We aspire to be a Beacon of…..

 … Liberal Religion

Worship 

Summer Services – Finding Meaning In…

Sundays at 9 a.m. in July and August

 

July 8:  The Jedi Code of Honor   – Brian Sutton

July 15:  Frustration –Cathy Kang & Richard Kermond

July 22 :  Being a Spiritual Warrior – Mary Beaulieu 

July 29:   Mediation – Janie Culbert 

 

August 5:    Childhood Reading – Lin Haire-Sargeant

August 12:   Forestrial Behavior – Jenn Mackey 

August 19:   Music & Your Mood – Elizabeth Dubuisson

August 26:   Taking Responsibility for Your Personal Energy – Aynsley Forsythe

From the Minister  

Deep Gladness – 2018 Annual Report Sermon

 

Last week the UU clergy on the South Shore met as they do most months, and as usual, in the opening ritual we shared our joys and sorrows as we do here, placing a stone in a bowl of water. When my turn came, I took two stones, one, I explained for the happiness of my life and for the life of our church, but one for all that was happening in the world that was so far from happy. I didn’t know how to reconcile the two, I said, as I placed them together in the bowl. One of colleagues said to me, “The world needs happy people and happy churches.” 

 

The world needs happy people and happy churches. And ours is a happy church. That’s my summation in this, my state of the union sermon. This is where I am supposed to detail all our accomplishments of the past year, thank all the people who made them possible, and lay out a couple of challenges for the coming year. But with all that’s going on in the world right now, with all the emotions we bring today, I don’t think that’s really what you need to hear or I need to say. What I do want to say about the church is that this is basically a wonderfully vibrant healthy church. In a time when we are buffeted by injustice, when so many are governed by their fears, when so many feel free to express their prejudices and disdain in words and actions, Sunday after Sunday - and Monday after Monday – we remind one another that these are not the values of our lives and should not be the values of our world; we remind one another that there are other ways to live; we support one another in expressing those values of love, care, respect and justice for all living things, and we offer ways to do that. Yes, sometimes we don’t succeed in living out our values but we are imperfect people – church isn’t for perfect people - and the important thing is that when we do fall short, we call each other back to being our best selves.

 

We need the church to inspire us, to support us, and to call us on always – but especially now. But sometimes, especially for those who serve on the parish committee or as chairs of our committees, it can feel that all their time and energy goes into making the church run and not into the care of souls for which they are here. It’s not the work of the church, I think which they find burdensome, but that they are doing a disproportionate share of the work of the church. So let’s take this morning to inspire, to thank, and to do a little housekeeping. Each of us needs to do the work of the church. And I don’t mean just adults – Matthew and Patrick Corbo lit the candles with me this morning – that’s the work of the church. The whole Sullivan family served as greeters – that’s the work of the church. Heather and Nicolai as well as Robbie, Mary, Jim, and Alan all read – that’s the work of the church. The work of the church doesn’t have to be major – you don’t have to chair the stewardship campaign or the Snowflake Fair to do the work of the church – though we do need people to do that. The work of the church happens in ways large and small, visible and invisible. If you’ve not involved in them, you may not even realize that they’re happening. For two years now, Brian and Patty Sutton as RE co-chairs, Kate Glennon as the Parish committee liaison for religious education, and our teams of dedicated teachers and advisors have kept the program functioning. And they have done such a good job that when something was said in a service earlier this spring about our lack of a DRE, someone said to me afterwards – “We don’t have a DRE? I didn’t know!” That’s a tribute to all their efforts in this ministry. And it’s wonderful. But we want to make sure both that we don’t burn out the people doing that ministry, but that all of us share in the deep gladness of that ministry. For ministry is a vocation – it is something one is called to do, which means it should never be a burden. It can be hard, it can be frustrating, it can push you, but it shouldn’t be a burden. If it is, please stop doing it, figure out what would bring you joy, what would lead to your growth as a human being, what would feed you and feed others, and do that instead. As the wonderful theologian and writer Frederick Buechner defined vocation, “ Vocation is the place where our deep gladness meets the world's deep need.”

 

Deep gladness. We need to act in the church and in the world out of deep gladness – or joy. For joy guards us against fear. And an action performed out of fear has a very different effect from the same action performed out of joy. And a duty done as a burden has a very different effect from the same duty performed out of joy. Rooting ourselves and our work in joy doesn’t mean that everything will be fun, that the spirit behind all we do will affirm the goodness of the world and all its inhabitants.  

 

So let’s start with the church.  Let’s make joy our theme for the coming year. Joy in being beacons of liberal religion, strong community, and transformative service. Much of what we do is already rooted in our joy – the work of our Men’s Ministry, the music of our choir, the community space of our Blue Boat Coffeehouse, our teaching of children and adults, the focus of the Parish Committee on the big picture of our mission and vision. But let’s root all we do in joy – and that means that we need to do what feeds us, but also make sure that we are sharing the work so that no one is doing too much – and also so that those in charge of different areas aren’t spending their time trying to find people to do the work. Let’s just agree now to get it done so that we know that what we need will be in place to support us in all that the coming year may bring.

 

Respectfully Submitted,   

Pamela Barz

 

Minister’s Schedule 

Pamela Barz will be taking study leave July 12-31. During that time, she will be available for pastoral care, but not for regular appointments or meetings.   

Religious Education News

    

It was a wonderful celebration on RE Sunday when the children and youth in the program offered their perspective on what they learned about world religions. The Junior High group shared their favorite teachings during the chalice lighting; the pre-K/K group read us their favorite picture book The Brave Little Parrot by Rafe Martin while wearing parrot hats and told us why they like it; the grades 4-5 group used variations of the golden rule to teach how NOT to donate to the Scituate Food Pantry (both the spirit as well as the donation itself must be good – and not expired), and the grades 1-3 group led us in a the dragon dance, a Taoist movement prayer. In addition, we celebrated our high school graduates Kayla Boyle, Kenzi Boyle, Callie Moos, and Anna Svensen, hearing about their gifts and growth and giving them chalice necklaces to take out into the world with them. And we thanked all who taught and worked in the program: Win Lawson, Jen Bokavich, Jen McGonagle-Dziedzic, Jenn Mackey, Carol Sullivan Hanley, Julianna Dunn, Ruth Kuhn, Aynsley Forsythe, Suzanne Oliver, Chuck Jones, Tracy Timmins, Dawn Brindley-Howe , Spencer Howe, Ann Corbo , Jim Nidositko, Kate Glennon. Ann Svensen. Brian Sutton, Patty Sutton, and Billy Timmins.

 

Now it’s onto planning for next year. As we head into our third year (possibly) without a Director of Religious Education, it is more important than ever that parents and other adults take a part in our program. In our cooperative program, we ask that a parent from each family either teach, serve on the RE committee, or oversee a program or activity such as the Easter egg hunt. But you do not have to be a parent to take part (thank you to Ruth Kuhn, Carol Sullivan-Hanley, and Brian and Patty Sutton all of whom taught last year and do not have children or youth currently in RE). Please consider taking on a role next year. You can learn more and sign up here:  Religious Education 2018-19 Sign-Up.

 

In our three year cycle of studying world religions, the Bible, and Unitarian Universalism, next year students will be learning about the Bible. You do not need to have studied the Bible yourself in order to teach about it. The curriculum materials will teach you – and teaching is a great way to learn about the Bible. If you’d rather not teach, consider signing up to work on the pageant with Kate Glennon in December, leading occasional social justice projects throughout the year, coordinating the Easter egg hunt, taking charge of buying and wrapping gifts for RE Sunday, or serving on the RE Committee. 

 

Please also register your children and youth now for the program: Religious Education Registration Form

You can email the form back to Stephanie Stewart ( [email protected]) or bring it to church over the summer leaving it in the basket on the table in the sanctuary. Checks may be dropped off at the church or you can pay the registration fee through the website.

 

And if you know of anyone who might be interested in working as a Director of Religious Education with a lively Religious Education program, please encourage him or her to apply. Candidates do not have to be Unitarian Universalist. (And by our church policy, we cannot hire members of the congregation.)  http://firstparishscituate.org/religious-education.htm

 

- Pamela Barz

Notes from Beth Dubuisson, Music Director

 

Thank you to Lily Duff for sharing her beautiful flute music with us June 10th. 

 

I also want to thank everyone who sang in the choir this year: Rena Anspach, David Ballinger, Laura Carson-Laciner, Vicki Davis, Alan Donaldson, Paula Jewell, Frank Kilduff, Mark Matthews, Cathie McGowan, Sarah Murdock, Kay Shaw, Laura Smith, Carol Sullivan-Hanley, Anne Weaver.

 

I’m looking forward to attending the Unitarian Universalist Musicians’ Network (UUMN) conference in Portland Oregon the first week in August. The workshops on Creative Hymn Accompaniment from the Piano, song leading masterclass, and vocal pedagogy for choirs are among the ones I’ll be attending.

 

Sunday August 19th I’ll lead the church service on finding meaning in how music can affect your mood. We will sing and listen to different types of music as we notice how it can help to calm, invigorate, bring joy or reflection.

 

The choir will sing The Water Remembers by Jason Shelton for our Water Communion Service on September 9th. Rehearsal will be at 9:00. All singers are welcome!

Community Book Discussion:

 "The House of Broken Angels" by Luís Alberto Urrea

The community book discussion on issues of race and privilege has chosen The House of Broken Angels by Luís Alberto Urrea for summer reading and will gather to talk about it on Tuesday September 18 at 6:30 p.m. in the library book group room.  The House of Broken Angels tells the saga of a Mexican-American family and was described as "[e]pic . . . [r]ambunctious . . . [and] [h]ighly entertaining" In the New York Times Book Review. Copies are available in the OCLN system.

 

Building Your Own Theology: aka Coming of Age for Adults

As you’ve listened to the young adults completing Coming of Age and offering their own Credo (“I Believe”) statements, have you ever wished for the opportunity yourself to think about what you believe? Then next year’s Inquirers Circle program is for you. Meeting month on the 3 ^rd Monday night, September-May, participants will use the UU Building Your Own Theology curriculum to look at what wisdom our tradition and other sources offers on such topics as human nature, views of the divine, and the importance of morality and, at the end of the year, write our own Credo statements. The class is limited to 15 people. Please email Pamela Barz ( [email protected]) with questions or to reserve your spot.

What Does Home Mean to You?

The Religious Services Committee invites you to join them on Monday August 6 at 7 p.m. at the church to plan worship for September and October on the theme of Home: homecoming, building a home, welcoming people home, finding a home… What images, metaphors, music, readings, ideas occur to you? Please share them at the meeting or with Religious Services Committee Chair Lin Haire-Sargeant ( [email protected] ) if you can’t attend. The service on September 9 will include water communion and the blessing of the backpacks.  Children, youth, and adults are all invited to participate in the planning. 

... Strong Community

Wednesday mornings: Craft and Conversation

Join the Fididdlers in at the church any Wednesday between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to participate in crafting and conversation.

Around the Parish

We are saying farewell to Wendy and David Ballinger have moved to Jamaica Plain (but who promise they will be back to visit) … and to Anna, Mark, Max, and Mishka da Silva, who are moving to Chicago where Mark has a new job. We hope they’ll be back to visit too!

 

Pamela Barz was asked to offer a “Blessing of the Paddlers” at the official opening of the Harbor on Saturday June 2. Here is her blessing:  May your time on the water bring you joy. May you paddle safely through the currents and the tides. May wake not capsize you.  May you blow your whistle only in greeting, not in fear. May your glimpse into the mysteries of the deep inspire you on land to preserve the beauty of the ocean and all its creatures.Paddle in peace!

 

Thank UUs:  to Frank Kilduff for continuing his annual summer painting of the church building… to Lauri Klein for her sermon on June 10… to Janie Culbert for hosting the Inquirers’ Circle meetings at her home this year… to the Men’s Ministry and the Parish Committee for hosting our annual summer barbecue…. to all who crafted, cooked, started seedlings, set up, sold, and cleaned up at our Spring Fair on June 2…. to David and Wendy Ballinger for donating to the church the proceeds from their moving-house sale.

Happy Birthday in July and August!

... and Transformative Service

Men’s Ministry

The Men’s Ministry meets monthly for breakfast and a service project. All men and boys are invited to participate. On Saturday July 7 at 8 am., Alan Donaldson will host everyone for breakfast at his home at 64 Satuit Trail in Scituate, and then they will go over to the church to scrape paint off the church building in preparation for Frank Kilduff’s summer painting of it. If you have scrapers and sanders, please bring them. And if you’re not able to participate in the work, but would enjoy the company of the breakfast, you are welcome. Please email Chuck Jones ( [email protected]) with questions. The Men’s Ministry will take a break for August and meet again on Saturday September 8.

 

What Happened at the Annual Meeting

At the continuation of our annual meeting on Sunday June 24, under the leadership of our moderator Michael McGowan, we approved the budget for fiscal year 2019, elected a new slate of officers, and thanked those who are completing their terms of service.   

 

In this new church year (begun July 1) leading us on the parish committee will be Sheri Nidositko and Mark Matthews, co-chairs; Jean Shildneck, secretary, and Brian Sutton and Alma Morrison, liaisons. (The Nominating Committee, Laura Carson-Laciner, Sarah Murdock, and Ann Svensen will need to select someone to fill Mark da Silva’s position). Officers Mark McGowan will continue to serve as Moderator and Vicki Davis and Cathie McGowan as Co-Collectors; Marche Kellerhals is taking on the role of Treasurer and Jean Shildneck the role of Clerk.

 

Ann Svensen who served as Parish Committee Co-Chair for three years, and Alan Donaldson, who served as Chair of Building and Grounds for many years, were specially recognized for their service to and love for the church. Kate Glennon, who served two years on the Parish Committee, Jenn Mackey, who has chaired Religious Services for the past three years, and Patty and Brian Sutton, who chaired Religious Education for the past two years, and Carey Eyerley and Marche Kellerhals, who chaired Hospitality for the past year, were also thanked.  

 

You may read the Reports submitted for the meeting here:  First Parish Annual Report 2018

July-August Calendar

Our Mission

Liberal Faith: We commit to participate side-by-side across generations  in worship, religious education, social activities, environmental protection,

and social justice work—learning, sharing, and growing together. 

Strong Community : We commit to care for one another, nurture the light that shines within each of us, and support each other’s individual search for truth and meaning.

 

Transformative Service: We commit to pursue diversity, justice, equality, reason, and discourse;

provide inspiration through music, creativity, and the arts;

and work cooperatively to affect positive change in our community and beyond.