Wednesday, February 25, 2009
Arbella- March 2009 Newsletter
First Parish of Watertown
Arbella
March 2009
for calendar of events please go to the member page for the calendar
Sermons and Services
Sunday, March 1 , 2009 11:00 a.m.
“Putting in Everything” Mark W. Harris
I recently saw a quotation from my colleague Tom Schade who spoke about those churches which will survive and prosper in hard economic times: “It will not depend upon the size of the endowment, nor the wealth of the community that determines which will survive and which won’t, but whether the members of the church see their faith as a discretionary faith, one financed out of their discretionary cash, or an essential faith for which they are willing to sacrifice.”
Guest musician: Frank Grimes, viola
Greeters: Virginia Howe and Genia Lenz
Social Hour: Jean Merkl & John Gorman
Sunday, March 8, 2009 11:00 a.m.
“Wishful Thinking” Mark W. Harris
What if you had one big wish . . . what would it be, and how would you see it fulfilled? What if you had one wish about what First Parish could be or could offer, and how would you help fulfill that wish? Let’s think about
how we could live out our wish in our lives and at church.
Greeters: Elizabeth Strekalovsky & Brian Hebeisen
Social Hour: Karen Allendoerfer, Cornelia Janke
Sunday, March 15, 2009 11:00 a.m.
“What Goes Up, Must Come Down” Mark W. Harris
We sometimes think that life works in balances- up and down. Every good thing that happens to us is balanced by something bad. Elevators go up and down. Where do we find an equilibrium in our lives that keeps the elevator of life moving?
Greeters: Gretchen Brown and Paul Montesino
Social Hour: Anna and Michael Anctil
Guest musicians: Jill Dreeben, flute and Sandi-Jo Malmon, cello and FPW Choir
Sunday, March 22, 2009 11:00 a.m
“Spring Awakening” Lay Service
Our Green Sanctuary Committee invites you to come celebrate the long awaited return of spring. Four members of the congregation will speak about some part of their life where they have made a commitment to decrease their
carbon footprint and make their lives embrace a vision of environmental wholeness. This will also be a way for you to connect with one of the 12 action items that the Green Sanctuary program is committed to.
Greeters: Marianne and Michael Collins
Social Hour: Sarah & John Chamberlain
Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:00 a. m.
“Life Up From Death” Mark W. Harris
This sermon is in response to, Nothing To Be Frightened Of,” a book on death by Julian
Barnes. Spring invites us to think about the resurrection of life from death.
Greeters: Peter Cudhea and Wendell Refior
Social Hour: Teo Ellsworth and Randy Rhoda
Captain’s Log
Everyone I talk to is downright tired of winter. We have had snow and more snow, and so as March inches closer we are all starting to feel a little more hopeful that spring is on the way. As you know, March is also canvass month. It is time to make a financial commitment to ensure the church has another season of life and growth. Many of us are concerned that the economy may affect the budget of the church. Some have suffered from a loss of job in their families. Others have suffered from a loss of income or dreams of a steady retirement income. We are all a little uncertain about the future, but we also know from experience that the storms will pass. Our church survived the depression, and we survived the tearing down of the church next door, when membership was about 12 people. Look where we are now! It is easy to give power to the fear, but we also have to remember the commitments and strengths we already possess and can offer to our beloved community.
A few weeks ago I shared a meditation on patience. That is something we all need right now. Can we be patient to see if our own circumstances change? Can we be patient with the stimulus package? Can we be patient with our desires? I recently heard an ad where one of the stores was advertising for a lay-a-way plan. I thought these had gone out of style, because people were once told to wait until they could afford something, and then after
they had paid for it by installment, then they could have it. In recent years we haven’t encouraged anyone to have patience with their desires. We have been encouraged to act like the character Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She is always insisting to her father that he buy her whatever she wants in that instant.
Right now I am wishing that the media would practice a little patience. I got discouraged when the media was already predicting failure even before the stimulus package was signed into law. I felt like saying, Can’t you just give it a chance? It also reminded me of how often I react negatively at home when Andrea suggests a new project or a change. There is Eeyore again with, “That won’t work.” I have tried stretching this part of my personality in recent years. My wife will tell you that I sometimes have a negative thing or two to say about my perceptions of her schemes to move furniture around, or build a stairway here and a deck there. I have often been the first to say, “that’s crazy” , or “that is too much work.” Over the years I have slowly come to appreciate that these wild schemes have usually laid the ground work for beautiful and enduring projects. We have a deck at the parsonage that we have enjoyed for years. We built a beautiful fireplace at our old house in Maine. I was usually the first to say, “we can’t do that,” but then once the project was completed, I realized that it was a great idea that I resisted because I did not want to be patient enough to see it through, and did not want to do all this work or pay all the money. It is always easier to do nothing.
While worry about the economy is prevalent, we should not let it color the achievements we can celebrate. Over the past ten years our pledge income has grown from 43,000 to $112,000. Isn't this a sign of commitment on the part of all of you? This year our trustees have led us as a congregation to place our entire endowment with a socially responsible investor. We now know that all of our invested funds reflect the kind of justice seeking world our principles embody. We must pay to ensure our values are acted upon in the world, but what greater investment could we make? These kinds of commitment say that you the members of First Parish have confidence that your gifts support an important liberal institution that you and the world need. But it more than affirms our values. Your commitment means that your children will be encouraged to embrace these liberal principles, too. Your commitment means that one of the oldest religious institutions in the country will continue its long history, a history that has seen it survive one or two economic downturns before. Your commitment means that you know that a larger community of love is ready to stand by you if you call on it to support you, help you, or encourage you along the rocky pathway of life. Your commitment helps us all reflect on the worshipping, living community of faith we all embody. I am thankful for all this shared history, values, community life and love. These are tough times, but I know we have the strong church that will be supported by its members through these tough times. In difficult times, it is one thing to be grateful for.
Mark
Spring Awakening -
We Need Lay Speakers
On March 22, we need four First Parish members or friends who would be willing to speak for approximately five minutes on their commitment to making their lives embrace a “greener” way. Do you drive a hybrid? Have you insulated? Are you a recycler? We need you to speak for just a few minutes about what you do and why you do it? We have one volunteer so far, and needed three more. Contact Mark Harris if you can participate.
Worship Associates for Sabbatical
Mark Harris’ sabbatical begins on April 1. We have most of the worship services planned for the three months he will be absent this spring. We would like to have a lay person responsible for helping to set up (microphones, candles, etc.), greet and help orient any visiting speakers, and also lead the announcements on Sunday morning. Mark would like to conduct a training for this before he goes on leave. Beginning March 1, there will be a sign-up for the position of worship associate during the sabbatical. Please help out. Anyone is eligible. There will be more information on the sabbatical in the April newsletter. Mark will be in residence working on his book. He will also be able to respond to any pastoral emergencies during that time. Watch for final details this month!
Social Action
Nancy Banks from UU Mass Action, a special advocacy group for Social Action will be visiting with us on March 15. She will be available after church to discuss how we could be more active in making legislative change happen here in Massachusetts.
Renewal House
Our charitable offering for March will be on the 22nd, and will benefit the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry. We hope to have a staff member from the Urban Ministry present that day. The Urban ministry began as a ministry to the poor in Boston in the 1820’s. Now it is involved in many youth programs in Roxbury, an Asian food pantry, and Renewal House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Our Giving Box this month is for Renewal House.
The Giving Box
What can our congregation accomplish in the area of Social Concerns in six months? This is a question which can be answered by your realizing that you have contributed food and "things" to support local agencies through The Giving Box consistently for half of a calendar year. The agencies which you have helped service communities which are becoming more and more vulnerable as all levels of our national and local economies become more unstable by the day. Our sharing puts into action a basic UU philosophical principle: working to improve the world by local effort to change. At this point, we need to recognize what we have already accomplished this year as we move into the last four months of our church year----"JOB WELL DONE"
The Giving Box for March will be collecting items for Renewal House in Roxbury, a shelter-based program which works with victims of all ages of domestic violence. Services range from hot line responses through shelter living with empowerment and healing offered to residents. There is a concomitant component of promoting social justice through individuals who interact with community systems such as the courts or school systems. Renewal House also advocates for general societal change. We will be detailing more specifics in the future of the multilevel service delivery process that this well established agency offers to an increasing number of women and their children dealing with the residuals of domestic violence.
FPW has had a long history of awareness and support of intervention programs dealing with domestic violence. Our congregation began to donate articles to the Waltham Shelter for Battered Women at its inception two decades ago. Back then, two women from FPW were trained as volunteers to work at/with the shelter programs. The instructor is a current and active FPW member who has moved on to other areas of professional interests. The acknowledgement of the issues of domestic violence has been part of the FPW conscience long before the issue was understood as a social, legal and moral problem for all levels of society. Although it was never common knowledge, domestic violence has been an issue amongst us. A small core of FPW people responded to the victim(s) and worked successfully to empower the individual(s) to move safely out of the abusive violence and to safe haven(s). We will continue our longstanding efforts to assist a non-profit in its work to help directly people in a pattern of violence and in its work to address the systemic problems which allow abuse to continue in our society.
The Director of Renewal House has asked that we focus on collecting toiletries and cleaning supplies. The toiletries can include anything which a woman who has fled her home to shelter with nothing at all (except perhaps her children) might need to get through the day and night. Please use your imagination in processing what that might be like.
Some suggestions:
Soap//Hand Lotion//Tooth brushes//tooth paste//Deodorant//Hair care products//Razors//Shaving cream, Kotex Tampax//Toiletpaper/Lipstick//Colognes//etc.
Cleaning supplies help within the shelter itself on a daily basis and also help women start up housekeeping again as they transition to safe apartment living.
Some suggestions:Liquid Dish-washing soap//Papertowels/ Sponges/Mops/Bleach// Clothes washing detergents//etc.
The Director asked us to consider one more possible item that the shelter needs. Renewal House needs a vacuum cleaner. Should anyone here are FPW have a vacuum cleaner that is in excellent working order but needs a new purposeful home; please let us know.
Mary McCarthy in 1961 wrote:..In violence, we forget who we are. In March of 2009, we here are FPW will demonstrate to a deserving population at Renewal House that we know and we care who they are. They are NOT products of violence but ARE people about whom we have concern...and are pleased to extend our open and Helping Hands.
Barbara Farrell and Jill Shaw
Heifer International
Religious Education
and Charitable Offering
The Heifer Project Mini Term was a great success! I want to thank all of the amazing volunteers who worked with the children and youth. It was wonderful to see different faces working with the children and youth in the various workshop groups. On Sunday, February 22nd the projects the children and youth created during the workshops were sold during fellowship hour at 'The Global Village Marketplace'. The marketplace was a huge success and we raised $410 for Heifer International. The charitable offering for the month of February was dedicated to Heifer International as well, we passed on the gift of $445 from the First Parish offering for an excellent total of $855. Thank you!!!!!
Religious Education
Sanctuary – A Place of Safety:
Several weeks ago I began a discussion with members of the RE committee and other church staff regarding expectations of what is considered safe and appropriate behavior of the children and youth when they are at First Parish. I have recently observed near accidents during social hour. I have heard that some of our older members feel physically unsafe due to the commotion and fear of being knocked off balance or of spilling a cup of hot tea or coffee on themselves or on someone else. It makes me sad to think that some individuals do not feel safe while at church. How should we each behave to make church the physically and emotionally safe place that we want it to be? What is appropriate and realistic behavior to expect of children, youth and adults?
My intention - to present a simple and clear set of “rules” which would help all individuals who enter into our church home to support and respect the special nature of this building and what that in turn represents to a diverse group of people. This includes those who visit our church as renters and visitors.
It is challenging to find language and “rules” which are representative of many expectations. After much reflection of my own and some back and forth with church staff and RE members by e-mail, I have a proposal for some basic guidelines to create the sanctuary that we all want First Parish to be:
• Running is not appropriate inside the church. Running is for outside the building.
• Climbing on the poles in the social hall is not permitted at any time.
• Food and Drink should remain in the social hall.
• All adults, not just parents, should feel deputized to stop inappropriate behavior, such as running, when they witness it. This is not intended as an open invitation to correct any and all behavior of individual children or youth. It is unrealistic to expect parents to be with their children at all times while at church. We encourage this but it is not always possible, especially for parents of several children. This is the “it takes a village” concept! Our children and youth need our gentle guidance.
Volunteers:
Thank you to all of the individuals who have already shared their time and talent with our children and youth throughout this year. We need more volunteers in all of our religious education classes. Please look for the sign up sheet in the social hall and sign up for a class. I guarantee that you will get more out of volunteering than you might anticipate!
Upcoming Events at First Parish:
First Parish Pals
First Parish Pals are folks of any age who wish to secretly share some good wishes with someone this season (and receive good wishes from another Pal). This involves sending two cards in the mail during March and then bringing a small gift (homemade is great!) to your pal during social hour on the first Sunday in Spring - March 22. To build intergenerational connections, we try to match Pals of different ages.
Sign up by contacting : Kelly Morton (kyskel@gmail.com) by Sunday, March 1.
Youth Group Dinner-
A benefit on behalf of Heifer International: Please plan to join us for fun and fellowship on Friday evening March 27th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at First Parish. The Youth group will be sharing delicious and delectable offerings from the global village menu. We will have a speaker from Heifer International to share information about Heifer and answer questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Namaste, Debra Zagaeski (DRE)
Musically Speaking
By Charlyn Bethell
“ Is there anything more demonstrative of social solidarity than a choir? Many people unite to do something that cannot be done by a single person alone however talented he or she may be: there the work of everyone is equally important….”
--Zoltan Kodaly
We have three amazing choirs at First Parish. Our children’s choir has mostly elementary school-aged children. Youth choir is for Middle/high School aged girls (we would welcome boys, too). The adult choir is for anyone who would like to sing. Each choir is filled with dedicated singers who enjoy sharing their collective efforts at church services. Nowhere is it truer than in a choir: we celebrate the inherent worth of the individual. Each person who sings adds a special sound to the group. That being said, it is also true that any choir works to create a blended sound. More singers always enhance our choir sound. The blend of our sound shifts a bit depending on the voices in the group, so our choral sound is dynamic and exciting. I think that each person who sings comes to enjoy the great benefits of singing and we all grow together in learning the chosen music.
Children’s choir rehearses on Sunday mornings before church at 10:15 downstairs by the piano. We sing seasonal music to fit into church services and we do some musical games as well. The songs we sing often have a refrain with verses, which makes them easier to remember the words. Lately, Michael Altamari has been playing his mandolin with us, which has been wonderful.
Youth choir meets after church services on Sundays at 12:45 upstairs by the piano. We will be singing City Songs by Bob Chilcott and some other fun music for a service in late March or early April.
The adult choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:30 to approximately 8 pm in the sanctuary at First Parish. We have set up the dates that we will sing for church services: March 15th, April 12th (Easter), May 10th, and June 7th. These feel to me like choir segments, but I say that because we sing different music for each time period. Also, it may be that singers can come to one more easily than another. Since we all have busy times in our work and family lives, it might fit into your life to sing at one of these choir segments rather than all of them. Please know that no matter when you can come, we welcome you!
Any adult choir rehearsal includes a warm-up, including a community back/shoulder-rub. We work on the notes and the expression in the music. I am certain that whether or not you can read notes, you can still learn to sing the music. Singing in the choir would give you some facility with reading music, but you do not need to read notes in order to sing in the choir. We work on singing the vowels so that they all sound the same. One thing that I love about choir rehearsals is that we help each other and that Guy and I work closely together in creating this music. I believe that fun is essential. All singers are empowered to share their thoughts on making the group sound better. For example, one of our esteemed members suggested that we stand facing the congregation instead of facing the piano. This worked so nicely that I am sure we will keep doing it. I like to embrace all the ideas of the people singing.
Nothing is more important than choosing music that fits us at church. This year, I am planning to do some literature from the classical repertory, possibly a movement from the Schubert Mass. I expect to do a madrigal in the spring. In choosing a piece, I look at the words, the range of the singing parts, and I keep variety (in accompaniments and in styles) in mind as well. I choose music that I love. For March 15th, we will be singing at least two of three songs: Alleluia, Alleluia (which is a cappela with FPW member Matt Calabro playing percussion with us), Loch Lomond, that good old Scottish song, with piano, cello, and flute accompaniment, and Down to the River to Pray from the movie, ‘Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?’ with piano accompaniment.
If you would like to sing with us, please come to a rehearsal! If you are not sure that you would like to sing with us, please come to a rehearsal! I appreciate our current and steadfast members who sing regularly, and I encourage new voices to join us. You may find that after singing with the choir, you wake up with one of our songs in your head. I predict that you will feel great while singing: music and singing feed both the body and the spirit!
Canvass
Happy March First Parish members and friends!!! We are in the throes of Canvass dinners and pledge season. It begins with the 3/1 service and goes through the Annual Dinner and Talent Show. If you have not yet signed up for a canvass dinner (for good food and conversation!), please email John Portz (jportz@rcn.com) or talk to a member of the Finance Committee (Paul Dansereau, Carole Katz, Bob Shay, Beth Tappan-deFrees, John Portz, or Michael Collins). Dinners are Wednesday through Saturday beginning 3/4 and ending 3/14. Childcare will be available at the 3/7 and 3/14 dinners at First Parish.
If you’ve been to a canvass dinner in the past, you know what a good time these dinners are. If you’ve never been to one - it’s an opportunity to get together and socialize with First Parish as the main topic of conversation. Hosts coordinate the food contributions. Everyone brings either a main dish, salad, dessert or hors d'oeuvres, so you know the food will be good. At a canvass dinner you have the opportunity to share dinner in a comfortable setting with church members you may not have had the pleasure of spending time with in the past. You will be asked to make a financial pledge that evening. You can make the pledge, or you may want to think about it for a while.
Thank you all for your support in the past fiscal year! Stay tuned for the rest of the events too - Annual Dinner and Talent Show and Annual Meeting!
Annual Dinner and Talent Show
The fantastic end-of-year Annual Dinner and Talent Show is upon us! On Saturday evening, April 4 we'll celebrate together with food and fun!!! Do you enjoy music? poetry reading? creating/ performing skits? Please take a moment to think about your gift of talent that you'd like to share with us... then, email or call Isabel Tappan-deFrees to sign-up: izzyt@rcn.com, 781-893-1695.
The Annual Dinner is a massive potluck supper. Please bring hors d’oevres, main dish, salad, or dessert. The Fellowship committee will provide beverages. The dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. All ages are welcome. YES WE CAN! is the theme of raising our needed pledges, but we know it also means cooking something for an awesome dinner. We can all be part of this fun filled night of great food and great entertainment.
Special Note to Committee chairs:
Annual Meeting is coming the end of April, but we need Annual Reports from Committee Chairs much sooner. Committee and Staff annual reports are due to the First Parish office by 4/1. If you need to see what was written last year, please contact the church office for last years Annual Report. Thank you.
Newcomer Breakfast and New UU
All newcomers are invited to our twice annual warm, friendly, delicious Newcomer Breakfast on Sunday, March 22 at 9:15 a.m. All those newcomers we are aware of will receive a separate invitation. The following Sunday, March 29 Mark Harris will offer a class at 9:15 in the conference room for anyone who wants to know more about Unitarian Universalism
February Appreciation
We had a great turnout (25?) for Mark Caggiano's ordination on Feburary 7. Thanks to all who made salads, pasta dishes or cheesecakes. Andrea and Mark and Martha Scott participated in the service, and Missy presented her absolutely gorgeous stole. What a lovely present. Thank you Missy for all your hard work! Did someone mention doughnuts?
We also want to thank Guy for playing those broadway tunes for the dessert potluck on February 14, and to Izzy Tappan-deFrees for finding and copying the music. Thank you to Parish for setup and clean up.
Website: Special thanks to Kyle Hart for recent updates to the website. Please check out our Green Sanctuary Action Plan and our FPW Chair Campaign
Thanks to all those who served dinner at the Friday Night Supper Program on February 27: Brigitte Bender, David Benson, Bobbie Brown, Barbara Farrell, Mark Harris, Carole Katz, Sue Kuder, David Morrison, Martha Scott, Jill Shaw, Sue and Will Twombly, Debra Zagaeski, and those Coming of Age youth who made it (to be named next month!)
Oceanfront Vacation?
Mark and Andrea are interested in renting out their house in Owls Head, Maine to those of you who might like to get away once the snow is gone! Owls Head is next to Rockland, a spot which is often featured in the Globe's Travel New England section because of the art museum, galleries, and restaurants as well as the ocean-related activities. It is 200 miles from Watertown. There are LOTS of things to do; yet it is also possible to do nothing but stare at the view. The house has 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms; cable, internet, kayaks and a rowboat. Also a treehouse!
Available weeks: July 5-12; July 12-19; July 19-25; July 25 - Aug 2; August 23-30.
These are set up Sunday to Sunday, but we can be flexible. The cottage is also open in May, June, and September for those who are not limited to July or August. Due to the economy, we are rolling back the prices: $1200 per week in summer; less other times. Email Andrea at themanse@comcast.net for more info, etc.
Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline
1-800-645-8333 TTY: 1-800-377-1292
With the high cost of living in the Commonwealth and more than 522,000 people across the state struggling to put food on the table, chances are that a friend or neighbor of yours is having difficulty making ends meet this winter. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline can help. The FoodSource Hotline is the only comprehensive information and referral service for the hungry in Massachusetts. Counselors can provide information and screen callers for food stamp eligibility, connect them to school meal programs, and direct them to emergency food resources right in their neighborhood.
Arts Week on Star Island
Enjoy a full week of workshops, performances, music, good food, and good conversation on one of the Jewels of the Isles of Shoals. It’s just a 30 minute boat ride from Rye, NH But you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world. Join us. June 13-20, 2009. See our own FPW member Carole Katz for more info., or go to www.stararts.org
Arbella
March 2009
for calendar of events please go to the member page for the calendar
Sermons and Services
Sunday, March 1 , 2009 11:00 a.m.
“Putting in Everything” Mark W. Harris
I recently saw a quotation from my colleague Tom Schade who spoke about those churches which will survive and prosper in hard economic times: “It will not depend upon the size of the endowment, nor the wealth of the community that determines which will survive and which won’t, but whether the members of the church see their faith as a discretionary faith, one financed out of their discretionary cash, or an essential faith for which they are willing to sacrifice.”
Guest musician: Frank Grimes, viola
Greeters: Virginia Howe and Genia Lenz
Social Hour: Jean Merkl & John Gorman
Sunday, March 8, 2009 11:00 a.m.
“Wishful Thinking” Mark W. Harris
What if you had one big wish . . . what would it be, and how would you see it fulfilled? What if you had one wish about what First Parish could be or could offer, and how would you help fulfill that wish? Let’s think about
how we could live out our wish in our lives and at church.
Greeters: Elizabeth Strekalovsky & Brian Hebeisen
Social Hour: Karen Allendoerfer, Cornelia Janke
Sunday, March 15, 2009 11:00 a.m.
“What Goes Up, Must Come Down” Mark W. Harris
We sometimes think that life works in balances- up and down. Every good thing that happens to us is balanced by something bad. Elevators go up and down. Where do we find an equilibrium in our lives that keeps the elevator of life moving?
Greeters: Gretchen Brown and Paul Montesino
Social Hour: Anna and Michael Anctil
Guest musicians: Jill Dreeben, flute and Sandi-Jo Malmon, cello and FPW Choir
Sunday, March 22, 2009 11:00 a.m
“Spring Awakening” Lay Service
Our Green Sanctuary Committee invites you to come celebrate the long awaited return of spring. Four members of the congregation will speak about some part of their life where they have made a commitment to decrease their
carbon footprint and make their lives embrace a vision of environmental wholeness. This will also be a way for you to connect with one of the 12 action items that the Green Sanctuary program is committed to.
Greeters: Marianne and Michael Collins
Social Hour: Sarah & John Chamberlain
Sunday, March 29, 2009 11:00 a. m.
“Life Up From Death” Mark W. Harris
This sermon is in response to, Nothing To Be Frightened Of,” a book on death by Julian
Barnes. Spring invites us to think about the resurrection of life from death.
Greeters: Peter Cudhea and Wendell Refior
Social Hour: Teo Ellsworth and Randy Rhoda
Captain’s Log
Everyone I talk to is downright tired of winter. We have had snow and more snow, and so as March inches closer we are all starting to feel a little more hopeful that spring is on the way. As you know, March is also canvass month. It is time to make a financial commitment to ensure the church has another season of life and growth. Many of us are concerned that the economy may affect the budget of the church. Some have suffered from a loss of job in their families. Others have suffered from a loss of income or dreams of a steady retirement income. We are all a little uncertain about the future, but we also know from experience that the storms will pass. Our church survived the depression, and we survived the tearing down of the church next door, when membership was about 12 people. Look where we are now! It is easy to give power to the fear, but we also have to remember the commitments and strengths we already possess and can offer to our beloved community.
A few weeks ago I shared a meditation on patience. That is something we all need right now. Can we be patient to see if our own circumstances change? Can we be patient with the stimulus package? Can we be patient with our desires? I recently heard an ad where one of the stores was advertising for a lay-a-way plan. I thought these had gone out of style, because people were once told to wait until they could afford something, and then after
they had paid for it by installment, then they could have it. In recent years we haven’t encouraged anyone to have patience with their desires. We have been encouraged to act like the character Veruca Salt in Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. She is always insisting to her father that he buy her whatever she wants in that instant.
Right now I am wishing that the media would practice a little patience. I got discouraged when the media was already predicting failure even before the stimulus package was signed into law. I felt like saying, Can’t you just give it a chance? It also reminded me of how often I react negatively at home when Andrea suggests a new project or a change. There is Eeyore again with, “That won’t work.” I have tried stretching this part of my personality in recent years. My wife will tell you that I sometimes have a negative thing or two to say about my perceptions of her schemes to move furniture around, or build a stairway here and a deck there. I have often been the first to say, “that’s crazy” , or “that is too much work.” Over the years I have slowly come to appreciate that these wild schemes have usually laid the ground work for beautiful and enduring projects. We have a deck at the parsonage that we have enjoyed for years. We built a beautiful fireplace at our old house in Maine. I was usually the first to say, “we can’t do that,” but then once the project was completed, I realized that it was a great idea that I resisted because I did not want to be patient enough to see it through, and did not want to do all this work or pay all the money. It is always easier to do nothing.
While worry about the economy is prevalent, we should not let it color the achievements we can celebrate. Over the past ten years our pledge income has grown from 43,000 to $112,000. Isn't this a sign of commitment on the part of all of you? This year our trustees have led us as a congregation to place our entire endowment with a socially responsible investor. We now know that all of our invested funds reflect the kind of justice seeking world our principles embody. We must pay to ensure our values are acted upon in the world, but what greater investment could we make? These kinds of commitment say that you the members of First Parish have confidence that your gifts support an important liberal institution that you and the world need. But it more than affirms our values. Your commitment means that your children will be encouraged to embrace these liberal principles, too. Your commitment means that one of the oldest religious institutions in the country will continue its long history, a history that has seen it survive one or two economic downturns before. Your commitment means that you know that a larger community of love is ready to stand by you if you call on it to support you, help you, or encourage you along the rocky pathway of life. Your commitment helps us all reflect on the worshipping, living community of faith we all embody. I am thankful for all this shared history, values, community life and love. These are tough times, but I know we have the strong church that will be supported by its members through these tough times. In difficult times, it is one thing to be grateful for.
Mark
Spring Awakening -
We Need Lay Speakers
On March 22, we need four First Parish members or friends who would be willing to speak for approximately five minutes on their commitment to making their lives embrace a “greener” way. Do you drive a hybrid? Have you insulated? Are you a recycler? We need you to speak for just a few minutes about what you do and why you do it? We have one volunteer so far, and needed three more. Contact Mark Harris if you can participate.
Worship Associates for Sabbatical
Mark Harris’ sabbatical begins on April 1. We have most of the worship services planned for the three months he will be absent this spring. We would like to have a lay person responsible for helping to set up (microphones, candles, etc.), greet and help orient any visiting speakers, and also lead the announcements on Sunday morning. Mark would like to conduct a training for this before he goes on leave. Beginning March 1, there will be a sign-up for the position of worship associate during the sabbatical. Please help out. Anyone is eligible. There will be more information on the sabbatical in the April newsletter. Mark will be in residence working on his book. He will also be able to respond to any pastoral emergencies during that time. Watch for final details this month!
Social Action
Nancy Banks from UU Mass Action, a special advocacy group for Social Action will be visiting with us on March 15. She will be available after church to discuss how we could be more active in making legislative change happen here in Massachusetts.
Renewal House
Our charitable offering for March will be on the 22nd, and will benefit the Unitarian Universalist Urban Ministry. We hope to have a staff member from the Urban Ministry present that day. The Urban ministry began as a ministry to the poor in Boston in the 1820’s. Now it is involved in many youth programs in Roxbury, an Asian food pantry, and Renewal House, a shelter for victims of domestic violence. Our Giving Box this month is for Renewal House.
The Giving Box
What can our congregation accomplish in the area of Social Concerns in six months? This is a question which can be answered by your realizing that you have contributed food and "things" to support local agencies through The Giving Box consistently for half of a calendar year. The agencies which you have helped service communities which are becoming more and more vulnerable as all levels of our national and local economies become more unstable by the day. Our sharing puts into action a basic UU philosophical principle: working to improve the world by local effort to change. At this point, we need to recognize what we have already accomplished this year as we move into the last four months of our church year----"JOB WELL DONE"
The Giving Box for March will be collecting items for Renewal House in Roxbury, a shelter-based program which works with victims of all ages of domestic violence. Services range from hot line responses through shelter living with empowerment and healing offered to residents. There is a concomitant component of promoting social justice through individuals who interact with community systems such as the courts or school systems. Renewal House also advocates for general societal change. We will be detailing more specifics in the future of the multilevel service delivery process that this well established agency offers to an increasing number of women and their children dealing with the residuals of domestic violence.
FPW has had a long history of awareness and support of intervention programs dealing with domestic violence. Our congregation began to donate articles to the Waltham Shelter for Battered Women at its inception two decades ago. Back then, two women from FPW were trained as volunteers to work at/with the shelter programs. The instructor is a current and active FPW member who has moved on to other areas of professional interests. The acknowledgement of the issues of domestic violence has been part of the FPW conscience long before the issue was understood as a social, legal and moral problem for all levels of society. Although it was never common knowledge, domestic violence has been an issue amongst us. A small core of FPW people responded to the victim(s) and worked successfully to empower the individual(s) to move safely out of the abusive violence and to safe haven(s). We will continue our longstanding efforts to assist a non-profit in its work to help directly people in a pattern of violence and in its work to address the systemic problems which allow abuse to continue in our society.
The Director of Renewal House has asked that we focus on collecting toiletries and cleaning supplies. The toiletries can include anything which a woman who has fled her home to shelter with nothing at all (except perhaps her children) might need to get through the day and night. Please use your imagination in processing what that might be like.
Some suggestions:
Soap//Hand Lotion//Tooth brushes//tooth paste//Deodorant//Hair care products//Razors//Shaving cream, Kotex Tampax//Toiletpaper/Lipstick//Colognes//etc.
Cleaning supplies help within the shelter itself on a daily basis and also help women start up housekeeping again as they transition to safe apartment living.
Some suggestions:Liquid Dish-washing soap//Papertowels/ Sponges/Mops/Bleach// Clothes washing detergents//etc.
The Director asked us to consider one more possible item that the shelter needs. Renewal House needs a vacuum cleaner. Should anyone here are FPW have a vacuum cleaner that is in excellent working order but needs a new purposeful home; please let us know.
Mary McCarthy in 1961 wrote:..In violence, we forget who we are. In March of 2009, we here are FPW will demonstrate to a deserving population at Renewal House that we know and we care who they are. They are NOT products of violence but ARE people about whom we have concern...and are pleased to extend our open and Helping Hands.
Barbara Farrell and Jill Shaw
Heifer International
Religious Education
and Charitable Offering
The Heifer Project Mini Term was a great success! I want to thank all of the amazing volunteers who worked with the children and youth. It was wonderful to see different faces working with the children and youth in the various workshop groups. On Sunday, February 22nd the projects the children and youth created during the workshops were sold during fellowship hour at 'The Global Village Marketplace'. The marketplace was a huge success and we raised $410 for Heifer International. The charitable offering for the month of February was dedicated to Heifer International as well, we passed on the gift of $445 from the First Parish offering for an excellent total of $855. Thank you!!!!!
Religious Education
Sanctuary – A Place of Safety:
Several weeks ago I began a discussion with members of the RE committee and other church staff regarding expectations of what is considered safe and appropriate behavior of the children and youth when they are at First Parish. I have recently observed near accidents during social hour. I have heard that some of our older members feel physically unsafe due to the commotion and fear of being knocked off balance or of spilling a cup of hot tea or coffee on themselves or on someone else. It makes me sad to think that some individuals do not feel safe while at church. How should we each behave to make church the physically and emotionally safe place that we want it to be? What is appropriate and realistic behavior to expect of children, youth and adults?
My intention - to present a simple and clear set of “rules” which would help all individuals who enter into our church home to support and respect the special nature of this building and what that in turn represents to a diverse group of people. This includes those who visit our church as renters and visitors.
It is challenging to find language and “rules” which are representative of many expectations. After much reflection of my own and some back and forth with church staff and RE members by e-mail, I have a proposal for some basic guidelines to create the sanctuary that we all want First Parish to be:
• Running is not appropriate inside the church. Running is for outside the building.
• Climbing on the poles in the social hall is not permitted at any time.
• Food and Drink should remain in the social hall.
• All adults, not just parents, should feel deputized to stop inappropriate behavior, such as running, when they witness it. This is not intended as an open invitation to correct any and all behavior of individual children or youth. It is unrealistic to expect parents to be with their children at all times while at church. We encourage this but it is not always possible, especially for parents of several children. This is the “it takes a village” concept! Our children and youth need our gentle guidance.
Volunteers:
Thank you to all of the individuals who have already shared their time and talent with our children and youth throughout this year. We need more volunteers in all of our religious education classes. Please look for the sign up sheet in the social hall and sign up for a class. I guarantee that you will get more out of volunteering than you might anticipate!
Upcoming Events at First Parish:
First Parish Pals
First Parish Pals are folks of any age who wish to secretly share some good wishes with someone this season (and receive good wishes from another Pal). This involves sending two cards in the mail during March and then bringing a small gift (homemade is great!) to your pal during social hour on the first Sunday in Spring - March 22. To build intergenerational connections, we try to match Pals of different ages.
Sign up by contacting : Kelly Morton (kyskel@gmail.com) by Sunday, March 1.
Youth Group Dinner-
A benefit on behalf of Heifer International: Please plan to join us for fun and fellowship on Friday evening March 27th from 6:00-9:00 p.m. at First Parish. The Youth group will be sharing delicious and delectable offerings from the global village menu. We will have a speaker from Heifer International to share information about Heifer and answer questions. We look forward to seeing you there!
Namaste, Debra Zagaeski (DRE)
Musically Speaking
By Charlyn Bethell
“ Is there anything more demonstrative of social solidarity than a choir? Many people unite to do something that cannot be done by a single person alone however talented he or she may be: there the work of everyone is equally important….”
--Zoltan Kodaly
We have three amazing choirs at First Parish. Our children’s choir has mostly elementary school-aged children. Youth choir is for Middle/high School aged girls (we would welcome boys, too). The adult choir is for anyone who would like to sing. Each choir is filled with dedicated singers who enjoy sharing their collective efforts at church services. Nowhere is it truer than in a choir: we celebrate the inherent worth of the individual. Each person who sings adds a special sound to the group. That being said, it is also true that any choir works to create a blended sound. More singers always enhance our choir sound. The blend of our sound shifts a bit depending on the voices in the group, so our choral sound is dynamic and exciting. I think that each person who sings comes to enjoy the great benefits of singing and we all grow together in learning the chosen music.
Children’s choir rehearses on Sunday mornings before church at 10:15 downstairs by the piano. We sing seasonal music to fit into church services and we do some musical games as well. The songs we sing often have a refrain with verses, which makes them easier to remember the words. Lately, Michael Altamari has been playing his mandolin with us, which has been wonderful.
Youth choir meets after church services on Sundays at 12:45 upstairs by the piano. We will be singing City Songs by Bob Chilcott and some other fun music for a service in late March or early April.
The adult choir rehearses on Wednesdays from 6:30 to approximately 8 pm in the sanctuary at First Parish. We have set up the dates that we will sing for church services: March 15th, April 12th (Easter), May 10th, and June 7th. These feel to me like choir segments, but I say that because we sing different music for each time period. Also, it may be that singers can come to one more easily than another. Since we all have busy times in our work and family lives, it might fit into your life to sing at one of these choir segments rather than all of them. Please know that no matter when you can come, we welcome you!
Any adult choir rehearsal includes a warm-up, including a community back/shoulder-rub. We work on the notes and the expression in the music. I am certain that whether or not you can read notes, you can still learn to sing the music. Singing in the choir would give you some facility with reading music, but you do not need to read notes in order to sing in the choir. We work on singing the vowels so that they all sound the same. One thing that I love about choir rehearsals is that we help each other and that Guy and I work closely together in creating this music. I believe that fun is essential. All singers are empowered to share their thoughts on making the group sound better. For example, one of our esteemed members suggested that we stand facing the congregation instead of facing the piano. This worked so nicely that I am sure we will keep doing it. I like to embrace all the ideas of the people singing.
Nothing is more important than choosing music that fits us at church. This year, I am planning to do some literature from the classical repertory, possibly a movement from the Schubert Mass. I expect to do a madrigal in the spring. In choosing a piece, I look at the words, the range of the singing parts, and I keep variety (in accompaniments and in styles) in mind as well. I choose music that I love. For March 15th, we will be singing at least two of three songs: Alleluia, Alleluia (which is a cappela with FPW member Matt Calabro playing percussion with us), Loch Lomond, that good old Scottish song, with piano, cello, and flute accompaniment, and Down to the River to Pray from the movie, ‘Oh, Brother, Where Art Thou?’ with piano accompaniment.
If you would like to sing with us, please come to a rehearsal! If you are not sure that you would like to sing with us, please come to a rehearsal! I appreciate our current and steadfast members who sing regularly, and I encourage new voices to join us. You may find that after singing with the choir, you wake up with one of our songs in your head. I predict that you will feel great while singing: music and singing feed both the body and the spirit!
Canvass
Happy March First Parish members and friends!!! We are in the throes of Canvass dinners and pledge season. It begins with the 3/1 service and goes through the Annual Dinner and Talent Show. If you have not yet signed up for a canvass dinner (for good food and conversation!), please email John Portz (jportz@rcn.com) or talk to a member of the Finance Committee (Paul Dansereau, Carole Katz, Bob Shay, Beth Tappan-deFrees, John Portz, or Michael Collins). Dinners are Wednesday through Saturday beginning 3/4 and ending 3/14. Childcare will be available at the 3/7 and 3/14 dinners at First Parish.
If you’ve been to a canvass dinner in the past, you know what a good time these dinners are. If you’ve never been to one - it’s an opportunity to get together and socialize with First Parish as the main topic of conversation. Hosts coordinate the food contributions. Everyone brings either a main dish, salad, dessert or hors d'oeuvres, so you know the food will be good. At a canvass dinner you have the opportunity to share dinner in a comfortable setting with church members you may not have had the pleasure of spending time with in the past. You will be asked to make a financial pledge that evening. You can make the pledge, or you may want to think about it for a while.
Thank you all for your support in the past fiscal year! Stay tuned for the rest of the events too - Annual Dinner and Talent Show and Annual Meeting!
Annual Dinner and Talent Show
The fantastic end-of-year Annual Dinner and Talent Show is upon us! On Saturday evening, April 4 we'll celebrate together with food and fun!!! Do you enjoy music? poetry reading? creating/ performing skits? Please take a moment to think about your gift of talent that you'd like to share with us... then, email or call Isabel Tappan-deFrees to sign-up: izzyt@rcn.com, 781-893-1695.
The Annual Dinner is a massive potluck supper. Please bring hors d’oevres, main dish, salad, or dessert. The Fellowship committee will provide beverages. The dinner begins at 6:00 p.m. All ages are welcome. YES WE CAN! is the theme of raising our needed pledges, but we know it also means cooking something for an awesome dinner. We can all be part of this fun filled night of great food and great entertainment.
Special Note to Committee chairs:
Annual Meeting is coming the end of April, but we need Annual Reports from Committee Chairs much sooner. Committee and Staff annual reports are due to the First Parish office by 4/1. If you need to see what was written last year, please contact the church office for last years Annual Report. Thank you.
Newcomer Breakfast and New UU
All newcomers are invited to our twice annual warm, friendly, delicious Newcomer Breakfast on Sunday, March 22 at 9:15 a.m. All those newcomers we are aware of will receive a separate invitation. The following Sunday, March 29 Mark Harris will offer a class at 9:15 in the conference room for anyone who wants to know more about Unitarian Universalism
February Appreciation
We had a great turnout (25?) for Mark Caggiano's ordination on Feburary 7. Thanks to all who made salads, pasta dishes or cheesecakes. Andrea and Mark and Martha Scott participated in the service, and Missy presented her absolutely gorgeous stole. What a lovely present. Thank you Missy for all your hard work! Did someone mention doughnuts?
We also want to thank Guy for playing those broadway tunes for the dessert potluck on February 14, and to Izzy Tappan-deFrees for finding and copying the music. Thank you to Parish for setup and clean up.
Website: Special thanks to Kyle Hart for recent updates to the website. Please check out our Green Sanctuary Action Plan and our FPW Chair Campaign
Thanks to all those who served dinner at the Friday Night Supper Program on February 27: Brigitte Bender, David Benson, Bobbie Brown, Barbara Farrell, Mark Harris, Carole Katz, Sue Kuder, David Morrison, Martha Scott, Jill Shaw, Sue and Will Twombly, Debra Zagaeski, and those Coming of Age youth who made it (to be named next month!)
Oceanfront Vacation?
Mark and Andrea are interested in renting out their house in Owls Head, Maine to those of you who might like to get away once the snow is gone! Owls Head is next to Rockland, a spot which is often featured in the Globe's Travel New England section because of the art museum, galleries, and restaurants as well as the ocean-related activities. It is 200 miles from Watertown. There are LOTS of things to do; yet it is also possible to do nothing but stare at the view. The house has 7 rooms; 3 bedrooms; cable, internet, kayaks and a rowboat. Also a treehouse!
Available weeks: July 5-12; July 12-19; July 19-25; July 25 - Aug 2; August 23-30.
These are set up Sunday to Sunday, but we can be flexible. The cottage is also open in May, June, and September for those who are not limited to July or August. Due to the economy, we are rolling back the prices: $1200 per week in summer; less other times. Email Andrea at themanse@comcast.net for more info, etc.
Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline
1-800-645-8333 TTY: 1-800-377-1292
With the high cost of living in the Commonwealth and more than 522,000 people across the state struggling to put food on the table, chances are that a friend or neighbor of yours is having difficulty making ends meet this winter. Project Bread’s FoodSource Hotline can help. The FoodSource Hotline is the only comprehensive information and referral service for the hungry in Massachusetts. Counselors can provide information and screen callers for food stamp eligibility, connect them to school meal programs, and direct them to emergency food resources right in their neighborhood.
Arts Week on Star Island
Enjoy a full week of workshops, performances, music, good food, and good conversation on one of the Jewels of the Isles of Shoals. It’s just a 30 minute boat ride from Rye, NH But you’ll feel like you’ve entered another world. Join us. June 13-20, 2009. See our own FPW member Carole Katz for more info., or go to www.stararts.org