groups that honor each member. How might we use this theory in all of our groups at First Parish?
Once again, I’m finding working in our children’s and youth ministries to be very inspiring on many levels! We’ve got lots of energy and good things happening! From great kids to work with to awesome adults to collaborate with, we have a wonderful community here!!
Youth Sunday is coming in June:
The seasons are rushing by and we are only a few months away from our wonderful annual Youth Sunday service coming on June 8. In addition to sharing rich and inspiring worship with our youth leaders, we will celebrate some special “rite-of-passage” ceremonies. This year, those ceremonies include “First Chalice” for our 8-year-olds and “First Mentor” for our 11-year-olds. (Youth these ages will hear from Roberta soon regarding specific details for preparing for these ceremonies.) In addition, we will honor the high school graduation of Cody Urban, whom First Parish has watched grow into an amazing, confident, and compassionate young man. If you aren’t familiar with these wonderful ways that we honor our growing youth, check out our descriptive brochure at church or the “rites-of-passage” link on our R.E. website.
A special type of Easter basket!
A big thank you to all of the children and adults who brought supplies on Easter Sunday (March 23rd) to make an Easter basket for an animal shelter! The donations flowed out of our donation box! We are accepting supplies through April 6, so you still have time to donate if you want to. Food, toys, leashes, collars, blankets and towels for dogs and cats are needed. This is a great first service project for young children and perfect for animal lovers! For more details about the shelter, check out www.buddydoghs.com
Social Action news from RE:
Coming for the month following our intergenerational Earth Day service on April 20 will be special “environmental” programming for all children and youth in our RE program. They will be doing a wide variety of activities regarding making our world a “greener” place. Stay tuned for service projects you can help them with!
Popcorn Theology for Youth and Adults: Babel
On Sunday, April 6 from 6pm to 9pm: Youth Group sponsored intergenerational movie screening and discussion of the movie, Babel ... (When an American couple vacationing in Morocco fall victim to a random act of violence, a series of events unfolds across four countries that demonstrates both the necessity and impossibility of human communication). You are invited to bring your dinner or dessert to munch on while we watch the movie.
Recycling our clothing for Charity!
Join us on Thursday, April 10th at 7:30pm as we talk about one thing that many Americans buy too much of … new clothes. First, let’s learn about where our clothes really come from by watching a documentary, China Blue. Will we be inspired to think twice when we purchase new clothes? And considering the economic injustice, human rights, and environmental implications, are we better off reducing, reusing, and recycling our clothes more often? In that spirit, everyone is invited to bring nice clothing they no longer want, to pass along to someone else in our community. All clothes brought can be purchased for $1 each with all monies going to the charity that the group picks to support. (This event is intended for adults and youth in 9th grade or above.)
Ferry Beach
In case you don’t know, Roberta is a Ferry Beach booster. That means she is happy to answer any questions you might have about this awesome UU summer vacation experience. (as are many other First Parish youth and adults who have been to Ferry Beach and love it!) They have a wide variety of conferences to nurture your UU spirit as you also enjoy a fun vacation on the beach. They have great programs for youth, families, and adults. See Roberta for more details or check out the brochures at church. Or check them out on the web at www.ferrybeach.org
Vagina Monologue ticket refunds
Many of us were disappointed that the performance of the Vagina Monologues didn’t happen. If you bought a ticket, Roberta was given the money that First Parish folks paid. See her to get your refund.
Annual Meeting and Reports
Our Annual Meeting of First Parish will take place on April 27 following the church service. Luncheon fixings will be available. All Committee chairs are reminded to prepare and submit an Annual Report on the activities of their committee during the past year. Those reports should be sent electronically to Nancy Dutton by Sunday, April 13.
Brother/Sister, Can You Spare a . . . MUG?
Do you drink coffee, tea, or juice at home in paper cups? We doubt it! Might you have some extra mugs in the back of your cupboards, going to waste? Time to recycle them by donating them for general use during future social hours. On Sunday, April 20, at the Earth Day intergenerational service, the Fellowship Committee will be circulating through the aisles with our festive “mug cart” to take up a collection of standard-sized mugs in our effort to reduce paper cup consumption during First Parish’s social events. We calculate needing about 50 mugs, so please just bring in ONE, if you do have an extra.
We hope to gradually transition to a paper-less social hour. We will store the mugs in special dishwasher racks that can then be stacked in our short cycle, energy-saving commercial dishwasher at the end of the social event. Fellowship Committee members will be available to help orient social hour hosts to this new-fangled process of not washing dishes by hand. Energy experts assure us that our dishwasher uses far less energy and water than hand-washing, so our experiment has received the green stamp of approval. Thanks for participating in this experiment to reduce First Parish’s resource consumption!
Amateur Historian (continued, part 2)
by Kathy Button
. . . the story I really want to tell you – and then I will get back to Thoreau – is about Anita Diamant and her 2005 novel, “The Last Days of Dogtown”. Allow me to quote a passage:
“A birdsong split the night silence and Judy Rhines held her breath, listening to the torrent of melody. She wanted to turn and ask, “It’s too late for mockingbirds, isn’t it?’” (p. 171)
When I read those lines, alarms went off inside my head. “It’s not too late for mockingbirds, it’s too early!” . . .
“Dogtown”, set in Cape Ann, takes the reader back to 1814. Hmmm, I didn’t think mockingbirds had reached that far North in that era. My dogged determination that drives me nuts wouldn’t allow me to stop my quest for some sort of proof. I found what I needed in “The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts”, by Charles Wendell Townsend. His 1903 notes about Mimus polyglottos read: “Accidental visitor from the south. One was taken at Nahant in June, 1852.” So there! But in the supplement, dated 1920, Townsend goes on:
“In the original Memoir, I had collected only six records for the Mockingbird for Essex County. Four of the birds were shot. In the last dozen years the bird has become almost a resident, for individuals have been observed in various places in the County at all times of the year.” (p.16) I emailed Anita Diamant with the results of my research. Her reply was full of surprise. When I met her in person, she said, “Oh, you’re the one.” Because the room at the Needham Public Library had already reached its legal limit, we missed an opportunity to here Diamant read from “Dogtown”. She told the audience about this person who emailed her about mockingbirds. Sigh. But I did get her autograph for my copy of the book.
Enough digression and then I shall return to Thoreau. Without reading the first draft of “Walden”, which I understand was less than half the size of the 1854 published version, I rather suspect he did not include the line about the mockingbird. The whole Conclusion seems like an afterthought, an unfinished afterthought. In 1854 he mentioned mockingbirds in his Journals. On August 10, 1854, he jots an entry, “Mr. Loomis says that he saw a mockingbird at Fair Haven Pond to-day.” A few days later, on August 18, he goes on,
“I think I saw a mockingbird on a black cherry near Pedrick’s. Size and like of a catbird, bluish-black side-head, a white spot on closed wings, lighter breast and beneath; but he flew before I had fairly adjusted my glass.”
The mockingbird appeared in an earlier entry of the Journal, from June 14, 1851. At that point, Thoreau probably had only heard about the song bird: “Men talk of the rich song of other birds, the thrasher, mockingbird, nightingale. But I doubt, I doubt. They know not what they say.” So in the space of three years, from 1851 to 1854, the mockingbird made further inroads into New England.
“Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings”, which came to light in 1993, contains other references to mockingbirds and their food habits. Apparently, Henry David found many more opportunities to observe Mimus polyglottos in the years before he died in 1862.
(Another little aside, and then I must write my conclusion. A few years ago Mr. Mocker trapped himself in netting I had put over my strawberries. He whined like a baby when I wrapped him in a towel while I cut the plastic to free his legs. Did he thank me when I released him? No, he shot away. If I were a Nineteenth Century naturalist, I might have taken the opportunity instead to bring Mr. Mocker to the taxidermist. I shudder at the thought.)
CONCLUSION: That one phrase, “…the mocking-bird is rarely heard here”, speaks volumes about the expanding ranges of wild creatures, more than a century before the phrase “global warming” reached our consciousness. Re-reading “Walden” has also taught me that his books cannot be separated from his journals. “Walden” in all its weirdness makes more sense when studied along side his daily musings. Thanks to the power of “Google Books”, JSTOR, and all the other internet tools available to the compulsive reader, “Walden” is even more accessible than ever. The fourth time I re-visit “Walden” I shall be able to enjoy going over snibbets of the text, and leave behind that dogged determination to read every word.
2008 Minns Lecture Series
Unitarian Universalism and Class
A Faith for a Few?
by Mark W. Harris
Minister, First Parish of Watertown, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Harris is the minister at the First Parish of Watertown. He is the author of the Historical Dictionary of Untarian Universalism and of the UUA pamphlet "UU Origins: Our Historic Faith." He is also an adjunct professor at Andover Newton Theological School and Starr King School.
Lectures are free and open to the public.
Lecture 1: A Class-bound Faith?
This lecture will introduce the subject. Why have Unitarian Universalists historically been associated with upper
or upper middle classes? Drawing on Richard Niebuhr’s The Social Sources of Denominationalism, we will examine the choice of religion as it pertains to class. What is the relationship between economic success and salvation? Which side did the liberals take in the Great Revival of the 1740s, and what does that have to do with maintaining the social order? This lecture will also look at different kinds of class, such as education and economic.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 7:00 pm
First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough St., Boston
Lecture 2: Brahmin Culture for the Masses
This lecture will look at the alliance of business, Harvard College, Brahmin culture, and liberal religion. How did class determine our history and who became involved with the Unitarian movement? We will also look at a few people who wanted to spread the Unitarian faith to the masses in more evangelical styles, including Margaret Fuller’s brother, Arthur.
Thursday, May 1, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Harvard Divinity School, 45 Francis Ave., Cambridge
Lecture 3: Universalist Piety and a Classless Heaven
This lecture will examine the Universalist faith and its appeal to a broader number of classes in society through its message of equality. If all are equal in heaven, then nobody is saved unless everybody is saved.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 7:00 pm
King's Chapel Parish House, 64 Beacon St., Boston
Lecture 4: The Science of Salvation
This lecture will look at the relationship between liberal religion and the eugenics movement. Did liberals believe they were a better class of people? Were they the saved? And if so, did they believe that inferior peoples should not reproduce? What are the origins of the birth control movement?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 7:00 pm
First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown
Lecture 5: A Faith for a Few?
This lecture will ask, what are some of the historical ramifications of our faith? How is class reflected in our worship and our words? Do we believe we are the best people, liberals who can save the world? What has been our relationship to issues of race, and why have we been more successful with the gay and lesbian community in attracting newcomers? What would an anti-classist UUA look like?
UUA General Assembly, June 25-29, 2008, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
UU Niagara Experience
Join UUs from around the country in Niagara Falls, July 20-23, 2008
Come experience the wonder of Niagara Falls including some great educational opportunities while being taken care of like royalty. The UU Church of Niagara is conducting a four day UU Niagara Experience which is a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Falls up close from every perspective. Spend four days with us exploring the rich history and natural beauty around the Falls. For information visit our web site : http://www.uunex.net/
Historic 40th Walk for Hunger, Sunday, May 4 Details to follow!
Charles River Cleanup
The Ninth Annual Charles River Clean-up takes place this year Saturday, April 26, from 9 AM to Noon. Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety once again will be focusing on the park next door to Boston Scientific on Pleasant Street west of Bridge Street.
Adult RE Class - Islam
On April 27th, May 4th and May 18th, at 7pm Mark Caggiano will be holding three classes on Islam. Topics of discussion will be the Qur’an, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and the main themes of Islam. The group will also examine the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam as well as some of the mystical practices of the Sufis. If you are interested in attending please contact Mark Caggiano or sign up on the bulletin board downstairs in the Parish Hall. He will be photocopying packets of materials and needs a head count.
Making a Mark
by Mark Caggiano
One of my areas of concern at First Parish has been to work with our Social Action Committee. We have had many accomplishments, some obvious and some less so. My hope is that others will continue to help with these important projects even after Mark has left the building.
We have our ongoing “Giving Box”. Canned and dry goods are collected and taken to the Watertown Food Pantry. One decision of Social Action this year was to focus our collections on the food pantry rather than confuse people about what they can bring in – is it tooth paste or tuna fish this week? One small project that people could do to help this effort is to bring the food over to the pantry once per month or so. The pantry is located just around the corner at St. John’s Methodist on Mt. Auburn Street.
We also have our upcoming annual cleanup effort for the Charles River. On April 26th we will gather at a location, to be determined, to help clean up our river. This event is coordinated by Social Action and the Green Sanctuary Committee. Please come on down to help with a little muscle and a lot of good will. Details to follow.
We have also been raising money for many causes. Our First Annual Comedy Night was a great success, and our very first fundraiser for the committee itself. The Folk Song Society Benefit Concert on March 29th was well attended and well enjoyed, raising $1,000.00 for the Matenwa Community Learning Center. Also, our monthly charitable offerings have been a great success for groups ranging from MassEquality to the Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center. We appreciate your generosity.
One new effort in the works is a weekend foray into Boston to work at the Boston Food Bank. A crack team of First Parish stalwarts will go to the Food Bank to sort food for distribution to food pantries throughout the Greater Boston Area. Special thanks to Sue Kuder for her efforts in organizing this. Once we have the time and the date in place, we will need you to come and to help us make a difference for those in need. We hope you can spare some time for this worthy cause.
Even with these successes and plans in the works, the Social Action Committee still needs your support. We need volunteers to work on the committee to help us with our planning efforts. Most importantly, we need people to work on specific tasks, limited engagements for marvelous undertakings. Please consider working with the Social Action Committee as a member or as a project leader. Either way, you will be making a difference in Watertown and the wider world.
Womensphere Spring Gathering
Aging with Grace and Spirit
Saturday, April 19, 2008
9:30am-3pm
First Universalist Society in Franklin
262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA
Womensphere organizes sacred circle gatherings for women of the Ballou Channing District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our spring gathering will be a day spent celebrating the wonderful journey that aging can be. Our panelists are six wise and spirited women in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Cost is $27 including lunch. A limited number of scholarships are available. To register or for more information, please contact Kate Gillis, 401-823-7929, ksgillis@netzero.net
Survey for GLBTQ Youth and Adults (ages 14-35)!
The UU church is committed to celebrating free expression of sexual/gender orientation and many congregations have very actively welcomed gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer members. I am a social work graduate student who was once a GLBTQ youth in the UU, and I'm conducting a survey with the support of the Mass Bay District of UU Churches as part of my community practice project which is a requirement for graduation in the Masters program at Smith College School for Social Work. My objective is to understand the experience of GLBTQ youth in the UU community, including to what extent GLBTQ youth feel supported in the church, what has contributed to their experience, either positive and/or negative, and whether or not there is a need for additional programs/services. Whether you identify as a GLBTQ youth or if you are an adult who was part of UU during your adolescent and young adult years, I invite you to take part in this anonymous on-line survey and share your experience in the UU church as a GLBTQ youth. Just go to this website to obtain more information and to do the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/UUqueeryouth
Thank you so much for your help, I very much appreciate it!
Sandra DiPillo
Arbella
April 2008
For the calendar of events go to our website at fpwatertown.org and use the calendar marked new.
Sermons and Worship Services
Sunday April 6, 2008
“The Cost of War” Mark W. Harris
In March we passed the fifth anniversary of the beginning of the Iraq War. In conjunction with the UUSC, we will mark Justice Sunday, and ask what has the war cost us in terms of resources and relationships, and assess how this conflict has affected each one of us.
Greeters: Jean Merkl and John Gorman
Social Hour: Brian Heibesen and Elizabeth Strekalovsky
Sunday April 13, 2008
“Confessions” Mark Caggiano
Mark will explore his personal theological musings, after three years of Divinity School and four decades of living.
Greeters: Ken Repp, Chris Johnson
Social Hour: Teodor Ellsworth and Jim Felty
Sunday April 20, 2008
Earth Day Celebration
Mark W. Harris
An intergenerational service where we celebrate our connections with the interdependent web. Look for a story, some music from the Folk Song Society, some special fun for all ages, and don’t forget to bring a mug, as we consider and act on our connections to the earth. Maybe a take home tree to plant?
Greeters: John Chamberlain & Sarah McSweeney
Social Hour: Celeste Oliva and Barbara Hansberry
Sunday April 27, 2008
Sharing the Minns Lectures
Mark W. Harris
This year I am the Minns Lecturer. Four of the five lectures will be given in this area. Please come! (one will be in Watertown; see elsewhere in newsletter) My subject matter is Class. It is often said we are a class bound faith. Is it true? How do our ideas about religion restrict who it is we appeal to.
Music: Frank Grimes,
Greeters: Jan Klein and Dede Dussault
Social Hour: Roger & Judy Kamm & Virginia Howe
Captains Log
What a whirlwind! Our last month at church has been one activity after another. The good news is that we had a whole lot of fun and entertainment. From Comedy Night to Canvass Dinners to Easter pancakes to our Benefit Concert, a good time was had by all (our many thank yous are noted elsewhere). While the church has had a good year, I know it has been a challenging year for many individuals. Members have struggled with the grief of saying goodbye to a parent, struggled with their own illnesses and set backs, and continued to be concerned by a world plagued with issues of war and peace and a floundering economy. So I hope you were able to take a break from the trials of life, and enjoy some good times with friends old and new this past month.
Now the month ahead is a more serious time for First Parish. We need to see how our budget shapes up, and thus we urge those of you who have not made pledges for fiscal 2008-09 to please do so today. Your continuing support for the church is vital. At the end of the month we will have our annual meeting. Committee chairs are urged to send us annual reports. We have many accomplishments to be proud of ; the Personnel Committee is nearly finished with its work; the Green Sanctuary committee has 12 action items that deserve your participation; we have 130 new chairs on the horizon; there will be discussion of space needs and much more. Do we really need to think about more space?
Well, look around. The parking lot is confusing on a given Sunday. The church school lacks classroom space. The minister shares an office with the nursery. The sanctuary is full when the children are present. These are good problems to have, but it does mean that we may not be very welcoming to someone who wants to park, go to church or bring a child to our church school. What can we do? Close our doors and say, go away! This is a nice church, but let’s keep it just for us! Well, hopefully we will want to share our faith and our sense of community so that we can grow and prosper. As they say, if you are not growing, you are . . .
What about growth? Not long ago I was looking at an old UUA directory, the denominational phonebook that lists all the congregations and ministers. I was the editor of this publication when I worked at UU headquarters. The edition I was look at was from 1988, twenty years ago. Our congregation listed 55 members that year, and now we are more than double that with 115 reported this year, and current numbers at about 125 with 60 registered in the church school. In a time when mainline churches are mostly floundering, we offer a faith that stands for freedom and hope against superstition and fear, a faith that says divinity is within each of our hearts, a faith where children are affirmed, and not saddled with guilt, where those who are refugees from other faiths are welcomed and not rejected for all the “heretical” theological and personal beliefs they hold to be true, where we believe in each other and how we live in the world and not in some dogmatic words to be followed without doubt or question.
Twenty years ago when that directory was published this was a small church that struggled to survive, and probably did not believe it could do much, but survive. Now every Sunday there are more than 100 people in the building. We have doubled in membership. We are giving one offering every month to a charitable cause. It seems to me when there is a need in Watertown someone calls me and asks how can First Parish help? With two Capital Fund Drives, a Welcoming congregation, and a soon to be Green Sanctuary, you are movers and shakers of our own gospel of creating a community of love and care. In April, as the annual meeting approaches, let us celebrate all that we have done and can do in the years ahead.
Mark
Among Us
Our deepest sympathy to John Gorman, Jean Merkl and family at the recent death of John’s mother, Mary. A service was held in Needham, MA.
Our deepest sympathy to John Chamberlain and his family at the death of John’s mother in California in January. A service was held in Connecticut.
Our deepest sympathy to John Buchanan and his family at the recent death of John’s father. A memorial was held in Concord, MA
A warm welcome to those people who have either signed an intention to be a member form or transferred from another church. It is good to have you with us. All will be welcomed in
May :Carmen Emerson, Paul Montesino, Neil Zarin and Ginger Burns.
ANNUAL DINNER IS COMING!!
First Parish’s Annual Dinner and Talent Show will be held on Saturday, April 5 at 6:00 p.m. People attending are requested to bring a dish – main dish, salad, dessert, appetizer, etc. Children are encouraged to come. Build Your Best Dish! – to represent our Canvass Theme – “Sustaining Today & Building for Tomorrow”
Izzy Tappan-deFrees is coordinating the talent show. Please contact her for more information or to donate your talent to the show.
We hope that everyone will attend this fun filled evening - where the food is good and plentiful, and the talent is …talented.
The Fellowship Committee
RUMMAGE SALE May 3:
The First Parish Rummage Sale will be Saturday, May 3 from 10:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m. We are looking for quality donations! We like books, records, audio and video tapes, DVD’s, children’s clothes, linens and white goods, kitchen and household items, small electronics and appliances (in working order), arts and crafts, bric-a-brac, sporting goods, toys and games, small furniture, etc. etc. We don’t accept adult clothing, and we can’t take computers, electronic components or TV’s because of disposal problems. Otherwise, whatever you want to recycle that you think someone else would like is what we want! Drop off times are at the church Friday evening, May 2 from 6:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. and Saturday morning, May 3 from 8:00 a.m. to 10:00 a.m. We will need lots of help setting up Friday night and Saturday morning, selling on Saturday and cleaning up Saturday afternoon. Please see Jane Knuttunen ( knuttun@rcn.com
(N.B. Each year we worry about disposing of items that do not sell. This year we are asking the Vietnam Vets to take away what is left over. Although they pick up every Tuesday in Watertown, they will not pick up at a church…just at private residences. So, we need people to volunteer to take 2 – 3 bags of stuff home, and put them out for the Vietnam Vets on Tuesday. We can arrange the pick-ups… we just need to volunteers to take bags home. Again, please let Jane or Sue know if you could help out in this way).
Newcomer Breakfast
If you are new to First Parish, there is a special event coming planned just for you! Twice a year our Fellowship Committee hosts a Newcomer Breakfast. All those who are new to the church (more or less) are invited to come meet others for this special meal which always features our FPW array of tasty foods and warm friendships. The breakfast will be on Sunday, May 4 at 9:30 a.m. Newcomers will receive an invitation, but if we miss you somehow, please come! This breakfast will be followed by two weeks of New UU classes, sessions meant to introduce newcomers to First Parish and its history and organization.
Thank you one and all
Our first annual Easter pancake breakfast was a nice gathering. About 50 people (young and old) attended and enjoyed the pancakes, sausage and fruit. A special thanks to all who helped out or made contributions: Will and Sue Twombly, Judy and Roger Kamm, Martha Scott, Nancy Dutton and David Benson, Jeanne Cleary( our shopper) and Barry Greess and Nathan (our other shopper and master pancake flipper), Jill Shaw and Barbara Farrell, and Izzy Tappan deFrees. Other donations: Missy Shay and Kelly Morton. It was fun to cook and prepare together. Let’s do it again!
Our first annual Comedy Night made $350 for the Social Action committee. Special thanks to Paul Day and Mark Caggiano for making these arrangements.
The annual benefit concert this year was given to support the Matenwa Community Learning Center in Haiti. The full house at the concert raised $1,000 for the school after the performers were paid. This is nearly the equivalent of an entire year’s salary for one teacher. Thanks to those who helped out: Kyle Hart, Paul Dansereau, Holly Cachimuel (who spoke on behalf of the church), Patricia Fox, David Morrison, Martha Scott and the two Marks. Also thanks to those who baked goodies for the intermission refreshments.
Fluorescent Bulb Concerns
(from Green Sanctuary)
I've heard there's mercury in CFL bulbs. Should I worry?
Several members of the church have recently spoken up about their concern that compact fluorescent light bulbs (CFLs) contain a small amount of mercury, which is toxic. While many of us are making the switch from incandescent bulbs to CFLs we need to be fully informed about CFLs. Many products used in the home, office, and school contain mercury: thermometers, blood pressure cuffs, barometers, tube fluorescent light bulbs, energy efficient compact fluorescent light bulbs, electrical switches, and thermostats to name a few. All compact fluorescents contain trace amounts of mercury ˜ but don't worry! CFLs contain far less mercury than other items in the house: CFLs (4 mg), thermometers (500 mg), older thermostats (3,000 mg). Plus, using CFL bulbs actually prevents more mercury from being released into the air by power plants. A power plant emits about 10 mg of mercury to produce the electricity needed to run an incandescent bulb, compared to only 2.4 mg of mercury to run a CFL for the same amount of time. Also, most of the mercury in a CFL is recycled if the bulb is disposed of properly.
How should I dispose of my burned-out bulbs?
CFLs cannot go into the regular trash. First Parish is looking into having a collection box for used CFLs at the church. In the meantime, CFLs can be safely disposed of at the Watertown hazardous drop-off site in Lexington (Please use the Lexington site for all your toxic trash!) Also, some hardware stores will accept used CFLs. No mercury is released unless the bulbs are broken so it is important not to break the bulbs. If you do, here are some suggestions for cleanup. Thank you so much. These bulbs are tremendous energy savers, but you need to dispose of them properly.
Should a CFL break, take these simple precautions. Open nearby windows to disperse any vapor that may escape.Do not use a vacuum or broom. Carefully scoop up the fragments and powder with stiff paper or cardboard and place them in a sealed plastic bag. Use disposable rubber gloves if desired. Wipe the area clean with damp paper towels or disposable wet wipes and place them in the plastic bag and dispose of at one of the sites mentioned above.
If a CFL breaks on a rug or carpet, first remove all materials you can without using a vacuum cleaner, following the steps above. Sticky tape (such as duct tape) can be used to pick up small pieces and powder. If vacuuming is needed after all visible materials are removed, vacuum the area where the bulb was broken, remove the vacuum bag (or empty and wipe the canister) and put the bag or vacuum debris in a sealed plastic bag in the outdoor trash.
R.E.flections by a chaliceD.R.E.amer
by Roberta Altamari
Roberta@chalicedreamer.net
cell phone: 617-872-5145
website for RE families: www.chalicedreamer.net
On Easter Sunday, Nathan Greess and Dominique Altamari shared a chalice lighting that they wrote together inspired by the first four lines from an Emily Dickinson poem. Several people asked that it be printed in the Arbella, so here it is …
“Hope” is a thing with feathers
That perches in the soul
And sings the tune without
The words and never stops --- at all
“Peace” is the calm in everyone
The urge to just relax
For people to walk hand and hand
And find their inner soul
“Love” is that little spark of joy
The light to guide you through the dark
Because one spark starts a flame
Of everlasting love
“Life” is taking the first step,
The start of something new
After every end is a new beginning
You just have to take a chance
“Hope” is a thing with feathers
“Peace” is your inner soul
“Love” is a spark of joy
“Life” is a new beginning
Just take a chance
In March, I attended a training for religious educators on working with youth. As with most of these trainings, I find them to be both inspiring and affirming of the work we are already doing here in Watertown. For a small congregation with a new youth group, we are already witnessing the amazing evolution of a youth ministry.
The focus of our training was on ministry with youth. Ministry meaning “caring for and about, being attentive to: deserving our caring, thought, prayer”. With meaning “mutual ministry, theology of equity in power relations”. Youth meaning “focus on junior and senior high”. This is all a clear shift away from the outdated visions of youth groups. It’s not enough to just have a social forum for teens to get together. We need to have a ministry dedicated to meeting the unique needs of our youth. And while Watertown is already doing that quite well, I thought I’d share some of the basics with you both to affirm what we are already doing and inspire us to continue our meaningful work. Also, many of the basic theories for youth ministry are very relevant for the other ministries.
I learned two basic theories that I really wanted to share with you. One is for creating a balanced program. A youth ministry should include activities inspiring growth in five areas – worship, social action, activities and fellowship, learning, and leadership. These areas don’t need to be in equal proportions, but all should be represented in the activities. A sixth area, youth adult relations, is ideally inter-woven throughout all of these five areas. Throughout the year, our youth have participated in activities in all of these areas. But have you? First Parish has a wide variety of programs that fall within these areas. Do you participate?
The most intriguing part to consider was youth adult relations. I’ve seen some very nice connections growing between our youth and various adults in the community. It is well known that a strong youth ministry benefits the entire congregation in countless ways! I think the Watertown community as individuals and as a congregation has an excellent attitude towards our youth ministry. From Lee Pierce spending countless hours leading Our Wholes Lives for our Junior High youth and folks like Chris Johnson, Ken Repp, David Morrison, and Charlyn Bethell doing special projects with our youth to many of you enthusiastically participating in the projects the youth have brought to us, I really appreciate the respect and kindness everyone has shared with our youth this year. And that doesn’t even take into account the many dedicated others working wonders with our younger youth (they will be thanked later this year!). I would love to see even more connections continue to grow as our youth ministry does! Anyone who would like to get more involved with activities our youth are doing this year or next, please let me know.
Speaking of youth adult relations, I want to publicly acknowledge that we have been extremely lucky to have Barry Greess working this year as our Youth Advisor. He has been a trustworthy, compassionate, and fun leader for our youth. He helps create a ministry that is both safe and enjoyable for our teens. While he does receive a stipend for his work with our Senior High group, he has been working double time volunteering another four hours every Sunday morning to help with our Middle School group. It really is incredible to realize how much talent, energy, and time Barry has been dedicating to our youth ministry all year. If you see him, thank him on behalf of our entire community! And if you see his wife, Jeanne Cleary, or his son, Nathan Greess, thank them too for giving up so much family time so that he can do this for us!
The other youth ministry theory that I thought was worth sharing was regarding building community. Community is built in steps starting with “bonding”, moving to “opening up”, and “affirming”, and then “stretching”, finally “deeper sharing”. This theory is appropriate for groups of all types. All the members of a group won’t feel comfortable opening up until some low-risk bonding activity has been shared. Likewise, all of the members of a group won’t feel comfortable stretching and deeply sharing until activities promoting bonding, opening up, and affirmation have happened. This process needs to happen in each meeting, but you can move through introductory activities quicker once a group has been together long term. It seemed obvious as I learned it, but then I realized how many times I start a group with check-in before I give people the opportunity to bond with a “lower risk” activity. It’s really valuable to know these basic blocks for building community. It enables us to create healthier groups that honor each member. How might we use this theory in all of our groups at First Parish?
Once again, I’m finding working in our children’s and youth ministries to be very inspiring on many levels! We’ve got lots of energy and good things happening! From great kids to work with to awesome adults to collaborate with, we have a wonderful community here!!
Youth Sunday is coming in June:
The seasons are rushing by and we are only a few months away from our wonderful annual Youth Sunday service coming on June 8. In addition to sharing rich and inspiring worship with our youth leaders, we will celebrate some special “rite-of-passage” ceremonies. This year, those ceremonies include “First Chalice” for our 8-year-olds and “First Mentor” for our 11-year-olds. (Youth these ages will hear from Roberta soon regarding specific details for preparing for these ceremonies.) In addition, we will honor the high school graduation of Cody Urban, whom First Parish has watched grow into an amazing, confident, and compassionate young man. If you aren’t familiar with these wonderful ways that we honor our growing youth, check out our descriptive brochure at church or the “rites-of-passage” link on our R.E. website.
A special type of Easter basket!
A big thank you to all of the children and adults who brought supplies on Easter Sunday (March 23rd) to make an Easter basket for an animal shelter! The donations flowed out of our donation box! We are accepting supplies through April 6, so you still have time to donate if you want to. Food, toys, leashes, collars, blankets and towels for dogs and cats are needed. This is a great first service project for young children and perfect for animal lovers! For more details about the shelter, check out www.buddydoghs.com
Social Action news from RE:
Coming for the month following our intergenerational Earth Day service on April 20 will be special “environmental” programming for all children and youth in our RE program. They will be doing a wide variety of activities regarding making our world a “greener” place. Stay tuned for service projects you can help them with!
Popcorn Theology for Youth and Adults: Babel
On Sunday, April 6 from 6pm to 9pm: Youth Group sponsored intergenerational movie screening and discussion of the movie, Babel ... (When an American couple vacationing in Morocco fall victim to a random act of violence, a series of events unfolds across four countries that demonstrates both the necessity and impossibility of human communication). You are invited to bring your dinner or dessert to munch on while we watch the movie.
Recycling our clothing for Charity!
Join us on Thursday, April 10th at 7:30pm as we talk about one thing that many Americans buy too much of … new clothes. First, let’s learn about where our clothes really come from by watching a documentary, China Blue. Will we be inspired to think twice when we purchase new clothes? And considering the economic injustice, human rights, and environmental implications, are we better off reducing, reusing, and recycling our clothes more often? In that spirit, everyone is invited to bring nice clothing they no longer want, to pass along to someone else in our community. All clothes brought can be purchased for $1 each with all monies going to the charity that the group picks to support. (This event is intended for adults and youth in 9th grade or above.)
Ferry Beach
In case you don’t know, Roberta is a Ferry Beach booster. That means she is happy to answer any questions you might have about this awesome UU summer vacation experience. (as are many other First Parish youth and adults who have been to Ferry Beach and love it!) They have a wide variety of conferences to nurture your UU spirit as you also enjoy a fun vacation on the beach. They have great programs for youth, families, and adults. See Roberta for more details or check out the brochures at church. Or check them out on the web at www.ferrybeach.org
Vagina Monologue ticket refunds
Many of us were disappointed that the performance of the Vagina Monologues didn’t happen. If you bought a ticket, Roberta was given the money that First Parish folks paid. See her to get your refund.
Annual Meeting and Reports
Our Annual Meeting of First Parish will take place on April 27 following the church service. Luncheon fixings will be available. All Committee chairs are reminded to prepare and submit an Annual Report on the activities of their committee during the past year. Those reports should be sent electronically to Nancy Dutton by Sunday, April 13.
Brother/Sister, Can You Spare a . . . MUG?
Do you drink coffee, tea, or juice at home in paper cups? We doubt it! Might you have some extra mugs in the back of your cupboards, going to waste? Time to recycle them by donating them for general use during future social hours. On Sunday, April 20, at the Earth Day intergenerational service, the Fellowship Committee will be circulating through the aisles with our festive “mug cart” to take up a collection of standard-sized mugs in our effort to reduce paper cup consumption during First Parish’s social events. We calculate needing about 50 mugs, so please just bring in ONE, if you do have an extra.
We hope to gradually transition to a paper-less social hour. We will store the mugs in special dishwasher racks that can then be stacked in our short cycle, energy-saving commercial dishwasher at the end of the social event. Fellowship Committee members will be available to help orient social hour hosts to this new-fangled process of not washing dishes by hand. Energy experts assure us that our dishwasher uses far less energy and water than hand-washing, so our experiment has received the green stamp of approval. Thanks for participating in this experiment to reduce First Parish’s resource consumption!
Amateur Historian (continued, part 2)
by Kathy Button
. . . the story I really want to tell you – and then I will get back to Thoreau – is about Anita Diamant and her 2005 novel, “The Last Days of Dogtown”. Allow me to quote a passage:
“A birdsong split the night silence and Judy Rhines held her breath, listening to the torrent of melody. She wanted to turn and ask, “It’s too late for mockingbirds, isn’t it?’” (p. 171)
When I read those lines, alarms went off inside my head. “It’s not too late for mockingbirds, it’s too early!” . . .
“Dogtown”, set in Cape Ann, takes the reader back to 1814. Hmmm, I didn’t think mockingbirds had reached that far North in that era. My dogged determination that drives me nuts wouldn’t allow me to stop my quest for some sort of proof. I found what I needed in “The Birds of Essex County, Massachusetts”, by Charles Wendell Townsend. His 1903 notes about Mimus polyglottos read: “Accidental visitor from the south. One was taken at Nahant in June, 1852.” So there! But in the supplement, dated 1920, Townsend goes on:
“In the original Memoir, I had collected only six records for the Mockingbird for Essex County. Four of the birds were shot. In the last dozen years the bird has become almost a resident, for individuals have been observed in various places in the County at all times of the year.” (p.16) I emailed Anita Diamant with the results of my research. Her reply was full of surprise. When I met her in person, she said, “Oh, you’re the one.” Because the room at the Needham Public Library had already reached its legal limit, we missed an opportunity to here Diamant read from “Dogtown”. She told the audience about this person who emailed her about mockingbirds. Sigh. But I did get her autograph for my copy of the book.
Enough digression and then I shall return to Thoreau. Without reading the first draft of “Walden”, which I understand was less than half the size of the 1854 published version, I rather suspect he did not include the line about the mockingbird. The whole Conclusion seems like an afterthought, an unfinished afterthought. In 1854 he mentioned mockingbirds in his Journals. On August 10, 1854, he jots an entry, “Mr. Loomis says that he saw a mockingbird at Fair Haven Pond to-day.” A few days later, on August 18, he goes on,
“I think I saw a mockingbird on a black cherry near Pedrick’s. Size and like of a catbird, bluish-black side-head, a white spot on closed wings, lighter breast and beneath; but he flew before I had fairly adjusted my glass.”
The mockingbird appeared in an earlier entry of the Journal, from June 14, 1851. At that point, Thoreau probably had only heard about the song bird: “Men talk of the rich song of other birds, the thrasher, mockingbird, nightingale. But I doubt, I doubt. They know not what they say.” So in the space of three years, from 1851 to 1854, the mockingbird made further inroads into New England.
“Faith in a Seed: The Dispersion of Seeds and Other Late Natural History Writings”, which came to light in 1993, contains other references to mockingbirds and their food habits. Apparently, Henry David found many more opportunities to observe Mimus polyglottos in the years before he died in 1862.
(Another little aside, and then I must write my conclusion. A few years ago Mr. Mocker trapped himself in netting I had put over my strawberries. He whined like a baby when I wrapped him in a towel while I cut the plastic to free his legs. Did he thank me when I released him? No, he shot away. If I were a Nineteenth Century naturalist, I might have taken the opportunity instead to bring Mr. Mocker to the taxidermist. I shudder at the thought.)
CONCLUSION: That one phrase, “…the mocking-bird is rarely heard here”, speaks volumes about the expanding ranges of wild creatures, more than a century before the phrase “global warming” reached our consciousness. Re-reading “Walden” has also taught me that his books cannot be separated from his journals. “Walden” in all its weirdness makes more sense when studied along side his daily musings. Thanks to the power of “Google Books”, JSTOR, and all the other internet tools available to the compulsive reader, “Walden” is even more accessible than ever. The fourth time I re-visit “Walden” I shall be able to enjoy going over snibbets of the text, and leave behind that dogged determination to read every word.
2008 Minns Lecture Series
Unitarian Universalism and Class
A Faith for a Few?
by Mark W. Harris
Minister, First Parish of Watertown, Unitarian Universalist
Rev. Harris is the minister at the First Parish of Watertown. He is the author of the Historical Dictionary of Untarian Universalism and of the UUA pamphlet "UU Origins: Our Historic Faith." He is also an adjunct professor at Andover Newton Theological School and Starr King School.
Lectures are free and open to the public.
Lecture 1: A Class-bound Faith?
This lecture will introduce the subject. Why have Unitarian Universalists historically been associated with upper
or upper middle classes? Drawing on Richard Niebuhr’s The Social Sources of Denominationalism, we will examine the choice of religion as it pertains to class. What is the relationship between economic success and salvation? Which side did the liberals take in the Great Revival of the 1740s, and what does that have to do with maintaining the social order? This lecture will also look at different kinds of class, such as education and economic.
Wednesday, April 30, 2008, 7:00 pm
First Church in Boston, 66 Marlborough St., Boston
Lecture 2: Brahmin Culture for the Masses
This lecture will look at the alliance of business, Harvard College, Brahmin culture, and liberal religion. How did class determine our history and who became involved with the Unitarian movement? We will also look at a few people who wanted to spread the Unitarian faith to the masses in more evangelical styles, including Margaret Fuller’s brother, Arthur.
Thursday, May 1, 2008, 7:00 p.m.
Harvard Divinity School, 45 Francis Ave., Cambridge
Lecture 3: Universalist Piety and a Classless Heaven
This lecture will examine the Universalist faith and its appeal to a broader number of classes in society through its message of equality. If all are equal in heaven, then nobody is saved unless everybody is saved.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008, 7:00 pm
King's Chapel Parish House, 64 Beacon St., Boston
Lecture 4: The Science of Salvation
This lecture will look at the relationship between liberal religion and the eugenics movement. Did liberals believe they were a better class of people? Were they the saved? And if so, did they believe that inferior peoples should not reproduce? What are the origins of the birth control movement?
Wednesday, May 7, 2008, 7:00 pm
First Parish of Watertown, 35 Church St., Watertown
Lecture 5: A Faith for a Few?
This lecture will ask, what are some of the historical ramifications of our faith? How is class reflected in our worship and our words? Do we believe we are the best people, liberals who can save the world? What has been our relationship to issues of race, and why have we been more successful with the gay and lesbian community in attracting newcomers? What would an anti-classist UUA look like?
UUA General Assembly, June 25-29, 2008, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
UU Niagara Experience
Join UUs from around the country in Niagara Falls, July 20-23, 2008
Come experience the wonder of Niagara Falls including some great educational opportunities while being taken care of like royalty. The UU Church of Niagara is conducting a four day UU Niagara Experience which is a lifetime opportunity to encounter the Falls up close from every perspective. Spend four days with us exploring the rich history and natural beauty around the Falls. For information visit our web site : http://www.uunex.net/
Historic 40th Walk for Hunger, Sunday, May 4 Details to follow!
Charles River Cleanup
The Ninth Annual Charles River Clean-up takes place this year Saturday, April 26, from 9 AM to Noon. Watertown Citizens for Environmental Safety once again will be focusing on the park next door to Boston Scientific on Pleasant Street west of Bridge Street.
Adult RE Class - Islam
On April 27th, May 4th and May 18th, at 7pm Mark Caggiano will be holding three classes on Islam. Topics of discussion will be the Qur’an, the life of the Prophet Muhammad, and the main themes of Islam. The group will also examine the differences between Sunni and Shia Islam as well as some of the mystical practices of the Sufis. If you are interested in attending please contact Mark Caggiano or sign up on the bulletin board downstairs in the Parish Hall. He will be photocopying packets of materials and needs a head count.
Making a Mark
by Mark Caggiano
One of my areas of concern at First Parish has been to work with our Social Action Committee. We have had many accomplishments, some obvious and some less so. My hope is that others will continue to help with these important projects even after Mark has left the building.
We have our ongoing “Giving Box”. Canned and dry goods are collected and taken to the Watertown Food Pantry. One decision of Social Action this year was to focus our collections on the food pantry rather than confuse people about what they can bring in – is it tooth paste or tuna fish this week? One small project that people could do to help this effort is to bring the food over to the pantry once per month or so. The pantry is located just around the corner at St. John’s Methodist on Mt. Auburn Street.
We also have our upcoming annual cleanup effort for the Charles River. On April 26th we will gather at a location, to be determined, to help clean up our river. This event is coordinated by Social Action and the Green Sanctuary Committee. Please come on down to help with a little muscle and a lot of good will. Details to follow.
We have also been raising money for many causes. Our First Annual Comedy Night was a great success, and our very first fundraiser for the committee itself. The Folk Song Society Benefit Concert on March 29th was well attended and well enjoyed, raising $1,000.00 for the Matenwa Community Learning Center. Also, our monthly charitable offerings have been a great success for groups ranging from MassEquality to the Grow Clinic at Boston Medical Center. We appreciate your generosity.
One new effort in the works is a weekend foray into Boston to work at the Boston Food Bank. A crack team of First Parish stalwarts will go to the Food Bank to sort food for distribution to food pantries throughout the Greater Boston Area. Special thanks to Sue Kuder for her efforts in organizing this. Once we have the time and the date in place, we will need you to come and to help us make a difference for those in need. We hope you can spare some time for this worthy cause.
Even with these successes and plans in the works, the Social Action Committee still needs your support. We need volunteers to work on the committee to help us with our planning efforts. Most importantly, we need people to work on specific tasks, limited engagements for marvelous undertakings. Please consider working with the Social Action Committee as a member or as a project leader. Either way, you will be making a difference in Watertown and the wider world.
Womensphere Spring Gathering
Aging with Grace and Spirit
Saturday, April 19, 2008
9:30am-3pm
First Universalist Society in Franklin
262 Chestnut Street, Franklin, MA
Womensphere organizes sacred circle gatherings for women of the Ballou Channing District of the Unitarian Universalist Association. Our spring gathering will be a day spent celebrating the wonderful journey that aging can be. Our panelists are six wise and spirited women in their 70’s, 80’s and 90’s. Cost is $27 including lunch. A limited number of scholarships are available. To register or for more information, please contact Kate Gillis, 401-823-7929, ksgillis@netzero.net
Survey for GLBTQ Youth and Adults (ages 14-35)!
The UU church is committed to celebrating free expression of sexual/gender orientation and many congregations have very actively welcomed gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender and queer members. I am a social work graduate student who was once a GLBTQ youth in the UU, and I'm conducting a survey with the support of the Mass Bay District of UU Churches as part of my community practice project which is a requirement for graduation in the Masters program at Smith College School for Social Work. My objective is to understand the experience of GLBTQ youth in the UU community, including to what extent GLBTQ youth feel supported in the church, what has contributed to their experience, either positive and/or negative, and whether or not there is a need for additional programs/services. Whether you identify as a GLBTQ youth or if you are an adult who was part of UU during your adolescent and young adult years, I invite you to take part in this anonymous on-line survey and share your experience in the UU church as a GLBTQ youth. Just go to this website to obtain more information and to do the survey: www.surveymonkey.com/UUqueeryouth
Thank you so much for your help, I very much appreciate it!
Sandra DiPillo