What's Happening
at First Parish -
Our Weekly Newsletter

October 23 - November 3, 2019


 We aspire to be a beacon
of liberal religion, strong community,
and transformative service.

We aspire to be a Beacon of…..
 … Liberal Religion
Halloween Sunday October 27, 2019
The Upside-Down
In our annual celebration of Halloween, there will be reflections on the world of Stranger Things and the fears from our world it reflects. Children (and adults) are invited to come in costume.

The Choir will sing Night Noises, accompanied by flute, along with other appropriately spooky music.

We will also form a covenant with our new Religious Education Coordinator.

All Souls Sunday November 3 
Beauty Burns in All Beings
Our annual multigenerational celebration of All Souls Day, when we remember loved ones who have died and our Universalist good news that they are still connected to us through love.   Please email the names of people close to you who have died since last All Souls Day by Wednesday October 30 to Pam. You are invited to bring photographs and other mementos of people you are remembering to place in the sanctuary.  We could also use some pots of white mums for the sanctuary; please let us know if you plan to bring one. We will have special music along with the choir who will sing Come and Find Me.
From the M usic Director
 
Thank you so much for the mandolin and guitar playing and singing for our Animal Blessing service.
 


Choir is open to anyone in 7th grade or older. Please join us for rehearsals Sunday mornings at 9:00 am . We will sing an anthem most weeks.
               
10/27  Night Noise by Ruth Schram- We will have eerie flute music to our anthem. I will play the famous Toccata in D Minor, and you’ll hear the Stranger Things and the Addams Family themes to go with our spooky service.
  
All Souls Service 11/3:
 
We will have a cellist, and violinist, joining me in playing Bach, Schumann and a lovely arrangement of O Waly Waly .
 
SILENT MOVIE NIGHT Saturday November 2nd - 7:30 pm

ORGANIST Peter Krasinski returns to accompany the old silent movie “ The Hunchback of Notre Dame “    
 
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.  
 
 -Music Director
Remembering our Beloved Dead
Every year during our celebration of the Universalist holy day All Souls, we remember the good news that our family and friends who have died are still connected to us in the Love which holds us all, and we read aloud the names of loved ones who have died since last All Souls Sunday. If you have lost family or friends this year and would like to have them remembered, please send their names to us.
... Strong Community
Minister's Community Office Hours
Join the minister for conversation at the Lucky Finn on Thursday October 31, 9:30-10:30 a.m. Bring your ideas, your thoughts, your questions. Have friends who might be interested in learning more about Unitarian Universalism and First Parish - bring them along!

Snowflake Fair is only 6 weeks from Saturday!
December 7th, 9:00 am to 2:00 pm


Wreath decorations – Wrecycled! Do you have any small holiday decorations in excellent condition that could be re-used on the wreathes we decorate for the Fair? 

There will be a container in the Sloop Room for you to drop them off. Wreath decorating night will be Wednesday Dec. 4 at 6:30 p.m. Please save the date. Questions?

Fudge and Candy. We can sell all the candy and fudge that anybody can make. Please use your own favorite recipes, or contact us with your questions or for more recipes. Chocolate, white, brown, with or without add-ins. Please label.

-Team Snowflake
First Parish Needs Your Help!
Here's how you can serve our church and strengthen our community this week.

We need:
  • Coordinator(s) for our annual Thanksgiving Soup Lunch on 11/24
  • Soup-makers for the Thanksgiving lunch
  • Coffeehour hosts for this Sunday October 27
  • Donors of mum plants for 11/3
  • Readers for 11/3
  • Coordinator(s) for the Snowflake Fair
  • Clockwinders for the sanctuary clock
Sign-up for the Bottle and Can Fund Raiser!
The opportunity came up for First Parish to partner with St. Luke’s church, next month, for what we affectionately know of as “Dump Duty.” We have signed on for November 1 st through November17th.

For those who are new to this fun activity, it means sorting the redeemable bottles and cans at the transfer station and turning them in at the redemption center in Cohasset. Shifts are usually 3 hrs, but we can vary those to fit a sorter’s schedule. We make sure that an experienced sorter will be with newcomers, to show them the ropes. 

Please sign up for a shift here: Bottle and Can Fund Raiser

The Men’s Ministry is taking the lead on this, however we will be asking for help from all of the willing folks from our church.

There will be more discussion and reminders about this in the upcoming weeks. In addition, First Parish is signed up for the month of March 2020. 

Bottles & Cans Coordinator
Teams Hosting Coffee Hour This Year
This year we are trying to make hosting coffee hour easier for everyone by eliminating the sign-up sheet. We will try this for the year and see if it works!

We randomly created fifteen teams so each team will host coffee hour two times during the year. More people will lessen the work and expense. More people doesn’t mean “more food”! Let’s bring simpler snacks which makes clean-up easier.

The full list will go out in a separate mailing. If you do not see your name on any team and you want to be included, please let us know and we will include you. Also, if you feel you cannot serve in this way, you may ask to be removed from the teams list.

If you can’t be there on the date, you could supply some snacks and give them to a team member to bring to church.

Each team consists of four to six people. Duties include setting the table, putting snacks on serving plates, make the coffee and heat tea water, wash the dishes and put the trash in the shed. The team will also bring a quart of half and half and juice. We will send out a more details of how to set up.

Thank you for trying this!!! Please call or email if you have a question.

The Parish Committee
Pizza and Game Night - Friday October 25, 6:00 to 9:00
Come enjoy a night of pizza, potluck and games. Bring a game or two that you enjoy or a deck of cards. We’ll order pizzas (pass the hat), or you can bring whatever you want to eat. Please bring non-alcoholic drinks.
Peter Krasinski and The Hunchback of Notre Dame
Saturday November 2, 2019 at 7:30 pm

AN UNUSUAL MUSICAL EVENT! HISTORIC PIPE ORGAN MEETS THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME!
 
We are proud to present another unique and extraordinary event for all ages at First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church in Scituate on Saturday evening, November 2: concert-quality music, a classic Hollywood silent film, and the pleasure of hearing the peal of the church’s unique, antique pipe organ. The event will be held  from 7:30 to 9:00 pm., and is by cash admission of $15 per person (16 and under free).
 
Award-winning silent film improv organist Peter Krasinski will once again bring his story-telling artistry to interpret the classic silent movie, The Hunchback of Notre Dame, performing on the church’s historic and recently-renovated 1906 Hook & Hastings pipe organ. Mr. Krasinski skillfully adds an extra thrill with his brilliant rendition of plots and characters … an event not to be missed!! A dark church, dramatic organ music and Quasimodo … an unusual and wonderful experience on a Saturday night!

Here is a link to the flyer, please print it out and post it in stores and businesses which accept community notices, and anywhere else people might be interested. Hunchback Flyer
Send messages of peace and joy this holiday season with these beautiful and ethically made cards. Cards and envelopes are 100% recycled paper and packaging is biodegradable. Printed by union workers and published in the USA. Check out our complete selection of holiday cards online at in Spirit , the UU book and gift shop. and stay tuned for our holiday guide!
Celebrate and honor the earth this holiday season with these special cards. Message inside: "Let us honor the great spiral of life in this season of renewal." Pack of 12 cards and envelopes.
These beautiful cards are sure to bring others joy and happiness during the holiday season. Message inside: "Celebrate the Holidays with Joy, Compassion & Community." Pack of 12 cards and envelopes.   
Italian-born Paolo Domeniconi's whimsical children's book illustrations have been celebrated and enjoyed around the globe by children and adults alike. This lovely illustration of a wintry scene is no different and will be sure to bring a smile to your recipient. Message inside: "May the season bring to you gifts of Song & Light" Pack of 12 cards and envelopes.   
Transformative Service
Community Soup Suppers?
In her sermon on Sunday October 20, Pamela Barz laid out a vision of First Parish hosting community soup suppers to bring people together, promote vegetarian meals and composting, and work together to heal the environment. (If you missed the sermon, you can read it here:  Practice Resurrection . In the sermon she invited people to gather after the service on October 27 to discuss the idea, but because of a conflict, that gathering is rescheduled for after the service on November 3. 
The Satisfaction of Serving with the Men's Ministry!
First Parish's Men's Ministry meets on the first Saturday of the month to help people in need in Scituate with moving, home repair and maintenance. On Saturday November 2, they'll gather for breakfast at 8 a.m. and then serve in the community. All men and boys of the congregation are welcome. Please contact us if you have questions or ideas or would like to be on his email list.

This is our last week to build our wall of food. Please bring in your donations on Sunday October 27! Here's what they're looking for:



 Corn can
Fruit cocktail
Jello
Quick breads or muffin mix
Stuffing mix
Mashed potatoes box
Turkey gravy
Cranberry sauce
Yams canned
Brownie or cake mix

Thank you! - Food Pantry Representative
Calendar for October 23 - November 3

Wed. 23rd
10:30 am Fididdlers

Fri. 25th
6:00 pm Game Night

Sun. 27th
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship and RE
5:00 pm Youth Group - Norwell Movie Night

Mon. 28th
7:00 pm Meditation

Wed. 30th
10:30 am Fididdlers

Thurs. 31st
9:30 am Minister's Community Office Hours

Sat. 2nd
8:00 am Men's Ministry
7:30 pm Silent Movie Night with Organist
Peter Krasinski

Sun. 3rd
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship Multi-gen
Save the Date

November 16th
Blue Boat Coffeehouse

December 4th
Wreath Making

December 7th
Snowflake Fair

December 15th
Christmas Music Sunday

December 22nd
Pageant

December 22nd
Community Solstice Service, 4 p.m. at St. Luke's
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.