The Sloop's Log
November 2017
Newsletter of the First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Scituate
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Our Vision
We aspire to be a beacon of liberal faith, strong community and transformative service, rooted in love.
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.
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Worship Celebrations
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.
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S
unday November 5
Across the Bounds of Death and Time
This is 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. Pamela Barz will lead a theme conversation on our connections, and the service will close with the invitation to place lights in remember of people we have lost. You are invited to bring photographs and other mementos of people you are remembering to place in the sanctuary, and to give to Pamela Barz the names of people close to you who have died since last All Souls Day (November 2). Please email the names by Friday November 3.
Vicki Davis will light the chalice. Wendy and George Wierzbowski will host the coffee hour. We are in need of greeters and flowers.
Sunday November 12
Take Fate By The Throat - Richard Stower, preaching
Is the story of our life already written and we are merely acting out a play? Or is it something more? Something mysterious? Something ineffable?
The Choir will sing
Along the Road of Peace.
We welcome Richard Stower, our Minister Emeritus back to the pulpit this week. Following the service, Claire Sherman is organizing an informal lunch with Rich and Nancy before they go back to Maine. Please contact Claire (
clairesherman@comcast.net
) if you would like to join the group.
Laura Carson-Laciner is the greeter, and will provide the flowers for the communion table in memory of her Father, Cmdr. Chaplain Bobby C. Carson, USN. We are in need of someone to host the coffee hour.
Sunday November 19
Gratitude for the Whole
On the Sunday before Thanksgiving we will celebrate the gifts of our lives with special guest musicians Earth Harmony
(Michelle Glidden, guitar, Ted Mello, upright bass, and Christina Nordstrom, guitar)
joining Elizabeth Ducuisson and our choir; a soup lunch; the dedication of our new church sign; and by distributing the Guest at Your Table boxes to support of the work of the Unitarian Universalist Service Committee. Pamela Barz will preach. Please bring something that symbolizes what you are thankful for to decorate the communion table.
The Choir will sing
Simple Gifts/Pachelbel Canon.
We are in need of greeters.
Sunday November 26
Hope Is the Thing with Feathers – Greening of the Church
The title comes from a poem by Emily Dickinson and introduces our Advent theme of birds as symbols of hope, peace, love, and joy. We will light the first candle of Advent and begin bringing in the symbols of the season. On Saturday November 26 at 1 p.m. the Religious Services Committee will be getting the sanctuary ready for the greening – everyone is welcome to participate
We are in need of greeters and someone to host coffee hour.
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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:
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From the Minister
Coming off of two days without power following the October 30 storm, I've been thinking of that expression "without power". We use it to mean "without electricity" but in so many ways in modern life, without electricity, we are without power. Without electricity many of us cannot cook, see after dark, or stay warm in our homes. Without radio, tv, or internet, we do not know what is happening in the world and we become isolated from other people. But even with electricity, these days I at least feel powerless in many ways. Reading the Sunday
New York Times
on October 29, I sighed over articles about climate change, new policies on how our country will welcome (or not) unaccompanied refugee children, and more stories of sexual harassment and #MeToo. What can I do to bring about any of the changes I would like to see? What can any of us do?
Alone, not much. But together, we have power. Just as it takes more than one candle, more than one watt of electricity to shed the light we need, so it is through our combined efforts that our power grows. This is one of the reason for coming together in a church community: to combine our strengths, our gifts, our dreams, and ideas to work together to for good. Our Social Justice Committee is putting together a process to allow us to choose an area we want to focus our power on. I am glad to share in our communal power!
See you in church,
Pam
Minister’s Schedule
Pamela Barz is available for appointments on Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, and on Friday and Saturday afternoons. Tuesday is her day off. You can reach her at
pamela.merrill.barz@gmail.com
or 781-412-4233.
Minister's Community Office Hours
Join Pamela Barz for coffee and conversation at the Lucky Finn Cafe in Scituate Harbor
on Thursday November 9, 10:30-11:30 a.m.
Social Justice Committee!
The Social Justice Committee met on Sunday October 29
th
to begin formulating one or two “actionable” goals that we can use as part of our churches overall BEACON! We will continue with all of the ongoing projects and support. Our generosity is amazing but would it not be wonderful if “WE” all could potentially put some energy into one or two goals? Imagine what we could accomplish! Carol and I will be reaching out to those that have not had the chance to express what is motivating them whether it is a national issue or something more local. Please keep an eye out for a new SOCIAL JUSTICE bulletin board in the back of the Old Sloop Room. If you have any idea’s or questions, please reach out to us. Our next meeting will be at Billy’s house and posted in advance. Keep up the fight and thank you.
- Carol Hanley Sullivan and Billy Timmins
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Religious Education News
Please turn in RE registration forms
Children and youth of all ages
must
be registered to participate in the program. Registration forms are available at church on Sundays or you may fill them out on-line (
http://firstparishscituate.org/religious-education.htm
) and email them to Stephanie Stewart, our parish administrator,
firstparishscituate@verizon.net
. Parents are also asked to take part in the program in some way - please indicate on your form how you would like to be involved. Here's an example of how:
The Gifts of Teaching - Julianna Dunn
Want to be inspired on a Sunday morning? Come upstairs.
Teaching or helping in a children¹s religious education class is certain to
inspire you. How do I know this? Because this morning, I was inspired once
again.
This year¹s theme is world religions. This morning¹s lesson was focusing on
an earth center religion Hopi Indians from the American Southwest.
Here is how it went: it was a boisterous crowd with a whole lot of
enthusiasm during the intros and the joys/ concerns session. We segued over
to the story about the Hopi Indians and how the different animals clans were
started. We learned a little about the clans and how the Hopi use Kachina
dolls as part of their religious rituals. The Kachina dolls come in many
forms and we looked at a few books with pictures of the many different kinds
of dolls.
So, now comes the fun part. A craft. The curriculum had a really complicated
craft listed, so I used the power of Pinterest to find a different activity.
The kids took a black piece of construction paper with while chalk to
outline the Kachina they were going to draw. Then, there were a buffet of
other options to help complete the doll oil pastels, feathers, beads,
buttons, tissue paper and some other doodads. One boy exclaimed, ³Boy, this
is fun!² While they were hard at work, Eileen Donaldson mentions that she
had spent some time with the Hopi nation at the bottom of the Grand Canyon.
I asked to hear more. So, while the kids were working, they heard a first
person story of visiting with the Hopi. Eileen was invited into a pueblo to
sleep over, the Hopi allowed her to watch an important ritual, (she thinks
it was the snake dance) and shared their food with her, which she said
tasted awful to her. Eileen said how kind the Hopi were to her and her baby
son who was with her.
As Eileen was talking, the kids were quietly (ok, mostly quiet) working on
their Kachinas. I will admit in that precious moment, I got a little teary.
I wanted to bottle that moment. This is the best of what Unitarian
Universalist religious education is about faith stories shared, learning,
multigenerational, fun. Some of the kachinas are displayed on the back
partition wall of the Old Sloop room. Check it out.
If you want to share in the fun, say yes. If you are asked to help in RE,
say yes. Jump in with both feet. You will be inspired by our faith, our kids
and life in general. Guaranteed.
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Notes from Beth Dubuisson
A big thank you to Zack Nidositko, saxophonist, and Win Lawson, trombonist for sharing their musical gifts with us in October! I look forward to collaborating with other student musicians as the year progresses.
We had a fabulous silent movie night with organist Peter Krasinski. He performed the whole
Bach Toccata in D minor
by memory- as the warmup! He had never even played our organ before. He then proceeded to improvise on the organ as we watched Buster Keaton and his antics followed by the horrifying Lon Chaney as the Phantom of the Opera. Special thanks go to Brian and Patty Sutton for providing and running the screen and projector, Pamela Barz, Kate Glennon, Claire Sherman, Cathie McGowan, and Vicki Davis, for all their behind the scenes work on publicity, decor, ticket sales, etc. Spencer Howe was a fabulous Phantom who greeted everyone at the door. If you missed the event this year, don’t worry. We have plans to bring Peter back next year!
During the month of November we have wonderful musical guests on two Sundays.
November 5th
: Donna Culley, violinist, and Caroline Hine, cellist, will lead the music for our All Souls service.
November 19th
:
Earth Harmony
will join us for our Thanksgiving service.
Earth Harmony
is a local eclectic folk group comprised of Chris Nordstrom, guitarist, singer, songwriter; Ric Bailey on guitar, banjo, and percussion; Michelle Glidden, guitar; and Ted Mello, bass.
Our Choir Session Two
continues:
November 12th
-
Along the Road of Peace
by Wally Kleuker This is a new song that I learned when I went to the Unitarian Universalist Musicians conference in July.
November 19th
-
Simple Gifts/Pachelbel Canon.
This is a lovely arrangement of the folk tune with the famous canon as the accompaniment.
November 27th
- No choir or anthem this week.
Choir session Three
will be our Advent/Christmas Eve services. December 3,10,17, and
the 24th ( 7:00 pm.)
We’d love to have more singers join the choir - especially TENORS! Please speak with me if you're interested.
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The Snowflake Fair!
The Snowflake Fair is our biggest fund-raisers of the church year. It’s an event that unites us in fellowship and fun! This year, it will be on Saturday, December 2, from 9 am. to 2 pm.
There will be tables for:
- Candy and Fudge (a delectable assortment)
- Baked Goodies (pies, breads, cookies, cakes, loaves and bars – and more)
- Christmas Crafts and Gifts (lovely, unusual, and unique)
- Fididdlers Crafts (handmade knitted and sewn items,and arts and crafts of all kinds)
- Grandma’s Cupboard (jellies, pickles, jams and other preserved items)
- Jewelry (traditional, handmade and modern styles)
- Raffle Items (handmade crocheted baby blanket, Celtics tickets close to the action, framed photograph of “Moonrise Over Scituate Light”)
- Trees and Wreaths (freshly cut from Vermont; wreaths expertly decorated by FPUU elves)
- and lunch at the Old Sloop Café (featuring chilis and chowders, corn bread, hot dogs, beverages; all from the celebrated chefs in our own kitchen), and freshly baked gingerbread snowflake cookies!
We are in need of the following:
- People to work two-hour shifts the day of the Fair: 8:30-10:30 a.m., 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., and 12:30-2:30 p.m.
- Crews to put posters and signs around the community
- People decorate wreaths on Wednesday prior, to set up on Friday afternoon
- People help clean up afterward, and to be “runners” during the Fair
- New ideas, new crafts and arts, innovations - your input about new ways to make the Fair even better
Please sign up and SHARE ALL YOUR WONDERFUL TALENTS AND IDEAS on the
MASTER SIGN-UP BOARD
in the Old Sloop Room.
There will be two craft nights for making items for the Fair:
Beaded Snowflake Night
Monday Nov 13th
At Sheri Nidositko's house
69 Sedgewick Drive, Scituate
Come join in fellowship to create beaded snowflakes for the fair, have some conversation and maybe a glass of wine. Materials will be provided. Drop in anytime between 6:30 - 9:00 PM.
Wreath Making
On Wednesday November 29, decorate festive wreaths, 6:30-8:30 p.m. All materials are provided and no experience required. Children are welcome to assist an adult.
Shaw's Stamps
This year’s product is a little strange, but if it doesn't work as a raffle item at the Fair, we can donate it to Carolina Hill or another shelter. There is an envelope on the table in the vestibule for anyone who wants to donate their Shaw’s Savers Stamps.
Claire Sherman
(clairesherman@comcast.net)
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New Church Sign is being Installed
We are tantalizingly close to having a brand-new church sign on our front lawn. Construction is underway! Thanks to the the generosity of the Lothrop Family Foundation, to the brilliant efforts by Ann Corbo, and to Mark Matthews' design, the dream of this new church sign is becoming a reality. We are hoping to be able to bless/acknowledge/gather by the sign on Sunday, November 19, during a small ceremony prior to our annual Soup Luncheon.
A more formal dedication of the sign will take place on Sunday, April 29, when the daffodils around the base have promised to be in bloom. And more important, we will, at that time welcome members of the Lothrop Family Foundation to the ceremony. A generous grant from them enabled us to undertake the commission of this beacon of our church, and its programs and activities. Our connection to the Lothrop Foundation is historic, beginning with our founding minister the Rev. Mr. John Lothrop and continuing through his descendants to this current day.
Alma Morrison has graciously offered to build a field stone base around the sign. You are invited to bring stones to the church by November 19. They should be more or less the size of a football (bigger or smaller is ok). Please place them at the front corner of the church, to the far right of the front door (near the downspout). If you wish, you can write names or initials on your stones with an indelible marker - perhaps a family effort! - Claire Sherman, Publicity Committee Co-Chair
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Gardens and Grounds Work Party
Help make our church grounds more beautiful! Please join us on
Saturday, November 4 from 9 am to 12 pm
to plant shrubs, perennials, and bulbs. We’ll be planting several native and pollinator friendly plants in the front bed. Please bring a spade if you have one, since we’ll be doing lots of digging! Wheelbarrows or garden carts would also be useful. Contact Jean Shildneck with any questions. (jean_shildneck@comcast.net)
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FPUU has been involved in Scituate FACTS since the organization of the task force. This Sunday, Nov 5, Scituate FACTS presents
The Power of Prevention
, their first summit for parents, caregivers, teachers and others who are raising kids in Scituate: "We know what works to prevent substance use disorders and other behavioral health conditions. Learn what you can do to reduce risk and add protection. A variety of experts present on anxiety, school avoidance, marijuana, vaping, and more. It's a Patriots bye day and we are providing free childcare so you can attend."
Free childcare will be provided. Registration is requested:
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We Look Forward to:
Saturday December 2 Snowflake Fair
Wednesday December 13 Unity Christmas Dinner
Wednesday December 20 Holiday Service of Comfort and Joy for the Longest Night of the Year
Sunday December 24 Christmas Eve services (4 p.m. and 7 p.m.)
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Opportunities for Spiritual Deepening
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.
November sessions are Mondays 11/13 and 11/27. Email Brian or Patty Sutton with any questions at
brsutton@hotmail.com
or
pattysutton@gmail.com
.
Community Book Discussion - Salvage the Bones by Jesmyn Ward
Our next Community Book Discussions on issues of race, class, and privilege will focus on Jesmyn Ward's 2011 novel about a family in Mississippi surviving Hurricane Katrina.
Salvage the Bones
won the National Book Award for Fiction in 2011. Copies are available through the OCLN system. The discussion will take place on Tuesday November 7 at 6:30 p.m. in the Library's Book Group room and will again be facilitated by John Scopelleti, a Scituate resident and teacher at the South Shore Vocational Technical High School. Speak with Pamela Barz if you have questions or would like more information.
Scituate Public Schools Unity Council Presents: Let’s Talk Turkey: Strategies for Working Through Difficult Conversations
Thursday, November 2, 2017 6:30-8:00PM Gates Middle School Dining Commons
An evening of conversation and skill building. We’ll learn and practice strategies to apply to challenging conversations about identity and politics that could occur around the table at Thanksgiving dinner.
Pamela Barz serves on the planning group for the Unity Council and can answer questions about the discussion.
An Invitation to Compose your Spiritual Autobiography
Would you like a way to discern patterns or themes running through your journey so far? Do you feel that you are at a turning point and would like to discern where you have been before moving on? Is it a good time for a review? Then consider participating the Spiritual Autobiography class Pamela Barz will offer in January. Spiritual Autobiography uses drawing and writing exercises to explore the role of spirituality in your life. The class will meet weekly over 6-8 weeks (depending on the number of participants) with the date and time determined by participants’ preference. If you are interested or would like more information, speak with Pamela Barz.
Gatherings for Craft and Conversation
Fididdlers
Drop in at the church any Wednesday between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to participate in crafting and conversation. Currently the group is working on a variety of bird-themed ornaments and decorations for the Snowflake Fair.
Writing for Fun
Writing for Fun, for First Parish members, will meet on Thursdays from 10 -11 am in the Sloop Room. With no critique or judgment, we'll allow our creative minds to share poems, memoirs, essays, book beginnings and whatever you've always wanted to write. For information, Call Carey Eyerly (781-536-8227) - Carey Eyerly
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Opportunities for Ministry
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Men's Ministry
The Men’s Ministry gathers monthly on the first Saturday for breakfast and to so projects for members of the Scituate community and around the church. On Saturday November 4, they will meet at Alan Donaldon’s home (24 Satuit Trail) for breakfast at 8 a.m. and then split into groups to assist to help a few Scituate residents with moving and repairs and do yard work and repairs at the church. All men and boys of the church are welcome. Please let Chuck Jones (
charles_a_jones@yahoo.com
) know if you plan to participate or would like to be on his email list.
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The Blue Boat Coffeehouse Is Back!
We are excited to announce the BBCH is on for Saturday, November 18
th
from 6:00- 9:00 pm. Our 5
th
coffeehouse will again be raising funds for a local non-profit and this time it will be the Scituate Food Pantry. The pantry does not receive any government funding and relies solely on donations. Our church has supported the pantry in many ways but this allows us to step up even more as the pantry has seen an increase in demand. Currently they are assisting 250+ families and individuals. As we approach the holiday season, this added support is needed. We are suggesting either a canned item or a $5 dollar donation at the door. We will be highlighting local talent. If you would like to get involved or have a question, please reach out to Billy Timmins C-781-267-0089 or Ann Svensen, Kate Glennon, or Cathie McGowan.
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Around the Parish
Congratulations to Wesley Hine and Riley Nidositko, winners of the S-Games “Old Oaken Bucket” competition, and to Oliver Jones and Addie Oliver who also designed buckets for the competition… Suzanne Oliver has a new grandson: Shaun Henry Oliver, born September 28, weighing 8 lbs., 2 oz.
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Thank UUs:
To all who brought in food for the Food Pantry. We didn’t make it to 1,000 items, but did collect 252. Special thanks to Alan Donaldson, our representative to the Scituate Food Pantry, who coordinated our efforts…. To Elizabeth Dubuisson for coming up with the idea of highlighting our organ with a silent movie and for coordinating the Halloween movie night event,… To Oliver Jones for making his Life Scout Project the building of a compost bin for our church. Robbie Murdock and Miles Jones also participated in the project (see picture)….
to all who brought in socks for Hailey House in Boston. We've collected 46 pairs of white socks for homeless men. Thank you to Karen Frye for delivering them... To Frank Kilduff for all his work on our building...
to William Clark and Spencer Howe for their original chalice lightings:
William’s chalice lighting for Sunday October 22, when we marked the 500
th
anniversary of the beginning of the Protestant Reformation:
We light this candle
Sunday followed by Sunday
A beacon
A symbol
to grow our Selves in kindness
and Love
during our journey through the Sloop Room
And beyond
A life holding challenges
small or courting Chaos
Remember the Light
for your direction forward
against All challenges
Spencer’s chalice lighting from Halloween Sunday, October 29:
Life goes on,
Until it doesn't.
What are you afraid of?
Monsters? The banker? Bad Storms? Pain? Death?
What are you afraid to lose?
Money? Sobriety? Your job? Health? Loved ones?
Use the strength in this light to face your fears.
Know them well, and have contingencies for them.
Because life does go on, for a while.
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Bob Murdock
Danny Todd
Cathie McGowan
Wendy Brown
Elizabeth Dubuisson
Jenn Mackey
Patrick Hale
Katie Jacobsen
Joanne Fraser
Sheri Nidositko
Bren Matthews
Emory Matthews
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Nov 2
Nov 8
Nov 13
Nov 14
Nov 15
Nov 20
Nov 22
Nov 28
Nov 29
Nov 29
Nov 30
Nov 30
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Wed. 1st
10:30 am Fididdlers
7:00 pm Parish Committee Meeting
Thurs. 2nd
10:00 am Writing for Fun
6:30 pm Unity Council - Let's Talk Turkey
Sat. 4th
8:00 am Men's Ministry
Sun. 5th
10:30 am Worship - Multi-gen
4:30 pm Visit to Braj Mandir (6th - 9th grades)
Tues. 7th
6:30 pm Community Book Discussion -
Scituate Town Library
Wed. 8th
10:30 am Fididdlers
Thurs. 9th
10:00 am Writing for Fun
10:30 am Minister's Office Hours @ Lucky Finn
7:00 pm Committee on Ministry
Fri.10th - Sat. 11th
Youth CON in Westminster RI.
Sun. 12th
9:00 am Choir
10:30 am Worship and RE
Mon. 13th
6:30 pm Beaded Snowflake Crafting
7:00 pm Meditation
Wed. 15th
10:30 am Fididdlers
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Thurs. 16th
10:00 am Writing for Fun
Fri. 17th
7:00 pm Scituate Ceilidhe
Sat. 18th
6:00 pm Blue Boat Coffeehouse
Sun. 19th
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship and RE
11:45 am Soup Lunch
5:00 pm Youth Group -Scituate
Mon. 20th
7:00 pm New Testament Class
Wed. 22nd
10:30 am Fididdlers
Sun. 26th
10:30 am Worship and RE
Mon. 27th
7:00 pm Meditation
Wed. 29th
10:30 am Fididdlers
6:30 pm Wreath-Making
Thurs. 30th
10:00 am Writing for Fun
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