What's Happening
at First Parish -
Our Weekly Newsletter

May 1 - May 11, 2019


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

We aspire to be a Beacon of…..
 … Liberal Religion
Sunday May 5
The Ache and Beauty of Vulnerability
The Rev. Robin Tanner writes "we are united in our vulnerability." To be vulnerable is often to feel scared and small. How do we embrace these feelings to be more grounded in a feeling that also unites and humbles us? This morning we will explore the divinity and beauty to be found when we are at our most vulnerable.

The chorus will sing O Brother Sun. Cathie and Vicki will usher. We are in need of a coffee hour host.
Freshly ordained as a Unitarian Universalist minister in June, she is looking into a myriad of next options for her ministry, including Chaplaincy, community development work, and Doctoral Programs.


Currently, she is a nanny, a volunteer for an immigration accompaniment network, and teaches a class on interviewing skills at a minimum security prison in Norfolk.
Annual Meeting Pre-Meeting
The Annual Meeting Pre-Meeting is after worship on Sunday, May 5. Please join us to learn more about our church finances or to ask questions about any of the articles on the Annual Meeting Warrant.
Run4Scituate this Sunday!
Please be advised that this Sunday May 5 is the Run4Scituate. The main hub is at the old Gates Middle School across the street. 

Activities are initiating and ending around the same time as our church service. We will have Run volunteers and signage to help ensure our parking lot is available for our use. 

Some roads in the area may be blocked off. Police will be aware to let you through to church. So just let them know you are going to First Parish. 

Please consider having extra time to get to church on this day. 
Sign up to greet: 

Sign up to host coffee hour:
First Parish Unitarian Universalist Church of Scituate, Massachusetts
 
Warrant for the 2019 Annual Meeting
May 19, 2019 at 10:30 AM
The 385th Year of First Parish Scituate
 
 
You are requested to assemble in the sanctuary during our 10:30 am worship service on Sunday, May 19, 2019 for the 2019 Annual Meeting.
 
Members empowered to vote by our bylaws are asked to decide the following:
 
Article I:
To receive and approve the Minutes from the May 20, 2018 Annual Meeting.
 
Article II:
To receive and act on the Reports of the Minister, the Officers, Committees, and Organizations as printed in the 2018-2019 Annual Report.
 
Article III:
To receive the Nominating Slate of the Nominating and By-Law Review Committee and to elect Officers and Parish Committee Members for the coming year beginning July 1, 2019. The term for elected officers and committee members runs from June 1 to May 31.
 
Article IV:
To receive and approve the Annual Budget and the appropriation of money for the 2019-2020 church fiscal year.
 
Article V :
To transact any other business that may properly come before the parish.
  
Moderator
Highlights from the Parish Committee
The Parish Committee met twice in April (on April 1 st and April 29 th ) in preparation for the Annual Meeting Pre-Meeting on May 5, 2019 and the Annual Meeting on May 19, 2019. The Parish Committee is looking forward to the Annual Meeting worship service in which we will not only conduct the business of the church, but also celebrate our church community. The Parish Committee also led a second Synergy Sunday meeting on April 7 th .

The Parish Committee has agreed that it would be beneficial to re-constitute a Religious Education Committee to set policy for the RE program, to help recruit volunteers, and to help plan and administer RE program activities. If you are interested in joining the RE Committee, please contact Brian.

We are also in the process of forming a Music Committee, the main purpose of which will be to plan and execute public concerts and musical events.

At the April 29 th PC meeting, the Parish Committee reviewed the results of the annual stewardship canvass (pledge drive). Total pledges represented a 17% increase over 2018 pledges. We will be able to budget for $83,400 in pledge income for FY20. While counting the 17% increase over last year’s pledges as a major success, the Parish Committee would also like to highlight that pledges do not come close to covering our annual expenses; benefits packages for our minister and staff alone total approximately $141,000 annually.

Additional information on the budget will be provided at the Annual Meeting Pre-Meeting after worship on Sunday, May 5. Please join us to learn more about our church finances or to ask questions about any of the articles on the Annual Meeting Warrant.

In addition to the annual operating budget, the Parish Committee approved funding from our Capital Improvements restricted fund for repairs at the parsonage, installation of a dishwasher in the church kitchen, and revitalization of the front lawn, including conversion to a more environmentally friendly clover lawn.

Parish Committee Members

Parish Committee meetings are open to all members of the church. If you have any questions about the church or church governance, suggestions for improvements, or if you have an idea for an activity or ministry that you would like to spearhead, please reach out to the Parish Committee with your question, suggestion, or proposal!
From the Minister  
Last Spring I was accepted as one of 20 women clergy nationally into the 2018-2020 Women Touched by Grace program. This program, funded by the Lilly Endowment for Sustaining Excellence in Pastoral Leadership, brings together women of a variety of Protestant denominations (and I am the first UU accepted into it), to mentor one another and to explore ways to deepen and renew our spiritual practices.The program also offers me tools to help our congregation root ourselves more deeply in spiritual values, strengthen the sense of community among us, and ensure that our shared ministry comes out of those values. This supports the work the Parish Committee is already doing. 
 
I will be attending the second session on “The Practices of the Spiritual Life” Monday April 29 through Wednesday May 8, using journaling, music, and the arts as well as the more expected practices of prayer, meditation, and reading. I look forward to sharing what I’ve learned when I return.   If you need to talk to a minister while I am away, our Parish Administrator will be able to put you in touch with one of the ministers on call.
 
See you in Church,   
Pamela
Ushers Needed for Next Year
Are you a morning person? Do you wake up on Sundays with a smile on your face? Do you enjoy collecting money from strangers and friends? Then we have the opportunity you have been looking for! Join the Usher Team at FPUUC!

We are looking for people to volunteer to usher for the 2019/2020 church year! We have a rotating schedule and our ushers serve 3-4 times during the year, between September and June. We provide the training! You can serve with a spouse, friend, family member or let us pair you with one of our friendly ushers! We welcome high school youth too! You need to be at church by 10:00 am on your Sunday, and stay after about 15 minutes straightening up the pews, etc. If you are an RE teacher, this is not a good fit, but we would gladly use your talents for our Christmas Eve services! (Teachers make excellent child-wranglers!)

Ushers greet at the sanctuary door, hand out Orders of Service, collect the Offering, assist in any special set-up that Sunday (Joys & Concerns, etc.) and straighten hymnals and pews after the service, as well as other small duties.

This is a great way to get involved, meet and greet new people and participate in one of our ministries of hospitality. You do not need to be a member of First Parish to be an usher.

If you are interested, please email Cathie for more information, or to "join the team"!
... Strong Community
SPRING FAIR – Saturday, May 18, from 9:00 am to 1:00 pm
We need bakers, gardeners and workers for the Spring Fair May 18!
Cookies, brownies, squares, cupcakes, coffee cake, tarts – you name it. How much or many can you bake between now and Saturday, May 18? If you need extra freezer space, please let us know. We’re planning both a bake sale and a café outdoors at the front of the church. If the weather is good we’ll sell coffee and food near the front steps, with a seating area under tents. This will be in conjunction with the bake table set up nearby, offering more delicious homemade goodies. (If it’s rainy, we’ll improvise.)  We can sell as much as you can make. 

Do you have plants – especially herbs – in your yard or garden that should be thinned? If so, please plan to bring them to the plant sale. People always ask for herbs!

There will be no Yard Sale this year.

We also need workers for the day of the Fair. Please sign up if you’re available Saturday May 18, for a 2-hour shift, 8:30 to -11:00 (includes setting out food) or 11:00- 1:30 (includes clean-up). Please sign up on the sign-up sheets in the Sloop Room, or sign- up on line. Contact Alma with questions or to help. 
... 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. On Saturday May 4, they will meet at 8 am for breakfast at the home of Alan . They will be working on a variety of small projects in the community. All men and boys are welcome. Please contact Chuck with questions or ideas for future projects.
Unity Club Gathering and Dinner – Next Wednesday May 8, 2019
Welcome Ladies! On Wednesday, May 8 th , the Unity Club will host their Spring gathering and dinner .Come enjoy friendship, good food, and some laughs. The gathering begins at 6:30 pm, and dinner at 7:00. The dinner charge is $5.00 and Unity Club dues are $10.00.
 
 
We look forward to seeing you on Wednesday May 8 th , at 6:30 pm.
 
- Unity Club
Calendar for May 1 -12

Wed. 1st.
10:30 am Fididdlers
6:30 pm Endowment Committee

Thurs. 2nd
7:00 pm Brene Brown Group
7:30 pm OWL Parent Meeting

Sat 4th
8:00 am Men's Ministry

Sun. 5th
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship and RE
11:45 am Pre- Annual Meeting

Wed. 8th
10:30 am Fididdlers
6:30 pm Unity Dinner

Sun. 12th
9:00 am Choir Practice
10:30 am Worship
Save the Date

May 18th
Spring Fair and Plant Sale

May 19th
Annual Meeting

May 21st
Community Book Discussion
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.