August 2022 Newsletter
Our Vision:
We aspire to be a beacon of
liberal religion, strong community,
and transformative service,
rooted in Love.
Liberal Religion
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Summer Services 2022
Summer Services: Feed Your Soul
Sunday Mornings at 9 a.m (through September 4)
Sunday August 7 Music
Music Director Beth will lead us in singing new hymns from the hymn supplement and will take requests for favorite hymns. She’ll open and close the service with piano music of Jay Ungar and J.S. Bach. The prayer will include a walking meditation.
Sunday August 14 Let’s Play!
Feeding your soul may be serious, but it doesn’t have to be solemn. This morning, we’ll feed our souls by playing games together - outside if the weather is good; inside if it isn’t. Mary , Anthony, Annie, and Susan will lead this service.
Sunday August 21 What Would Harry Do? (Harry Potter, that is!)
Calling all wizards and muggles for this celebration of the way the adventures of Harry and his friends feed us, helping us know the importance of love, of connection, and the importance of making choices. Eamon and Pamela will lead this service. Hats, wands, and robes are welcome.
Sunday August 28 Pet Blessing Service
Let’s celebrate and give thanks for the animal companions who feed our souls. Caged or leashed, pets of all kinds and sizes (or pictures of them) are invited for this outside service. We will also remember pets who have died and give thanks for the stuffed animals who keep us company. Pamela will lead this service.
From the Minister
This summer I have been thinking about the importance of community and connection, thanks in part because of my reading of The Righteous Mind: Why Good People Are Divided by Politics and Religion by Jonathan Haidt and the beautiful novel Damnation Spring by Ash Davidson, but also because summer, for me at least, is a time for renewing connections. 

I was able to spend time with many First Parish people - with you - in informal conversations or more formal spiritual check-ups. In a spiritual check-up, I invite you to talk with me about what you’re dreaming about for your own life and for the church. Two themes came up often in those conversations in June and July - gratitude for the work and presence of our church in the crazy, disorienting, disturbing times we live in, and desire for more connection with one another in exploring the “why’s” and the “what’s” but also just in having fun together. Our newly formed Council of Leaders (thank you, Lin and committee chairs!) is already considering how to focus our energy in these areas, and Beth and I are planning a worship series for the fall on the “Quest” to live into these goals.  

In the meantime, it’s still summer. There’s time to nourish your soul at one of our summer services or join me for a spiritual check-up. I’m experimenting with using Calendly for making appointments. Let me know what you’re dreaming of.

See you in church,

Pamela
August 2022 Notes from the Music Director


Come sing with us 9:00 a.m. Sunday August 7th. I’ll lead the Church service in the sanctuary. We will sing our Covenant Song and learn some new hymns from the black binder. I’ll take requests from the congregation to sing favorite hymns too. I’ll play Jay Ungar’s The Lover’s Waltz and a Prelude by J.S. Bach. 

Choir rehearsals will start up again Sunday September 11th. We meet in the Sanctuary 9:00-10:00 most Sunday mornings. Anyone 7th grade or older is welcome to sing with us. We have a new set of songs by UU composer Jason Shelton to explore this year!

Our choir anthem for 9/11 will be I Am Finding My Way Back To Now by Heather Pierson.

🥁 Drummer and singer Matt joins us to lead the service that morning!  

See you in church!

Elizabeth

Religions Education August 2022



RE Registration is Open!
In order to plan for the 2022-2023 RE program, we ask that all families register their children by August 15.

RE Sunday School Teachers
We are still looking for RE / Sunday School teachers to support our program this year. If you haven't already done so, please take a look at the posting online and share with your networks.

Becky and Cara, RE Committee Co-Chairs
Summer Family Get Together
We had so much fun in June that we are working to plan another RE Family Get Together this summer! We're looking at Thursday nights in August for an outdoor family friendly movie, great conversation and treats! Everyone is invited! Stay tuned for more details.

Becky and Cara, RE Committee Co-Chairs
Adult RE/Connection
Faith like a River: Themes from Unitarian Universalist History
While the children learn about our Unitarian Universalist tradition this year in RE, adults will have the opportunity to explore the course of Unitarian, Universalist, and Unitarian Universalist (UU) history - the people, ideas, and movements that have shaped who we are today. Using Faith Like a River, a UU curriculum by UU clergy Alison Cornish and Jackie Clement, Pamela will use the stories of our history to help us understand how we can live now.  

This class will run September - March. There is no commitment and no homework involved. You may attend as many sessions as you want. There will be an introductory session in September, and then approximately 3 sessions each month in October, November, January, February, and March. The classes will alternate each month between meeting Monday evenings or Thursday evenings to allow for different schedules. As of now, we will meet in-person. If you have friends who are interested in learning more about what it means to be UU, you are welcome to invite them to join you in attending one or more sessions. Contact Pam for more information or questions.
Community Read
Recitatif a short story by Toni Morrison will be discussed on Wednesday, August 17, 6:30pm at Buttonwood Books and Toys.
Transformative Service
Social Justice News
Date Change for August Social Justice Committee Meeting Online:
We encourage you to join the committee at our August meeting on Tuesday August 9 from 7:00 - 8:30 pm. Please note the date was changed from the usual 3rd Tuesday of the month. You are welcome to come for all or part of the meeting. Agenda items include UU The Vote events and planning for an October service led by the Social Justice Committee. We’d love for you to join our conversation. If you are interested in a different social justice issue or specific project, please share it with us at this meeting or any other in the future. 


UU The Vote 
In the coming months the Social Justice Committee will provide the congregation with information about what UU The Vote is and the various types of activities in which you can become involved, either in a small group or individually, to help people register to vote, find out how/when/where they can vote, or to remind them to get out and vote. The activities may involve letter/postcard writing, making phone calls or texts, may be to voters in key states, particularly in areas with historically low voter turnout. Some volunteer opportunities may be contacting other UUs around the country to volunteer with UU The Vote to participate or lead the activities just described. In doing these activities with others in our congregations, you will have the opportunity for rewarding experiences that help you put UU values into action, as well as building relationships within our church. Look for upcoming information in the weekly What’s Happening emails, church Facebook pages, and monthly newsletters.

-Social Justice
Scituate Food Pantry
The following items are most needed by the Scituate Food Pantry!


  • Canned Fish (Sardines, Clams, Salmon, Crab meat, Tuna)
  • Mandarin Oranges
  • Shelf Stable Juice (64 oz - Cranberry, Orange, Fruit Punch) not Apple
  • Instant De-Caf Coffee
  • Instant De-Caf Black Tea
  • Aluminum Foil
  • Napkins
  • Shampoo and Conditioner
Strong Community
Grandma’s Cupboard
We have some jars of jams, jellies and pickles for you to purchase at any time - jars are $7.00, or three for $20.00. It's self-paying by leaving cash or a check payable to the church with "Grandma's Cupboard" in the memo line, in the shiny mesh "Times Square" box (which has several small bills in it for making change). and there are bags with handles in the hutch for your convenience.

-Claire
August Calendar 2022