We aspire to be a Beacon of…..

 … Liberal Religion

Worship in September: “Home: A Place Where Love Can Grow”

All services begin at 10:30 a.m. in the sanctuary.

Children and youth begin in the sanctuary with the adults to share in the opening of worship, and then leave with their teachers for Religious Education. Nursery care is available upstairs for children over

18 months, but children are welcome to remain with parents.

Sunday September 9            Welcome Home

On our annual Homecoming Sunday, when we re-gather after the summer, we will consider what it means to be "at home." Home is a place where we are forgiven, loved, and fed. Home is where we are challenged to become our full selves but welcomed as we are. We will bless backpacks, briefcases, computer bags and totes as a reminder that in all the challenges of our days, we carry home with us. Children and youth are especially encouraged to bring their school bags for the blessing, but we will bless adult work bags as well. We will also welcome “home” our Bill Ketchum, our new Director of Religious Education. The choir will sing We Bid You Welcome and Sarah Murdock will greet you.

 

Sunday September 16            Turning to Forgiveness

On the Sunday between Rosh Hashonah and Yom Kippur, when the Gates of the Year are open, we'll consider the concept of teshuvah, which literally means "to return." How do we return to ourselves, to finding home within and finding kin-ship with others? How do we ask for forgiveness and forgive others and ourselves? While Pam is recovering from surgery, the Rev. Mr. Steve Washburn will be our guest preacher this Sunday and the next. Jenn Mackey will take part in the service with him. We will also recognize all participants in our religious education program as our new RE year kicks off this Sunday. The Choir will sing Feels Like Home . 

 

Our guest preacher Steve Washburn has served Unitarian Universalist and United Church of Christ congregations in Illinois, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, including the Second Parish in Hingham and the North Community Church in Marshfield Hills. He has just (Sept. 2) retired from active ministry and returned to Marshfield from Connecticut where he has been serving as an intentional interim minister. He intends to lobby for more train service (Steve is passionate about trains past, present, and future) but fortunately was available to work with us.  

 

Sunday September 23       Love Is the Spirit of this Church

 Sunday after Sunday we say "Love is the spirit of this church" as the foundation of our life together. What does that mean? How do we express love to one another and to the wider world? What happens when love isn't easy? Steve Washburn, preaching. Lin Haire-Sargeant will take part in the service with him As a sign of the love we share and offer to the wider world, please bring an item to contribute to the Scituate Food Pantry today.  The Choir will sing Home.

        

Sunday September 30         Let’s Eat!

Home is where we are fed and feed others. In feeding we create connection, we learn about others, we grow. Feeding welcomes us in and nourishes us to go out. Pamela Barz, preaching. We will celebrate apple communion as part of this service and follow it with a potluck lunch hosted by the Religious Services Committee. On our theme of home, please bring a favorite dish of your home to share. The Choir will sing Home  from the musical The Wiz.

Ministries of Hospitality

There are many opportunities for ministry each Sunday as we greet, create space for conversation, and add color to our worship. Please sign up to serve in the Sloop Room or online at the following:

Sign up to be a Greeter:  http://www.signupgenius.com/greeters

Sign up to host coffee hour:  http://www.signupgenius.com/coffeehour

From the Minister  

Last June in my annual report sermon to the congregation, I suggested that we declare this new church year as a year of joy. Now, you may be thinking, “Well, that was fine in the bright days of June with the summer stretching ahead of us, but now as we head into fall, the season of reality, of shorter days and growing darkness, what kind of theme is “joy” – especially with who knows what coming in our politics and government and with your own upcoming surgery?” Yes – that is all true – but it is precisely in the hard times of our lives and of the world that we need to draw on the well of joy. For joy is not the same as happiness. Happiness depends on circumstances.  Joy is that deep gladness which exists at the heart of life; Buddhists believe that the Four Noble Truths lead to that joy. Jesus said that his purpose was to help others know the joy that he experienced. Ancient rabbis teach that joy is at the heart of creation. Joy doesn’t deny suffering, hardship, fear, and anxiety – rather it exists beside them, helping us remember that Life is still greater. So as we go into this new year, how can you root yourself more in joy? How can the church help you do so? And how can we work together to make this church even more a home of and for joy?

 

See you in Church,   

Pamela

 

Minister’s Schedule 

Pamela Barz will be having surgery on September 13 and will be on medical leave through September 27. If you would like to talk with a minister while she is out, Stephanie Shute Kelsch, minister of the 2 ^nd Parish in Hingham, and Lise Adams Sherry, minister of the First Parish in Norwell, will be available.

Message from the Committee On Ministry

On August 29th the Committee on Ministry met with Pamela Barz to offer our full support to her concerning news and discuss planning and preparations for the beginning of our Church season. Pam wanted to be certain her Ministry would be well represented during her absence and that the Church community would be well cared for and continue along as normal a path possible in fulfillment to our mission in the approaching months.

Pam has made arrangements for a seamless transition on the pulpit for a short period of time and she will fill everyone in on those details. As we all know there are many parts at work in a self governed living Church like ours! Ministry is merely one piece. As Pam moves through her care and full recovery it will be up to all of us to come together as a community to make certain our church continues on serving our mission in a happy and healthy fashion.

Members of CoM will be available for informal discussion after coffee hour this "backpack" Sunday. We encourage all leaders of church committees in attendance to meet with us briefly and discuss logistics and we certainly encourage any member of our community with worry, concern or questions regarding Pam to come talk with us.

This news certainly strikes a blow to our community but be assured and take comfort in Pam's strong spirit and very promising outlook! Our strength comes from pulling together as a community and we look forward to handing back to Pam a full and and even more strengthened First Parish Scituate upon her return.

-Bob Murdock, Chair, Committee on Ministry

Religious Education News

    

Coming Home



Welcome back if you are returning from being out of town; if you have been here all summer, we hope the summer heat has offered a cool evening of peace or two. Sunday September 9 ^th we will have a “Welcome Home and Blessing of Backpacks” multi-generational service. Sunday School will begin the next week, September 16 ^th , with the dedication of teachers and students.

Religious Education, this year, will have stories in the Bible as our focus. Unitarian Universalism has a long history of studying Jewish and Christian teachings found in the Bible. The Bible has been used, for thousands of years, as a spiritual guide as well as a chronicle of men and women challenging structures of evil with justice and compassion. We will look at the Bible as a narrative of challenges people have faced and also as a source of joy for its readers for centuries.   

I like the story of a spiritual guide being asked about a bumper sticker which referred to the Bible: “It’s in the Bible that settles it.” Her answer was that she would change the bumper sticker to read: “It’s in the Bible. Now let’s talk about what it means…”   We are always looking for people to help support the children and teachers discuss “what it means.” You don’t need to commit to a full year or be a Bible scholar. We have some openings for assisting teachers this fall. If you can help out my email is [email protected] . I am looking forward to meeting the church Sunday September 9th and working with the teachers and students.

First Parish Religious Education 2018-2019!

As we plan for the coming year, it would be very helpful to have children and youth register now. Registration forms are attached to this email RE 2018-2019. We also rely on parents and other adults to serve as teachers and members of the RE Committee. While you are registering your child(ren), please take a minute also to fill out the "Support our Children's Religious Education Program" Form and indicate how you will contribute this year. In our cooperative program, each family is asked to support the program in some way, whether by teaching, serving on the RE Committee, or coordinating a program or event. The forms will also be available at church on Sunday. Please either drop them off at church, or email them to our parish administrator at [email protected].

The teachers so far are: PreK-2 ^nd Grade teachers are Jen Bokavich, Jen McGonagle Dziedzic and Tracey Timmons. Grades 3-5 teachers are Julianna Dunn and Suzanne Oliver, Ann Svensen, Spencer Howe (we are looking for another teacher for each of these groups.) Grades 6-8 teachers are Ann Corbo, Patty and Brian Sutton. 

Blessings,

Bill Ketchum, Director of Religious Education

Notes from Beth Dubuisson, Music Director

 

After a relaxing summer, it will feel good to come back to the routine of the school and church year. It was great to see some of you at the service I led on Music and your Mood. The Unitarian Universalist Musicians’ Conference in Portland, OR., was informative and fun. I came away with a lot of new music and ideas for accompanying hymns.

           

Choir is open to anyone in 7th grade or older. Please join us for rehearsals Sunday mornings at 9:00 . We will sing an anthem most weeks. September’s theme of Home gives us a chance to sing some great songs!

           

Here is our September Schedule :

 

9/9:  We Bid You Welcome by Jason Shelton (listen to this on the Friends of First Parish Facebook page :)

 

9/16: Feels Like Home by Randy Newman https://youtu.be/Yy22lxsjimU

 

9/23: Home by Holden and Pearson https://youtu.be/HoRkntoHkIE

 

9/30: Home from the musical The Wiz by Charlie Smalls  https://youtu.be/dslpHxTuA-w

 

SAVE THE DATE:  SILENT MOVIE NIGHT Saturday October 20th- ORGANIST

Peter Krasinski returns to accompany the movie FRANKENSTEIN! 7:00 P.M.

 

Looking ahead: I invite student musicians 6th grade and older to share your talents with us. Contact me if you would like to play at a church service. [email protected]     

 

Hope to see you Sunday September 9th at 9:00 ready to warm up and sing!

Community Book Discussion:

The House of Broken Angels by Luís Alberto Urrea

Throughout our conversations over the past year, those discussing the books have also pondered how to take the conversation about issues of race and privilege in Scituate to the larger community. On Monday September 17 some members of the group will attend the meeting of the Scituate School Committee which will be discussing a policy on how to select the books read by students in Scituate schools and whether and how those books reflect the diversity of the larger world. The meeting is at 6 p.m. in the Gates Dining Commons. You are invited to gather at 5:30 p.m. in the Gates Lobby with John Scopoletti, facilitator of our discussions and the new Chair of the English Department at SHS, to talk about how the School Committee meetings work.

 

Then on Tuesday September 18 at 7 p.m. you are invited to gather in the Book Group Room of the Scituate Library for our conversation on The House of Broken Angels.  

Monday Night Meditation

Would you like to incorporate meditation into your spiritual practice? Would you like to learn how to meditate? Would you like to add the energy of others to your already existing practice? You are invited to come to First Parish’s bi-monthly meditation sessions on the 2 ^nd and 4 ^th Monday nights from 7 -8:30 p.m .. September's dates are Monday 9/10, and Monday 9/24. All are welcome.  Email Brian or Patty Sutton with any questions at [email protected] or [email protected] .

The Congregation of First Parish in Cohasset

cordially invites you to

the Installation of the

Reverend Mr. Robert W. McKetchnie

Sunday, September 30, 2018, 4:00 PM

Please RSVP by September 17, 2018

[email protected] or 781-383-1100

... Strong Community

Calling all Greeters

Attending a new church can be a bit daunting and may even cause anxiety. We like to think of our Congregation as welcoming and inclusive, yet I am sure we fall short at times of fully realizing that vision. If you are new, it can also be challenging to get to know current members, understand the way we operate and join in on activities beyond our Sunday service. The first impression of our church is walking in the front door and being greeted by a friendly hello and a smiling face. Fall is the time when the church gets the most newcomers. It’s a time when families and individuals are looking for a religious home. Would you please consider signing up for being a greeter? Sign up can be made here . 

 

We would also like to recruit a regular team of greeters who would be ready, willing and able to greet a least once two months. This will help us ensure we have greeters and aren’t always scrambling to remind people to sign up. Please let me know if you are interested in serving in this capacity. It’s super easy and fun and only takes 30 minutes or so each Sunday. I will be creating an instruction sheet on the duties for a greater, and will be holding a brief training session for those who are willing to serve in this manner.

In the meantime, please consider signing up for the coming weeks and we’ll get the church year off to a welcoming year.

-Sarah Murdock, Chair of the Membership Committee ( [email protected] )

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.

Silent Movie Night - Saturday, October 20, 7:00 - 9:00 pm

Halloween Event Back By Acclaim! On Saturday, October 20 (7 - 9 p.m., we will again present a family-friendly Halloween movie at the church. Noted improvisational organist Peter Krasinski returns, this time accompanying the 1931 classic horror movie Frankenstein , starring the great Boris Karloff, preceded by the silent comic short “The Electric House” starring Buster Keaton. Peter is excited for another chance to play our historic 1906 Hook & Hastings organ — and we are equally happy to welcome him back, as he wowed the audience last year with The Phantom of the Opera ! This is a unique opportunity to hear live accompaniment, especially improv, and from such a talented artist.

Tickets will be $15 for adults, and this year, children under 16 will be free. Refreshments will be available at intermission. Frankenstein-themed costumes are encouraged.

Plan to join us —and invite friends!— for this spooky evening of Halloween noir!

-Kate Glennon, Co-chair, Publicity Committee

Keeping up with Church Events

This newsletter is one of the best ways to keep track of what's happening in parish life, but other options include our website and Facebook. The website's front page describes all upcoming events, and the Calendar tab includes the whole church year. The link to signups are at the bottom of every page. For serious committee updates, go to the Members tab. And for fun, there's Facebook! We have about 100 members on the "Friends of First Parish" Facebook group, which functions like an online coffee hour—join us! - Kate Glennon, Publicity Committee and Webmaster

Around the Parish

Our good wishes go with Anna Svensen starting her first year at Clark University and Desmond Sullivan starting his first year at Hofstra University…. Welcome to the world to Maverick Ray Therrien who was dedicated in our sanctuary on Saturday, August 4 and good wishes to his parents Christy Lee and Ray…. Good wishes also to Shadi Kavoosi and Ben Bolster who were married on July 7 by Pamela Barz…. And our sympathies are with Michelle Palomera, Abby and Leah Sullivan, on the death of their husband and father Ken Sullivan who died on June 28 and whose life was celebrated in our sanctuary on July 9.

Thank UUs: to all our summer worship leaders who reflected in so many ways on sources of meaning in their lives:     Janie Culbert, Mary Beaulieu, Brian Sutton, Jenn Mackey, Aynsley Forsythe, Lin Haire-Sargeant, Richard Kermond and Cathy Kang, and Elizabeth Dubuisson... and Michael and Moira Feeney and Mark Mattews for contributing music… to Frank Kilduff who, up on scaffolding, continued his ministry of painting a side of the church each summer, to Alma Morrison and Jean Shildneck for caring for the flowers in our gardens… and to Jennifer Allen who donated one of her mother Virginia Allen's paintings to the church. It will be hung in the Minister's office.

Publicity Committee

The Publicity Committee (Public Relations) is here to help you let the world know what our church is doing. If your committee is planning something -- an event, concert or special project -- please think of the Publicity Committee as your resource to help spread the word. We don't want to take over the job from you or for you, but if you wish, we can share tips, deadlines for publications, suggestions. Just contact us early in your planning process, and ask for an email copy of the “Request for Publicity” form. This form is designed to guide a person or committee through what media you would like, how you want to promote the event, and/or what audiences you want to reach, etc. Looking forward to an inspiring year!  - Kate Glennon and Claire Sherman, Co-chairs, Publicity Committee

Happy Birthday September!

... and Transformative Service

Men’s Ministry

The Men’s Ministry of First Parish gathers monthly, usually on the first Saturday of the month, for breakfast and a service project in the community. All men and boys of the church are invited. Because of the Labor Day holiday, they will meet on the second Saturday in September, the 8 ^th, at 8 a.m. for breakfast at the home of Alan Donaldson, 64 Satuit Trail, and then do some sprucing up of our church grounds. Please bring clippers, rakes, and other garden tools. Contact Chuck Jones ( [email protected]) with questions or ideas for future projects.   

September Calendar

Church Office Hours

The church office will resume it's Fall/Winter/Spring schedule, beginning Wednesday, September 5, 2018 (Wednesdays and Thursdays 9:00 am to 2:00 pm).

Stephanie Stewart, Parish Administrator

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.